You’d think we’d know Myles “Fury” Jury by now.
The 26-year-old Michigan native boasts a 15-0 record as a professional mixed martial artist—a metric that inflates to 21-0 if you include his amateur bouts.
Casual fans, however, first met Jury on the UFC’s reality show The Ultimate Fighter.
After dropping out of The Ultimate Fighter 13 with a knee injury, Jury returned for Season 15, where he lost a preliminary-round bout to eventual finalist Al Iaquinta via split decision. That loss fueled him, and since then, Jury ascended to a new level.
Despite losing early on TUF 15, Jury received a call to participate on the show’s finale card in Las Vegas on June 1, 2012. He defeated Chris Saunders via guillotine choke in that bout, and his official UFC career rocketed from there.
After five more victories in a row, Jury earned a shot at his toughest test to date: No. 4-ranked lightweight and fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
We’ve seen Jury for years now, on The Ultimate Fighter and inside the Octagon chucking leather and shins, but this is the fight in many fans’ and critics’ eyes that will unveil his true self. Just who is Myles Jury, and how will he handle the established veteran Cerrone?
To Jury, the questions mean nothing once the cage door closes on Jan. 3, and his focus is on himself, his game and his considerable skill set.
“I have daily goals that keep me busy to make sure I’m getting better and learning every day, otherwise it’s a day wasted,” Jury told Bleacher Report. “I don’t let an opponent or fight affect my daily obligations that advance my career and life. To be honest, even when the fight was set, it didn’t change anything until the coaches started my camp. I’m not one to let others dictate what I do, where I’m at, where I’m going or anything at all.”
With a win over Cerrone, “where he’s going” might just be to a showdown with UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.
While Jury is currently ranked No. 8 in the division, a win over Cerrone would elevate his stock and put him in the title conversation.
Cerrone is on a tear of his own, winning five straight, four in 2014 alone. Jury agrees with the public’s perception on this matter: He’s fighting a top guy now, and he cherishes the opportunity.
“Cerrone is by far the best and most dangerous fighter over this past year, and I feel (he) is above everyone in the division right now,” Jury said. “That’s why I’m so excited for this, because to be the best, you have to fight the best. A win over Cerrone for sure puts me in a championship bout.”
The UFC’s process for handing out title shots, however, doesn’t always make sense. Recently, the promotion promised welterweight fighter Rory MacDonald the winner of UFC 181’s main event between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.
However, after the fight—a close split-decision victory for Lawler—the title shot was ripped away from the Canadian standout, setting up an apparent trilogy between Hendricks and Lawler instead.
Even if Jury demolishes Cerrone in the first round, a title shot is no guarantee. The Alliance MMA star recognizes this fact, but he maintains a positive (if a bit dismissive) attitude toward it.
“I’m always prepared for the worst-case scenarios and (I) work my ass off to make them the best-case scenarios,” Jury said. “I don’t control that, so it’s not something I’m going to waste my time thinking about. Whatever happens, happens.”
Right now, Jury’s full focus remains on Cerrone, on the No. 4-ranked lightweight in the UFC and on his potential ticket to superstardom.
He’s already fought Cowboy several times in his head and in practice by taking on sparring partners specifically chosen to emulate Cerrone‘s style, and he’s ready to showcase the results of a calculated, scientific training camp at UFC 182.
Unfortunately for Cerrone, Jury is evolving every day and believes the best is yet to come.
“Since I started 14 years ago, I can honestly say I am always better than I was the day before and constantly getting better,” Jury said. “I don’t focus on one area because I’m not one-dimensional. There is not one area in my MMA career or my overall life that doesn’t get constant maintenance to advance. I’m having fun and feel I’m still far from my prime and already toward the top.
“I match up great regardless of where the fight goes, and I expect Cowboy to be at his best no matter when or where.”
As for a prediction, Jury maintains his composure and closed-mouth style there, too. He’s not going to trash talk his way into the public’s eye, but he will deliver a zinger with a steely reserve and a confidence borne through hard training sessions at Alliance MMA and a 21-fight winning streak.
“We will see on Jan. 3,” Jury said. “I’m not one to get into the ‘what-ifs’ or show my cards before a fight. The results will do the talking.”
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