Jamie Varner
Former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner (19-6-1, 2NC) has seen some highs and lows over his career from capturing the World Extreme Cagefighting title, to being cut from Zuffa just before the merger after a 0-3-1 run.
Now Varner has a chance to return to the spotlight this coming weekend in Las Vegas after replacing an injured Evan Dunham against the undefeated Edson Barboza who is 4-0 in the UFC and holds three straight “Fight of the Night” bonuses to his credit.
Varner talks to UFC.com about the journey he made to get back to this point and what he found out about himself.
“When you’re on top for so long and when you hit bottom, you forget what it was like to be hungry, you forget what it is like to be down there,” tells Varner. “Since I’ve been gone, I’ve been able to get in touch more with reality and become a lot more grateful for the things I had, the things I lost. I think the biggest difference in me is my appreciation for all the people that have supported me, that have been around me, all the opportunities that I have been given, and the ability to fight for Zuffa. During that time off, I found out that I wanted to be a fighter. I wanted to be a competitor. Before, I was so sick of fighting, so sick of training. Realistically, 2010 was the worst year in my professional career and I guess it’s because I didn’t want to fight anymore. I took it for granted and I just didn’t enjoy it and I lost the love for it. I think taking some time off and losing everything really made me appreciate what I had. It helped me find myself, I re-centered myself, I put myself around the right people, and now I’m back. I’m ready and I feel good. I think the biggest change is my overall happiness. I don’t need to fight to be happy, but I like to fight and it makes me happy.”
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“Edson Barboza is a freak,” affirms Varner. “He’s fast, athletic, strong. What I know about Edson are his four fights in the UFC and he’s tough and a scary fighter. Evan Dunham is an absolute stud and I wish him a speedy recovery, but I am really grateful for the opportunity I have been given and to try to fill his shoes. Those are some big shoes to fill. Edson is extremely tough and it’s a short notice situation, but I feel like I have everything to gain and nothing to lose. I go out there and fight Edson and lose to him, what’s it to lose to Edson Barboza? But if I go out and beat him, that catapults me right back to the top. That would put me in as a top five or top 10 lightweight in the UFC. Only good things can come from this fight. My goal is to make it as hard on him as possible. If he puts his hands down for a second, I can hurt him. I have that one punch that can end the fight and we’ve seen that before. I always have a puncher’s chance, but I think my overall preparation and mindset will be what carries me through this fight, whether it is Fight of the Night, a quick knockout or submission. I want to put on a show to show everyone why I was the WEC lightweight champion and to show why people can believe in me again.”
Varner meets Barboza on the FX broadcasted preliminary portion of UFC 146, scheduled for May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.