Interviews

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal is looking to add another piece of hardware to his trophy case when he rematches Emanuel Newton for the interim Bellator 205-pound strap at Bellator 106 this Saturday. 

When asked how he envisions this fight going, "King Mo" was succinct in his answer. 

"It’s a different fight, and it will be a different outcome," Lawal told Bleacher Report over the phone. "I got a little reckless the first time, and that won't happen again."

Newton pulled off a massive upset at Bellator 90 in February, knocking out Lawal with a spinning backfist mid-way through the first round. 

Since then, Newton won a hard fought battle against Mikhail Zayats in March, while Lawal earned back-to-back TKO's over Seth Petruzelli and Jacob Noe in June and July, respectively.

Therefore, a second encounter between the two competitors was inevitable. 

Waiting in the wings for the winner is Bellator light heavyweight champion Attila Vegh, who boasts a nine-fight win streak and is just as dangerous standing (10 knockouts) as he is on the ground (11 submissions). 

Nevertheless, Lawal isn't sweating a potential title unification bout with Vegh. 

"I think I match up well and (I'd) beat him," he said. "He's good at changing foot stances and (throwing) volume punches ... he’s well-rounded. But I can mix it up and keep him guessing," indicating he could win the fight with either his wrestling or his striking. 

The former Division I All-American collegiate wrestler was also willing to talk about several matters not related to Bellator 106, including his time spent learning the trade of professional wrestling at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a developmental league that is owned by Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling.

"I like it, it’s just hard. (There is) so much to remember, so much to learn. People think pro wrestling is easy…you got guys that have been wrestling for years and are still in pro wrestling school after seven or eight years of training," Lawal explained.

"I don't want to step in the ring until I've mastered each technical piece I’m missing. If I rush, I can look real bad ... I want to be ready," he said, refusing to put a timeline on his TNA debut.

As he has stated in the past, the American Kickboxing Academy fighter reiterated that he is "definitely interested in working with (Quinton) 'Rampage' (Jackson)" inside the pro wrestling ring.

Rampage, a former PRIDE star and UFC champion, made his debut with TNA on June 6, joining the The New Main Event Mafia faction and feuding with fellow UFC castoff Tito Ortiz.

Ortiz vs. Rampage was set to headline Bellator 106 this weekend on pay-per-view, but as fight fans know all too well now, things don't always work out as planned, per MMA Fighting.  

After Lawal was released from his Strikeforce contract last March due to a spat with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, fans and analysts alike assumed he would eventually end up inside the Bellator cage. 

When asked by Bleacher Report if he had any interest in finishing his career inside the Octagon, the heavy-handed wrestler gave a thought-provoking response. 

"I don’t care. I’m happy with Bellator. I could’ve went to the UFC if I felt like waiting … but I didn’t feel like waiting. I choose Bellator," Lawal said.

"Every organization has great fighters. You can’t make it about the organization, you have to make it about the fighters. Look at boxing: Adrien Broner, Omar Figueroa, Juan Manuel Marquez. ... If you aren't repping Golden Boy (Promotions), that immediately means you’re a bad fighter?"

"No, who cares. If you’re a fan of the fighter, you’re a fan of the fighter. It shouldn't matter which promotion they're competing in." 

Finally, Lawal was asked how he stacked up against the best light heavyweights in the sport, such as UFC champ Jon Jones and top contenders Alexander Gustafsson, Phil Davis and Daniel Cormier. 

While the five-year veteran of the cage did not address anyone directly, he made it clear that he is both confident in his skills and not a big fan of current MMA rankings. 

"I feel like I can beat anybody. The rankings are kind of a joke. Rankings don’t mean anything at all," Lawal stated.

"There could be a stud from Guam who could whoop anyone’s ass, but we just don’t know about him now. There are no true comprehensive rankings in MMA. In other sports like football or basketball, we can see athletes climb the ranks through High school, college and then professional leagues."

"Then there's a Pro Bowl, All-Star Game, where the best of the best can really show off their talent. In MMA, I could go to Kentucky, find a dude working on farm, give him a weight program, a good diet, a training regime ... and he could turn pro (in MMA)."

Lawal also cited Olympic-level, pro style boxing, prior to headgear being worn in the 1984 Los Angeles games, as the perfect way to determine "the cream of the crop" among fighters. 

Lawal vs. Newton II is the third main card bout at Bellator 106, marking one of three championship bouts on the Spike TV event. 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com. 

A loss inside the cage can either be the beginning of a long stretch of trouble or provide the spark to set off a motivated run. Bellator lightweight, David Rickels, is confident the latter is the matter at hand and is determined to provide the proof on Friday night at Bellator 103.

It was a setback against Karl Amassou at Bellator 69 in 2012 that prompted the Kansas native to seek reinvention at a lower weight class. While "The Caveman" had found success in the welterweight fold, he set his sights on building another winning streak and establishing himself in Bellator's increasingly competitive lightweight division.

The results were impressive as Rickels collected four consecutive victories en route to winning the promotion's Season 8 lightweight tournament. In doing so, the Wichita resident also earned the opportunity to face highly touted champion Michael Chandler for the 155-pound strap at Bellator 97 in July.

While the moment was everything Rickels had been working to reach, it wasn't something he could capitalize upon as he suffered a first round knockout at the hands of the young champion. Down but never out, Rickels set his sights on making his way back to the top of the division, and will take the first step on that journey Friday night against J.J. Ambrose.

In addition to the fight being Rickels' return to action, it will also mark the first time in two years he will get the opportunity to fight in his home state, and he's fired up to put on a show.

"I'm a proud Kansas man and I'm really excited," Rickels told Bleacher Report. "I haven't been able to fight here in a couple of years, and the last time they saw me, sadly enough was me getting knocked out. I'm on a redemption mode. I want to show my crowd what I'm really capable of."

"You see guys get a complacency with winning but I don't believe that happened to me," Rickels added. "Michael just struck my chord that night. A loss puts a really bitter taste in your mouth and redemption is the best word I can come to because I feel like I'm much better than what I got to show that night. I believe in my heart that I'm a top 10 fighter. The road to redemption is long and it starts with J.J. Ambrose."

Where Ambrose will be the more experienced fighter coming into the tilt, Rickels is the one who is established under the Bellator banner. The Californian has previously competed on two occasions inside the Bellator cage, but mixed results have prevented him from finding his footing with the promotion.

While he will undoubtedly be looking to change that dynamic on Friday night, Rickels is prepared to make sure that doesn't happen at this turn, and is ready for anything Ambrose brings to the table.

"I think we match up really well, but I see it in my favor," Rickels said. "I think he's like a seven all around. He's one of those guys who is pretty good at everything. I believe his grappling is pretty good and it's more of his strength, but he's been focusing on his striking.

"I'm looking to see what he pulls out there but I'll be prepared. I train for everything in my training camps. If he wants to fight with me on the feet, I'll be ready to go there. If he wants to take it to the ground and work jiu-jitsu, I'm going to be looking to defend. Whatever happens in the fight I feel I'm prepared for."

With his fight against Ambrose taking place outside of the brackets of this season's lightweight tournament, his championship hopes have been cooled for the time being. That being said, every fight on the big stage is an opportunity to raise his profile, and Rickels has quickly developed a reputation for being as game as they come when the cage door closes.

MMA is a highly competitive game—especially at the highest levels—and some fighters are willing to sacrifice entertainment value for strict game plans in the pursuit of victory. While winning is undoubtedly what ultimately matters, the situation also breaks down to some fighters having or lacking the ability to put on a show for the fans.

Rickels knows he has the type of style fans love to see, and giving them something to talk about provides plenty of motivation as he heads into the fight.

"Not everyone has the ability nor do they even look to put on exciting fights," Rickels said. "That's the big difference with me. I look to put on exciting fights every single time. There is no wishy-washy game plan to skate by. I either go in and put on an exciting fight where I smash the dude's face in or I get carried out like a soldier on his shield. I really like my style of fighting because I like to entertain. That's why I got into this. The entertainment aspect is the funnest aspect of fighting for me."

"The great thing about me is that fans can expect to see the same damn thing from me every single time. I'm going to put everything I have into this fight and will be looking to tear the guy in half. I always look to really beat on guys with every appendage I have available. I'm not going out there looking to have a pitter-patter fight. I'm coming in there to get after it."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Heavy-handed welterweight Adlan Amagov is gearing up for a welterweight scrap with talented jiu-jitsu ace TJ Waldburger at UFC 166, but if his team is worried about the matchup, they certainly aren't saying so. 

"TJ is a great fighter, a well-accomplished BJJ practitioner who will surely want to take it to the ground," Sam Kardan, the manager of the Russian-based Red Fury Fight Team, told Bleacher Report. 

"Adlan is a pretty good grappler too though, [he has] good freestyle wrestling and comes from an extensive Sambo background ... "This fight is a chance for Adlan to show himself on the ground, but I think his striking is well above [what TJ has to offer]."

For the sake of comparison, Waldburger enters the October 19 showdown with a 16-7 overall record, with the BJJ brown belt notching 13 of those wins via submission—showcasing a crafty guard in most of his fights. 

On the other hand, Amagov boasts a 12-2-1 mark through 15 professional fights, with seven of those wins coming by way of knockout. 

The 27-year-old striker made his Octagon, as well as his welterweight, debut at UFC on FUEL 9 in April, winning a convincing decision over fellow Strikeforce import Chris Spang. 

Worth noting is that Amagov fought the first 10 bouts of his career at light heavyweight, though Kardan explains that statistic is a bit misleading when considering how heavy his client actually is.  

"He did really well at light heavyweight, but Adlan was always underweight. Fighting at 205, he would weigh in [at] maybe 190 [pounds]. He was always much lighter than the light heavyweight limit," Kardan stated.

When he was signed to Strikeforce in mid-2011, Amagov cut down to middleweight, posting a 3-1 mark at that weight class, with his sole blemish being a TKO to current welterweight contender Robbie Lawler.

"He felt very comfortable at middleweight: quick, powerful. But after hanging out with guys like Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva that we’ve got to meet and know, Adlan got to see how much bigger those guys are than him. So we decided a drop to welterweight made a lot of sense."

Kardan believes that one of his team's highest regarded prospects will live up to his expectations at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, predicting that Amagov will score his second TKO win in his past three fights. 

While the manager admits Amagov could be as far as "three or four wins from making it into the top 10," he believes a victory over a dangerous opponent like Waldburger "solidifies his position in the UFC."

Not surprisingly, Kardan believes "The Wolf" will make it to that point and beyond inside the Octagon.  

"I strongly believe he is going to be a UFC champion in whatever weight class he decides to stick with ... though I think we'll probably stay at welterweight," noting that he expects Amagov to make the welterweight limit with no problem next Saturday.

When asked where Amagov's nickname came from, Kardan gave an answer that was both candid and in-depth. 

"We were trying to figure out a nickname when he first got her to the US, [since] all these fighters have weird Russian names that nobody can pronounce," Kardan recalled. 

"Adlan is a Chechen, so the Chechens, they have the wolf as a sacred animal to them ... they have a heritage with the wolf, a very highly regarded connection to the animal. It means a lot to him and all the other Chechens who support him, so it made a lot of sense."

Don't be surprised if some fans chant "Borz" during Amagov's upcoming bout though, as that means "wolf" in Chechen.

Should Amagov get his hand raised against Waldburger, Amina Isakova, the Vice President of the Red Fury Fight Team, would like to see "one of the faces of our team" fight at the UFC 169 event in Newark, New Jersey, due to the strong ties the Russian community has in northern New Jersey and New York. 

"If we do well [in the Waldburger fight], we’d like to fight in Newark. The reason why we want our guys competing in Newark is there is a large Russian community in northern New Jersey and Brooklyn, there is a large following a lot of people don't know about," she told Bleacher Report over the phone.

"Our fans want to come watch these guys locally and I think it would bring a lot more attention to the UFC in Jersey."

Fellow Red Fury Fight Team member Khabib Nurmagomedov, who rolled through lightweight veteran Pat Healy at UFC 165 last month, has already asked the UFC to book him against TJ Grant on the February 1 pay-per-view. 

My papakha fans from America asking @danawhite @ufc 169 I vs @TJ_Grant . Make it happen pic.twitter.com/PPbcozlNTp

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) October 7, 2013

Whether or not the company grants his request remains to be seen. 

Amagov vs. Waldburger is a part of the four UFC 166 preliminary bouts scheduled to be streamed online, which are set to begin at 6:15 p.m. Eastern Time. 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com. 

At some point in their journey, every fighter dreams of becoming a champion.

When the pursuit of such things begin, that lofty goal is set somewhere in the far-off distance as the process of rubber meeting road gets underway. Natural talent, determination and an elevated skill set are all elements required to get through the initial stages, but those attributes have to be in perpetual evolution for success to be achieved at the highest levels of the sport.

Yet every now and then, a case will come along where a mixed martial artist possesses all the required tools—some in fact extraordinary—but is unable to lay claim to championship gold. While their abilities allow them to best a vast majority of competition, opponents who expose their one great weakness ring the death knell on their title hopes.

It is in the aftermath of these setbacks where adjustments are made, but even the most work will produce limited results. A fighter with an extensive background in jiu-jitsu but no history in stand-up disciplines will never become an elite striker, just as a fighter trying to develop wrestling skills deep into their career will never become dominant in that particular aspect.

The label of being a "well-rounded" fighter has become borderline cliche in this day and age of MMA, but over-used as it may be, it doesn't take away from the necessity of a fighter being able to do all things well inside the cage. When the progress of these efforts seem to stall and gained improvements are no longer showing, the large majority of fighters settle into the realm of being good but just not quite talented enough to be the best.

Demian Maia is the exception to this circumstance...albeit one that took awhile to fully materialize.

The Brazilian grappling phenom brought his world-class jiu-jitsu portfolio and undefeated record to the UFC in 2007 where he wasted no time making his presence felt. Maia picked up victories in his first five showings, all coming by way of submission finish. Nevertheless, it wasn't until suffering a knockout at the hands of Nate Marquardt at UFC 102, two years after his debut, when things began to take on a different shape for Maia.

Following the bout with Marquardt, the Sao Paulo native dove headlong into improving his striking skills. While he was making steady progress in that department, the impact it had on his performances inside the cage were telling. Suddenly, the "lights-out" submission expert was gone and a cautious "striker-in-progress" version of Maia appeared inside the Octagon.

While his dynamics on fight night changed, Maia still found enough success to earn an ill-fated title shot against then-middleweight king Anderson Silva at UFC 112 in 2010. Despite the bout turning into one of the strangest showdowns in recent memory, the concrete facts going in told the tale. With Silva being the most dominant and accurate striker in MMA history, Maia getting the fight to the ground would be his only hope.

But that scenario never materialized, and the unanimous decision loss for Maia ended up being the only predictable element of the bizarre main event in Abu Dhabi.

He would bounce back following the loss to Silva, but he experienced mixed results and criticism along the way. Suddenly, he was the extraordinary grappler who couldn't hang on his feet. Despite being one of the rare cases where a high-level BJJ practitioner was able to successfully transition into the top level of MMA, the holes in Maia's striking game cast large shadows of doubt upon his ability to ever reach the top.

The book on Maia reclaiming his spot as a title contender was all but closed following his lackluster showing against Chris Weidman at UFC on Fox 2 in 2012. While neither fighter looked remotely impressive, the Ray Longo fighter stepped in on 10-days notice, and for that, he was given a pass for his exhausted showing in Chicago.

Maia wasn't as fortunate. He resembled a shell of his former self in the bout with Weidman and it was clear his career had hit a wall in the aftermath. Where lesser fighters would have re-committed to going back to the drawing board to shore up the holes in their game, the 35-year-old Brazilian made a commitment of a different variety. And the results have been amazing.

Rather than attempting to get back on track as a middleweight, Maia decided to make the drop down into the welterweight division. While fighters switching weight classes to create a spark is nothing new, what made Maia's situation so unique has little to do with weight limits and much to do with returning to his previous mindset.

He was never going to be one of the premier strikers in MMA, but he was already one of the most dangerous, if not the best, submission-based fighter on the planet. Commitment to that skill set rarely failed him inside the Octagon, and he set out on a new course at 170 pounds.

Maia made his official welterweight debut against Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 148 last July. He picked up a TKO victory over the Korean fighter due to a rib injury Kim suffered as a result of a takedown in the early goings and notched his first win at his new weight class.

In addition to defeating the "Stun Gun," the resurgent Brazilian also collected victories over Rick Story and Jon Fitch. Maia made short work out of the Brave Legion fighter via neck crank in the first round of their tilt at UFC 153, and then he upped his stock substantially by dominating Fitch four months later at UFC 156 in Las Vegas.

Following his victory over the AKA staple, Maia found himself creeping onto the welterweight title radar. Just 14 months after making his 170-pound debut, he was on the cusp of breaking through into the championship tier of the highly competitive weight class. His re-invention was in full swing and his re-emergence as a dangerous threat did not go unnoticed.

"It has been great," Maia told Bleacher Report. "When we get there and see the fans and how excited they are, that is what this sport is all about. It's all about the fans and I love when the fans get excited for the fight. I also love fans that understand the ground game and the fans have always been great to me. They've always given me great feedback, but especially now that I'm at 170. It's getting bigger and people in the U.S. and Brazil have been giving me so much support and feedback. Their excitement is great and it brings me a lot of motivation.

"I've felt better every time out at 170. With each fight I'm getting more used to this new weight and I feel this it is the best weight for me to perform at. Every time I feel better."

That being said, there is still road to travel if he hopes to earn a title shot, and the next step on his journey will come next Wednesday night against Jake Shields at Fight Night 29. The bout will not only be a collision of two of the most highly regarded jiu-jitsu practitioners in MMA, but it will carry heavy title implications as well.

While Maia's dreams of becoming a UFC champion are more alive than they've ever been, he's not going to make the mistake of looking one inch beyond Shields. He understands the threats the former Strikeforce middleweight champion brings to the table and is looking forward to mixing it up with Shields on Oct. 9.

"I think it's a great matchup, especially for people who love BJJ," Maia said. "There is a lot of excitement about this fight in the BJJ community because people are expecting a great fight. I hope to put on a great display of grappling in this fight. We never know when we fight MMA, but I really like this matchup.

"This fight will be a great opportunity for me. But first off all, I have to face Jake Shields and that is what I'm focused on. This is the week of the fight and I can't really think of anything past that. Jake is a really tough dude to defeat and that is what is right in front of me. I can't think about the title right now but of course it is something I would like to accomplish."

Leading up to the bout between Maia and Shields, much has been made about the opportunity to see two of MMA's premier grapplers locking up inside the cage. Where Maia carries the flag for Brazil, Shields has touted his own brand of the discipline which he calls "American jiu-jitsu."

While Maia certainly doesn't dismiss Shields' abilities on the ground, he doesn't put much stock in the Californian bringing anything he's unfamiliar with to the table.

"I think this name he uses for his style is for marketing," Maia said. "I think he pretty much does BJJ just like I do. He trains with the Gracies in San Francisco and is very good with his BJJ. I really don't care about names. But what I know is that he's a very good BJJ fighter."

Maia's success inside the cage has hinged largely on his ability to apply his traditional BJJ skill set in the ever-changing environment of MMA. With the days of single-disciplined fighters long gone, Maia's ability to adapt and execute have been impressive.

Where the jump into the live-fire world of punches, kicks and knees has given most grapplers fits in their attempt to crossover, Maia's transition has been successful because it's one he's always prepared for.

"Since I started training BJJ for the first time, I was thinking about MMA," Maia said. "At that time everything was kind of mixed together with Vale Tudo and BJJ and we trained a lot with punches, slaps, and kicks. We trained a lot of self-defense. As I was developing my techniques I would test them to see if they would also work no gi and in MMA.

"I tried to put techniques in my game that would work for everything...not just for jiu-jitsu, but self-defense and MMA as well. I developed my game around techniques that were efficient for everything."

On Wednesday night in Barueri, Brazil, Maia will look to take one more definitive step to reaching his ultimate goal. His past reflects more success than most, but his future is now looking brighter than it ever has before. 

Maia has appreciated every aspect of his journey—the victories and the setbacks—as they provided a continuous education which has lead up to the here and now. Shields is the next challenge standing before him, but it is one that will come as the biggest fight on a UFC card that will take place in his own back yard.

"It's great to be the main event, especially to do so in my home town," Maia said. "It's very special. I think I've had 16 fights in the UFC, and the only time I've competed in Brazil was last year in Rio. Now I get to do it again in Sao Paulo. That is my home city and makes it even more special."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Jake Shields is a card-carrying member of the "Been there, done that" club in mixed martial arts.

The 34-year-old Tennessee native has competed on the sport's biggest stages, locked up with the best competition the world has to offer and maintained a level of success few of his peers can match. Shields has claimed numerous championships throughout his journey across the MMA landscape and built one of the most impressive resumes of the past decade.

He's overcome adversity of personal and professional varieties, all with the goal of making the one accomplishment not yet realized—a UFC title—the crowning achievement in a storied career.

While he came up short in his first bid to claim championship gold under the UFC banner against welterweight king Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 in 2011, the resilient former Strikeforce titleholder is bound and determined to re-establish himself as a legitimate threat to the throne.

Shields dove back into middleweight waters for one bout in 2012, but this year has marked a focused return to the 170-pound weight class, where he has every intention of making another run at the welterweight title. 

While his first step was certainly a closely contested one, it was ultimately a successful one as well, as the former No.1 contender edged out Tyron Woodley via split decision at UFC 161 back in June.

"It was a good step," Shields told Bleacher Report. "Tyron (Woodley) is a really tough opponent and a tough stylistic matchup for me as well. Even though it wasn't a finish, it was nice to go out there and get that win. It felt great to get back on track and start my push to get back towards the top.

"It felt good. He's a big knockout guy and I showed that I could stand with him and still win the fight on my feet. That shows I'm making improvements in that area. I still have a long ways to go, but I feel every fight my striking is getting better." 

The victory solidified Shields' place in the highly competitive ranks of the 170-pound title race and guaranteed his next challenge would come from higher up the food chain.

And that is precisely what has unfolded.

The former EliteXC champion's next assignment will come against an opponent who has quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous fighters at 170 pounds in Demian Maia. Their tilt will serve as the main event for Fight Night 29, as the bout will feature two of the premier submission artists in mixed martial arts. 

Where Shields has just started to build momentum in the weight class, the Brazilian grappling ace has dismantled all comers since dropping down from the middleweight division, as he's collected three consecutive lopsided victories.

Despite not securing the finish in his most recent outing against former title contender Jon Fitch, Maia's showing was perhaps his most impressive to date. He thoroughly controlled and out-classed the savvy veteran for every bit of the 15 minutes they shared inside the Octagon at UFC 156 back in February. The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) staple is a proven grappler in his own right, but that night in Las Vegas, Maia showed definitive proof his skills were on an entirely different level.

With the victory over Fitch, the 35-year-old former middleweight title challenger sent a stern message to the rest of the welterweight division, and it was one Shields was happy to receive.

After 14 years competing inside the cage, there isn't much the "American Jiu-Jitsu" practitioner hasn't seen. Nevertheless, he acknowledges the unique skill set Maia brings to the table, and his "game recognizes game" mindset has him motivated to prove he's the better man on Oct. 9.

"I think it's a great stylistic fight," Shields said. "We are two of the best Jiu-Jitsu guys out there and I think we are both going to want to use those skills in this fight. I'm going to go out there and try to take him down and submit him, and I expect the same from him. I'm hoping for some great Jiu-Jitsu exchanges, but I'm going to be prepared in the stand-up game as well. I'm ready for all-out war.

"I'm not going to say what happened to Fitch can't happen with me because a guy at Maia's level can make anything happen. I think Fitch is a great opponent and a good grappler so watching Maia dominate him like that was very impressive. But it's something I'm very prepared for. I think my Jiu-Jitsu is a lot better than Fitch's and I mix my wrestling with it. Those are the skills I bring to this fight and I'm super-excited because Maia's last three fights at 170, he looked amazing in all of them. That makes this fight that much more exciting for me."

In addition to mixing it up with one of the toughest stylistic matchups in the welterweight division, Shields will face another unique challenge with the bout taking place in Brazil. The country's passionate fanbase has developed a reputation for providing raucous support to their countrymen inside the cage, and this creates an electric environment unmatched on the current landscape of combat sports.

Nevertheless, Shields has been working his trade across the globe for more than a decade, and doesn't believe the fight taking place in Brazil will be a factor.

"Of course it's something I've thought about a little bit," Shields said. "If I said I didn't think about it at all I'd be lying. But it's basically just a pain in the a**. I'd much rather fight at home or Canada, but it is something I just have to deal with. I've fought in Japan a bunch and competed all over the world. It's just one of those things I put in the back of my mind and go out there and fight. It's just going to be Demian and I in the cage, and the fans can't do anything to interfere. 

"I'm coming into this fight feeling the best I've ever felt. I'm ready for all-out war. I'm going to go out there and bring the pressure. I'm going to look for submission, knockouts and work for the finish at all times. I want to go out there, put on a great fight and beat Demian Maia."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Perception dictates everything.

When a point of view is established, the realities of a situation begin to fill in. With each element that takes hold, a new set of circumstances develop, until it all takes shape to become something the mind can understand. Once the foundation is set, everything becomes amplified when goals are applied and the wheels are set in motion to achieve.

For No. 1 flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez, the weight of this process became overwhelming.

The Team Alpha Male staple had spent years carving out his place as one of the best lighter weight fighters in the world, but he had come up short in getting his hands on championship gold in the bantamweight division.

Down but not defeated, the Las Cruces, New Mexico native became reinvigorated late in 2011 when the UFC officially announced it was creating a 125-pound weight class. The 28-year-old had been finding success against larger competition since joining the Zuffa banner in 2008.

He would not only be facing opponents closer to his natural size, but he would have an early jump start as a definitive fixture in the upper tier of the new weight class.

In Benavidez's mind, anything shy of becoming the inaugural flyweight champion was a failure. After two disappointing losses to bantamweight titleholder Dominick Cruz put him in title contention limbo, "Jobe" was determined to make sure the story wouldn't repeat itself at 125 pounds.

While claiming UFC gold was tremendous motivation, a place in the history books added to the appeal. Earning a title is a defining moment in a fighter's career, but even those fade over time. Becoming the first-ever flyweight champion would be an accomplishment that would stand forever, even if it someday became the answer to a trivia question.

But as Benavidez drew closer to the title, the perception of the situation he'd created in his mind became heavy. Here was a fighter who thrived on pressure throughout his career, but suddenly, his quest for the flyweight title became something different.

The goal became all-consuming. When he faced Demetrious Johnson at UFC 152 for the inaugural belt, everything shifted out of balance. Benavidez came out on the losing end of a split decision that night in Toronto, and while the result brought the sting of disappointment, it also yielded a powerful turn in his mindset.

In the aftermath of the fight, the former title challenger realized the weight of the outcome inside the cage didn't carry dire circumstances. His life, and all the great things in it, would carry on regardless. He recognized that if the work was done, the end results would be produced.

With that new perception, he set out to get back on track.

"It's been huge," Benavidez told Bleacher Report. "It wasn't so much of an overall change in mentality for me, but it was a change in mentality from that fight to my next. I feel I've always had that 'another day at the office' mindset, and each fight is a chance to test my skills, but I fell out of that mindset for the Johnson fight and treated it like it was something different. I found out that way isn't for me. It isn't for me to get emotional and put all this serious pressure on one fight.

"Our job is already serious enough. We punch each other in the face and fight. It's already serious and there is no reason to make it any more serious. I had to ask myself why I treated it like I did. I didn't enjoy training camp or anything about that fight. There was nothing fun about that experience and I needed to get back to that." 

Benavidez found freedom in this realization, and his change of perspective produced amazing results. He looked solid in his win over Ian McCall at UFC 156 in February, then steamrolled his next opponent, Darren Uyenoyama, via first-round knockout at UFC on Fox 7 three months later.

Following his victory in San Jose, talk of another title shot began to swirl, but with his new mindset at the wheel, Benavidez was in no rush to force the issue.

With Johnson slated to face John Moraga at UFC on Fox 8 in June, Benavidez rolled onto the next challenge. That came against Jussier Formiga at Fight Night 28, and once again the heavy-handed flyweight delivered an amazing performance. He punished Formiga with his striking as he notched another first-round stoppage victory.

Toppling Formiga in Brazil made it three consecutive victories for the Sacramento-based fighter and gave him a clear-cut case for another shot at the title. In the days following his win, the UFC would call to set the title opportunity in stone.

Benavidez will square off with Johnson once again on Nov. 30 at the The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale in Las Vegas. While flyweight gold is once again hanging in the balance, this time around, the weight of the situation is exactly where he wants it to be.

"All the pressure I put on myself and obsessing about the result of that first fight isn't something I can do," Benavidez said. "Yes, becoming champion is my goal, but it's not something I can control. The only way I can have any control of that is going out there every day and becoming the best fighter I can be. That's my main goal without looking at the bigger picture. If I go out, put the work in to be the best fighter I can be, what else can I do? I can have these goals, but if I don't strive to push myself, those goals are never going to be reached. 

"This next fight is against Demetrious, it's five rounds and there is a title on the line. The same things will be on the line as the first fight, but this is going to be just another fight for me. I lost the first one, but I really didn't lose anything. I didn't die, and everything was all right afterwards. My family and friends still loved me just the same after. This is just another fight for me and it's the next fight after my last one.

"I knew I was going to have another fight after Formiga, and it just so happens to be against Demetrious for the title," he added. "I'm going to keep doing the same things I've been doing and I'm going to handle this fight the same way I've handled every fight since our first one. I'm excited though, man. This will be another chance to test my skills, and it will be against the best guy in the world. That makes it a little more special."

While the date has been set for his rematch with Johnson, the preparation has already begun because it never stopped. Benavidez has long understood the sweat equity it would take for him to become successful, and his work ethic has paid off every step of the way.

That being said, being one of the best isn't the same as reaching the top of the mountain to become a champion on the sport's biggest stage. Looking across that divide one year ago caused him to shift his perspective and pushed him off course. Now that he's found his footing, he's vowed not to make that mistake again.

The momentum he's built is nice, but there is no big reward where he's concerned. Each day produces results if the work is put in, and Benavidez believes the investment will yield the greatest reward as long as he continues to demand the most from himself. 

"I do recognize momentum, and I see it as a positive," Benavidez said. "I feel myself getting better with each practice, and then it shows in the fight, and that is where it really counts. You build momentum with the fans because of what happens in the cage, but I can also feel it in practice. I want to get better every day and I can feel myself improving as I go along. 

"I believe I'm getting that done, and I'm taking it one day at a time. After this last fight, I knew because of the landscape of the division, this would be the one that gets the title shot. It wasn't that I didn't want it or I wasn't ready; I was just looking at it as another fight because at the end of the day, that is what it is. When they asked me what I wanted next, it didn't really matter to me. I just want to fight again, and I know I'm going to get better until that next fight comes.

"Whether that fight comes against Demetrious Johnson, who is just another guy in my mind—yes, he's a great fighter, but he's just another guy in my mind—or it comes against another tough fighter in the division, it's just another fight to me.

"I keep it moving, and I don't sit on my last performance and think about what should be coming to me," he added in conclusion. "I get right back in the gym and keep pushing myself to improve. My goal is to become as good as I can be, and that is going to make me accomplish my other goals. I fought on a Wednesday in Brazil, got home on Friday and was back in the gym training on Monday. I haven't stopped since then."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise. 

Gilbert Melendez is the definition of quiet intensity.

In a profession filled with individuals who posture and boast about their toughness, or jaw themselves into self-constructed grudge matches, Melendez is simply a different type of animal. He doesn't use words or the ever-popular mean mug to represent his craft because the passion to scrap is coursing beneath the surface, always there at the ready, waiting to be tapped into when the moment arises.

In fact, it his "knowing" that allows the 31-year-old Santa Ana native to carry such a stoic confidence.

The Team Cesar Gracie fighter is fully aware of what he's capable of, just as much as he knows he's one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world. Melendez has been a champion multiple times in the past and recognizes the potential to become one again—this time on the biggest stage in MMA—is still on the horizon.

Yet, talking to the man, it is entirely possible those issues would never arise.

If bystanders are unaware of his accomplishments as a fighter or happen to miss the cauliflower ears he's earned from years in wrestling rooms, the laid-back sway that comes from a lifetime spent in northern California allows Melendez to relate to the same people he set out to entertain over a decade ago.

Yet, his easy nature outside of the cage is a stark contrast to the fighter he becomes when the time for ruckus draws near. When the cage door closes and the referee steps aside, the release of his quiet storm is signaled, and the unique mixture of aggression, savvy and natural toughness he possesses becomes a treacherous obstacle to overcome.

Of the 24 times "El Nino" has entered the live-fire environment of combat, there have only been three instances where his hand was not raised upon the fight's conclusion. The Skrap Pack leader was able to bounce back and best Mitsuhiro Ishida and current UFC title contender Josh Thomson in their rematches, but his most recent setback against then-lightweight champion Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 9 in April, is a loss that still lingers and resonates in the back of his mind.

He nearly had the most coveted lightweight crown in MMA in his possession, but a razor-thin split-decision on the judge's scorecards forced him to endure a reality he hadn't faced in over six years. Not only had he lost his first fight since 2007, but exiting the cage in San Jose would mark the first time over this stretch he would have to do so without championship gold around his waist.

Coming up short in the biggest fight of his life would be enough to push most fighters off their pivot, but Melendez isn't most fighters. Rather than dwell on an opportunity missed and what might have been, Melendez ground the setback into usable fuel and hit the comeback trail with ferocity.

While his dream of becoming a UFC champion is still burning inside, Melendez is a realist through and through. He knows he will have to defeat at least one of his peers in the elite tier of the lightweight division to earn another shot at the 155-pound strap, and work of that variety is a challenge he is looking forward to.

With that in mind, the former No. 1 contender will not have to wait long. He will lock up with another former title challenger in Diego Sanchez on Oct. 19 at UFC 166. The showdown between the two hard-charging scrappers is one of the most highly-anticipated bouts on the lightweight docket, and Melendez believes he can take a thunderous step back toward the throne by defeating "The Dream" in definitive fashion.

Nevertheless, besting Sanchez is one thing, but doing it in impressive fashion is challenge of a different variety. Yet, Melendez believes he has what it takes to get the job done.

"I do believe an impressive win over Diego could earn me another title shot," Melendez told Bleacher Report. "But I also think he could come into this fight in the best shape of his life and it could be a battle.

"I take a deep breath when I say it, but I tell myself if we're looking sharp and looking as good as we can be, I think we can control and dominate this fight and really send a message. Then there are other parts of me that say this guy may come in better than ever because this is his opportunity to get back into the title race. That is why I make sure to keep my focus, be ready for that war and be ready to go out there and perform. I think if I come in ready I should win and do so in impressive fashion.

"At this point right now, I've become a better fighter, and I'm still on the mission to become champion," he added. "I'm still on the path but I'm trying to have a more focused mentality. I put in the hard work. I'm focused on the road ahead, and it's time for me to go out there and display my skills now. The title is definitely my goal and my vision, but I'm really proud right now of how I'm putting everything together. I'm making this transitions and I believe I'm becoming a different fighter right now and I can't wait to go experiment out there."

In addition to what is at stake in his matchup with Sanchez next month, another interesting angle surrounding the fight involves the location in which it will take place. UFC 166 is set to go down in Houston, a city with a large Latino population. With both Melendez and Sanchez being of Mexican heritage, the lightweight showdown promises to be a popular draw within the Latino demographic.

The UFC has made no secret about their intention to break into the Mexican market. With heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez headlining the card and Melendez versus Sanchez also on the pay-per-view portion, the promotion is putting the proper pieces in place to deliver an exciting product.

Any time the UFC pushes into a new market, the fighters at the front of those waves have the potential to become stars in a different variety. While that scenario can create pressure for those involved, it is the type of charge Melendez has been fighting to obtain for years. He would love to be an anchor for the UFC's push into Mexico and believes the heart and tenacity he displays inside the cage is exactly the brand of scrap the passionate combat sports fanbase in Mexico can get behind.

"I embrace that and I've been asking for this for a long time," Melendez said. "You always put more pressure on yourself because of it, but it's part of the game and I'm looking forward to it. It is fun to try to be the toughest Mexican in the MMA game. I'd love to be that guy. I know I have to keep working on my Spanish and I'm working on it more and more, but I fight like a Mexican. Everyone knows that and they embrace me for it and I love it.

"I'm ready for this, and the whole thing is whether you can back it up or not. I know I can back my sh** up. When you put a lot of pressure on yourself, you have to be prepared. The worst thing is feeling like you're not prepared and not feeling confident when so much weight is on your shoulders. You have to feel confident that you are going to be able to deliver and I've felt that way for the past five years of my career. I'm ready for whatever comes my way.

****

To better understand who Melendez is as a man, it's important to get a clear picture of who he is as a fighter. Typically, in combat sports, an athlete goes to great extents to keep those elements in their lives separate, but for Melendez, the parallel being drawn between the two has little to do with ability and everything to do with growth.

Complacency and the nudging of close friend Jake Shields prompted him to start down the path of becoming a mixed martial artist back in 2002. Now, 11 years and several championships later, the thrill of the moment perception of a 20-year-old kid has given way to the life of a family man who is sharpening his craft on a quest for greatness.

"It's been up and down," Melendez said in regard to his journey. "Initially, my mindset was to walk into this cage and test myself. That was my young, 20-year-old mentality. I just wanted to go in there and fight and see what I could do. I liked the idea of getting in a real fight but without getting in trouble or getting the cops involved, you know?

"The next thing you know, I'm getting fights that come with a free trip to Hawaii. I'll take a free trip to Hawaii and some rent money. It became like a vacation in my mind. Then my next vacation came with a trip to Japan and the opportunity to make $10,000 a fight. That's a lot of money for kid in his 20s. But after you have some success, you reach a point where you realize you can be really good at this and your commitment level changes. That was the point in my career where it happened for me and I started to envision bigger things that could come. But those were great times for sure.

"But at the beginning, when I won the WEC title, it was just something fun to do," Melendez said. "When I first won that I felt like I was maybe the toughest kid in California. Honestly, I had a lot of those same feelings the first time I won the Strikeforce title when I beat Clay Guida. Things changed when I started fighting on Showtime and defending the belt because I felt like I brought some prestige to the title." 

While earning the recognition of being regarded as the best lightweight fighter in the world is high on his list, what is perhaps the most intense drive pulsing through Melendez is his mission to earn the level of respect he believes he's due.

He's spent the large majority of his career fighting outside of the UFC banner, and that was a condition that came with a stigma. Melendez may have been the best lightweight fighter in Strikeforce, but in the eyes of the fighting faithful, being a champion in the San Jose-based promotion created a "second class" perception that could never be toppled by fighting alone.

Those variables were altered when he made his long-awaited UFC debut at UFC on Fox 7. While he was no stranger to the atmosphere of a UFC event, the reality of the changes that were about to take place, exceeded every expectation he set.

"It was something I've always known, but to experience it, I know it's a different animal," Melendez said. "It's a marketing machine, and I know you have to give to get. I feel like I'm going to be able to give a lot and I'm going to embrace that. I can feel the branding difference even in a loss.

"I haven't lost in a long time, and, even with the loss, my brand went up as well as my recognition and my legitimacy just because I'm with this organization. It's great, and I'm enjoying it. I feel like they are already giving me opportunities, and it's great to be a part of the UFC. I feel like I'm certified in this sport because of it."

The hovering circumstance of success and the pressures created by a rising profile forced Melendez to grow in every aspect of his life. Where slinging leather and elbows for damage inside the cage kept his career moving forward, it wasn't going to be enough to navigate the unforgiving terrain of a rapidly moving sport.

Melendez realized he needed to increase his brand and visibility, but as a veteran of such a taxing trade, he was well-aware of the pitfalls that come from doing so without a calculated game plan in place. With that in mind, one of the biggest assets Melendez had in his corner came in the form of a tight-knit support system comprised of family and friends.

That element helped to keep him grounded and allowed him to continue his personal evolution. While it hasn't been a flawless process, Melendez has endured and thrived despite the chaos of having a profile on the rise in a sport that continues to grow at a rapid rate.

"I feel like I'm growing as a fighter and a man as well," Melendez said. "It is a lot to juggle, but it has helped me become a better fighter and handle everything in stride in my personal growth as well. It has helped my mentality as I mature in every aspect of my life, professional and personal.

"But it is a little difficult trying to mange this, doing what I'm doing, and having a family. You wish you could dedicate your entire life to training, but that's just not possible when you have a family. Growing as you go along and the maturity I've experienced in the process has definitely helped me improve my fighting skills and the mental aspect of my game as well. 

"Fighting does define me because, if I perform there, it is because I'm performing in the other important aspects of my life. Also, the more success I have as a fighter, the more it is going to improve the other areas. It all connects and trickles down."

****

With his bout against Sanchez less than a month away, Melendez is putting the final pieces of the puzzle together. His fight against the TUF winner will be his first in seven years where there isn't a title on the line, but it will also mark the first time in that stretch where he will have to do his work inside of a 15-minute time limit.

This is a huge factor in Melendez's opinion because he knows the impact those circumstances will have on the pace of the fight. Both he and Sanchez are notorious for setting a furious pace, and Melendez is expecting an all-out war in Houston.

When it comes to grueling battles inside the cage, Melendez is no stranger. His trilogy with Josh Thomson was one of the most impressive series in MMA history as the two champions fought tooth and nail to determine lightweight supremacy under the Strikeforce banner.

While he doesn't necessarily subscribe to the notion Thomson is the toughest 155-pound fighter in the world, he certainly acknowledges how their respective styles and willingness to scrap brought the best out of one another.

"Every fighter will face an opponent that defines them or brings out the best of them at a certain point in their career," Melendez said. "In the case with Josh Thomson and I, everyone was waiting for that fight to happen, and it's great to have that opponent that brings the best out of you.

"MMA has so many dimensions. It's not just boxing, wrestling, or jiu-jitsu. You have to be able to beat your opponents with your particular style. But there is that one matchup where the guy is almost like your kryptonite. He can do the same things you can do but it's just a little bit different where it makes the fight competitive. It could be the hardest guy you ever fight in your life but may not be the toughest guy in the division.

"What happened between Jon Jones and Alex Gustafsson on Saturday night was some seriously undeniable magic out there. It was amazing to see Jones rise to the occasion and battle through adversity. I think even people who don't know what the sport is would be intrigued by that. When two fighters match up in that unique way, and bring the best out of one another, special things can happen."

To prepare for what Sanchez could bring to the table, the former Strikeforce champion has looked to his past for elements he can bring to his present game. Where Melendez has always displayed determination and toughness, those raw elements steadily take a back seat as his progression in the more technical aspects of his craft continues.

Nevertheless, it was that fire and love of the scrap that set him on the path to becoming what it is today. Rather than turn his back on what has fueled the journey thus far, Melendez has found away to harness those attributes and use them to elevate his abilities at this stage of his career.

"The toughness and that fire is definitely there," Melendez said. "It's almost something you keep trying to reach back into as you try to become this technical and perfect fighter because the beast is what brought you there. Trying to maintain both of them is difficult. You want to fight technical and with finesse at the same time as tap into that toughness, but it's a hard thing to do. I always try to go back to my younger years and try to keep some of that same mentality, but as time has gone on, it is difficult to summon the beast everyday for training.

"That being said, I do know how to summon that beast. I know how to peak out at the right time. I am passionate about this sport. I'm passionate about the way I perform and I will always come in prepared. The beast will always come out because of it."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Under the still-dormant lights of Fremont Street, illuminated with only the waning rays of dusk that peaked through towering hotel and casino buildings, competitors for the Lion Fight 11 event weighed in on the main stage in front of The D Hotel and Casino. Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino and Cosmo Alexandre each made their weight and are now officially ready for the nationally televised muay thai bouts set for Friday, Sept. 20.

It is just the second muay thai fight in the career of Cyborg, while Alexandre will be returning to his roots and looking to add a 41st win to his already illustrious thai boxing career.

Long-time MMA and kickboxing commentator “The Voice” Michael Schiavello was on hand at the weigh-ins and took time to discuss the keys to victory for each of the MMA veterans and their respective opponents.

"Cosmo is a former world champion and former intercontinental champion so for him it is about coming back to muay thai after a bit of an absence form the sport. It's going to take some readjustment. He'll come in a little bit cold against a former champion in Nampon.

"It is going to be getting his footwork right again and getting the distance and the timing right. But it's his natural fighting style so its like riding a bike [and] something you never forget. I'm just hoping he can open up quick and fast in the first round and jump on Nampon."

Schiavello felt Cosmo's opponent, Nampon, who holds a 94-35 record, will have the upper hand if he is allowed to establish a rhythm.

“Nampon is the type of guy that if you let him establish his rhythm, particularly with his back-leg front kick, and he puts you in the clinch—you don't want to be in the third, fourth or fifth round with him."

The Voice saw Cyborg as having more of an uphill battle when it came to readjusting to the muay thai style. She faces 30-year-old Jennifer Columb.

"For Cyborg, she does have some muay thai experience, but she hasn't fought muay thai in a long time. So for her the transition might be more difficult.

"It might be beneficial for her that her opponent switched up on her at the last minute. It's an opponent that comes in on late notice. The opponent hasn't trained as long for Cyborg. But the risks are there.

"Colomb tends to drop her hands, particularly with her hand combinations, and against Cyborg, that's a big mistake. She clocks you over the top with a right hand and her strength gives her the equivalent of a much larger woman hitting you with the same technique."

When asked if Colomb has a chance against Cyborg, Schiavello responded with an emphatic, “definitely.”

“It depends if you have a smart game plan.

"Cyborg's key to success is to get in close and bully her early. Get in close, grab the clinch, wrestle her standing, dump [Colomb] to the canvas and try to get a big punch off.

"But you can negate that if you're smart by moving around the ring, smashing leg kicks, taking out Cyborg's thighs—that will slow down [Cyborg's] punches a lot.

"I'd say don't swing for the jaw line or swing to the head too early on Cyborg. I'd move around her for a round, take her legs out, slow her down and in the second round start to pick her off a little more.”

Colomb herself had strong words of confidence when asked about her opponent. Through an interpreter, Colomb stated, “If Cyborg throws a punch, I will throw a kick. If she throws a kick, I will throw a punch. I will fight muay thai.”

When asked what her game plan was coming into the fight, Colomb simply replied, “domination.”

Lion Fight 11 airs on AXS TV at 10 p.m. EDT.

ZG Harris is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Stone. Cold. Impressive.

Every prospect in mixed martial arts becomes that way by earning accolades of this nature, but every now and again, one fighter will show a level of potential that deserves more than basic descriptive adjectives.

In regard to surging lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov, cliched terms barely do justice to the performances he's displayed inside the cage. At 23 years old, the Dagestani-born fighter brought a 16-fight winning streak and an undefeated record into the UFC fold. Now, 21 months and four fights later, "The Eagle's" record remains flawless as he's defeated a collection of talented veterans on his climb up the lightweight divisional ladder.

The AKA-trained fighter submitted Kamal Shalarous in the third round of their tilt at UFC on FX 1 in January of 2012, then earned the unanimous decision nod over one of the longest-tenured lightweights on the UFC roster in Gleison Tibau six months later at UFC 148. 

He followed up that performance by scoring a blistering knockout at the expense of Thiago Tavares at UFC on FX 7 in January. Where Nurmagomedov had displayed a strong game in his first two outings, his first-round drubbing of Tavares proved he has legitimate one-shot put-away power.

In his most recent showing against Abel Trujillo at UFC 160 in May, Nurmagomedov's heralded wrestling skills reached a new level as he recorded a UFC record 21 takedowns en route to his lopsided steamrolling of the Team Blackzilians fighter. 

In the lead-up to the fight, especially at the weigh-ins, things became heated between the two fighters. While Nurmagomedov wasn't able to put Trujillo away, he used the entire three rounds of the fight to prove his dominance.

"The guy disrespected me backstage," Nurmagomedov said. "I was composed and controlled my emotions. We were planning to grapple and our goal was to finish the fight, but unfortunately it did not go the way we planned."

On the strength of incredible performances in back-to-back outings, Nurmagomedov began to set his sights on the biggest names in the 155-pound division. His first target was former title challenger Nate Diaz, and when no traction was gained in that direction, the talented made a play to welcome MMA legend B.J. Penn back to the cage.

While neither bout came to fruition, reaching for those lofty goals at such an early stage of his career is an example of the the type of motivation Nurmagomedov possesses. He believes he's one of the best lightweights on the planet and has no issue proving his status.

"I still say that," he added. "I train everyday. I think I'm ready for any fighter in the division."

The next challenge the 24-year-old will face will come this Saturday night when he squares off with Pat Healy at UFC 165. The gritty veteran is in the midst of a career resurgence as he's collect six consecutive victories. Healy earned his seventh-straight win when he defeated Jim Miller in his return to the Octagon at UFC 159, but a failed post-fight drug test turned the bout into a "no contest."

Despite having the victory overturned, Healy is still a fixture in the next tier of the lightweight division—a position Nurmagomedov is eager to obtain. While he has a solid track record behind him, Nurmagomedov believes the next chapter of his career is set to begin in Toronto.

"I think it is a beginning," Nurmagomedov said. "I am going to fight top 10 and there will be a lot more for the fans to see. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. 

"[Healy] is a big guy who has a good winning streak. I like this matchup, and a win over him will move me up the ranks. I have a few surprises for him in this fight. Anything can happen in a fight, but I have some good stuff for Pat Healy."

While Nurmagomedov's rise through the UFC ranks has been noteworthy, he's one of many talented fighters that have emerged from Dagestan. The Russian Republic has launched a new wave in mixed martial arts as Dagestani fighters have been spilling onto the sport's biggest stages and finding success in large supply.

The San Jose transplant feels the talent has always been there, but, until now, fighters from Dagestan lacked the proper representation to get them to the big shows.

"We always had good fighters but we were lacking management," Nurmagomedov said. "I think with the help of my mangers, Sam Kardan and Mike Constantino, we are going to see a lot more fighters coming out of the region."

With MVC management at the helm of Nurmagomedov's career, Mike Constantino has a front-row seat to the prospect's climb. As one of the fight game's most highly regarded reps and the ever-rare trainer/manager, Constantino has an excellent grasp on what it takes for a fighter to succeed in the grind of MMA.

In Nurmagomedov, Constantino sees all the necessary tools for the Russian fighter to make it to the top of the mountain and believes he possesses the critical intangibles that make a UFC title possible in his future.

"He is a gamer," Constantino said. "He brings his level up when he fights, and that is what makes champions. He has all the skill sets as well as heart and will. Khabib will be a champion."

Whether Nurmagomedov lives up to the expectations and will continue to grow throughout his career remains to be seen, but what is set in stone is the confidence and self-belief he carries with him into the cage.

Despite his age and having been on the UFC roster for less than two years, Nurmagomedov has made substantial progress. While a victory over Pat Healy on Saturday night won't earn him an immediate shot at UFC gold, a win in Toronto will bring him one step closer to achieving the ultimate goal.

Nurmagomedov is set on becoming the UFC lightweight champion and will do whatever it takes to turn that dream into reality.

Right now, Pat Healy is obstructing his path to the top, and Nurmagomedov is game for the challenge.

He's looking to obtain victory at UFC 165 in any form or fashion—and if the fight turns into a gritty affair that becomes an all-out war—it won't bother him one bit.

In his mind, he's born to do this.

And one day soon, he just might prove that he can do it better than anyone else.

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov is arguably the promotion’s best-kept secret, boasting a rarely-seen 20-0 record, including a 4-0 mark inside the Octagon.

Despite his impressive resume, “The Eagle” is generally absent on the top 10 rankings of the UFC’s 155-pound division. His manager, Sam Kardan, says his camp doesn't worry about petty things like arbitrary fighter rankings.

“It does not bother us, because once he is a titleholder, that will change,” Kardan, the manager of the Russian-based Ref Fury Fight Team, told Bleacher Report.

“He is not well-known as he fought primarily in Russia. After this fight, we shall see him move up the ranks.”

The 24-year-old grappling ace—a freestyle wrestling standout with a Sambo background and a Judo black belt to boot—has seen little opposition inside the Octagon.

His first four opponents have had no answers for his highlight-reel suplexes and smothering top control.

On paper, he faces the toughest challenge of his career in Pat Healy at UFC 165 this Saturday, another high-pressure grappler who hasn’t lost since June 2010.

Healy made his UFC debut at UFC 159 in April, choking out Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Jim Miller on his home turf in Newark, New Jersey.

Unfortunately for the Team Quest fighter, he failed his post-fight drug test for marijuana and the win was overturned to a no contest, costing him $130,000 in bonuses (via Sherdog).

While Kardan respects Healy’s talent and ability, he seems certain his fighter will once again taste victory.

“Healy is an accomplished grappler; certainly is a threat to any lightweight in the UFC. I think Khabib’s wrestling and striking is an advantage here and will determine the fight in Khabib’s favor. Khabib wins by unanimous decision.” 

While Kardan also expressed that Nurmagomedov “deserves a title shot,” he noted he wouldn't mind seeing his client square off with a top 5 lightweight first. 

When asked what opponent would make sense at that point, The Red Fury Fight Team manager suggested Rafael dos Anjos.

Dos Anjos is fresh off a win over former WEC lightweight champ Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 27 late last month, his fifth straight victory since May 2012. 

With the BJJ black belt’s wrestling and striking rapidly improving, a potential showdown with Nurmagomedov sounds like an entertaining scrap to determine the next 155-pound title contender. 

Of course, that all changes if Healy is able to once again beat the odds and take out the highly-touted Russian grappler this weekend in Toronto, Canada.

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.