TRAINING: Every day I get to hit pads and work on my striking with Trevor Wittman. Three days a week I do strength and conditioning and I’m wrestling every other day.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I grew up wrestling and fighting was never something I ever dreamed about doing. I was never in a streetfight, and then I started fighting amateur fights in college and won seven in a row and after college I turned pro and I haven’t lost one. I just wanted to be the best at whatever I was doing, and that’s put me in this great position that I’m in right now.

What ranks and titles have you held? World Series of Fighting lightweight champion (five successful title defenses)

Do you have any heroes? My parents

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It’s definitely something special to me, but the way that I’m approaching this is that this fight is no different than the very first fight I ever had.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? University of Northern Colorado. I am an internship away from completing my Bachelors degree in Human Services

What was your job before you started fighting? I was a student and then I would take random jobs. I worked in demolition, I did painting, I was a bouncer at a billiards club, so anything to be able to keep training and to follow my goal.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 7-0 MMA record, 2010 Division I All-American, finished seventh in NCAA tournament

Favorite grappling technique: Blast double leg

Favorite Striking technique: Uppercut

• Pro since 2011

• 16 wins by KO, one by submission (RNC)

• Seven first round finishes

• Owns wins over UFC vets Drew Fickett, Dan Lauzon, Melvin Guillard, Brian Foster and Brian Cobb

• Has also defeated PRIDE vet Luiz Firmino and Strikeforce vet JZ Cavalcante