Michael Hill and Bobby Lee know full well that Friday night's card could offer something far bigger than a CFFC championship.
The Canadian Hill (11-4-1) will clash with the American, Lee (11-4), headlining CFFC 85 in Tunica, Mississippi, where the victor walks away with the CFFC interim welterweight championship.
Lee was initially booked to square off against reigning CFFC welterweight champion Jeremiah Wells, but Wells pulled out of the matchup, paving the way for Hill to fill the spot.
At 33, Hill views the bout as both a shot to re-enter the UFC's conversation and a moment to stack more accolades onto his growing resume.
"It would mean a lot," Hill told MMA Empire. "I'd have a big Canadian promotion and a big American promotion. It'll just add to my legacy. That's what it's all about; that's what life's about, building that legacy."
"Someday, when I open my own gym and my grandkids are running around calling me Grandpa or Great-Grandpa, I won't just be telling stories. The belts are right there as proof from legitimate number-one organizations in both countries."
CFFC has established itself as a springboard into the UFC for several of its fighters, with Kyle Daukaus, Miranda Granger, and Sean Brady among those who've made the jump.
Lee, 24, acknowledged that capturing the title could vault him toward a UFC opportunity, but said even fighting for a CFFC belt validates him as one of the top prospects without a major promotion.
"What was cool about getting put in that fight with Jeremiah Wells originally is they recognized I'm one of the best fighters in the world not in a major organization," Lee told MMA Empire.
"CFFC is just on the edge of being one of those major promotions with the big paydays. I win this belt and I really am recognized as one of the best, not just in the country, but in the world, outside of a major organization. Then, we can move forward from there, whether it's Bellator or UFC."
Hill is battle-tested
Hill has plenty of experience with five-round fights, having fought for titles three times in his career and completing all 25 minutes twice. His last eight bouts have all gone the distance.
Should this contest extend deep into the later rounds, Hill feels he holds the edge over Lee, whose career includes just five fights that reached the full five rounds.
"Anytime a fight goes five rounds, my conditioning has been my best weapon since day one. I've been there and got through that kind of stuff, and it's a huge advantage," Hill said.
"Being in that position would obviously be a positive for me, but I really don't see it going past two rounds."
Hill's most recent cage appearance came in August 2018, when he earned a five-round unanimous decision over Matt Krayco at XFFC 19 to claim the XFFC welterweight title.
Even though he left with the gold around his waist, Hill said he took away an important lesson: he needs to be more aggressive in finishing opponents when chances appear.
"I need to kill the animal when I got it hurt. I'm too nice of a guy; I think having a daughter really flipped a switch in my mindset. I'm just very cautious because obviously I don't want to take that L because I want to get to the big show," Hill said.
"I just wasn't mean enough. Krayco was hurt. I had him hurt, I had him broke, he was saying quit. He was saying to stop the fight, and I should've went in for the kill right there."
Fight cancellations aside, a nagging back injury that sidelined him for most of the past two years contributed to Hill's lengthy layoff from competition.
Hill admitted the long absence was difficult, but he said the toughest part was turning down a UFC opportunity.
