Canadian fighter Jesse Arnett is aiming to expand his already impressive collection of championship belts.
Arnett (18-7) will go head-to-head with Russian contender Denis Lavrentyev (11-2) for bantamweight supremacy at Parus FC 6 on Nov. 6 in Dubai, U.A.E.
The 37-year-old Canadian brings heightened self-assurance to this matchup, drawing on his experience from competing multiple times in the region during his UAE Warriors appearances.
Arnett has also spent recent months training alongside top-tier names like Robbie Lawler and Nate Marquardt at Sanford MMA, and those sessions have clearly elevated his preparation heading into the November showdown.
"Florida was a fantastic experience. I really can't say enough positive things about Sanford MMA. Henri Hooft is a great guy, and just being in that gym environment boosted my confidence enormously. There were excellent training partners everywhere. I had a solid time there, and I also managed to string together several wins while conducting quality training in Canada. It felt great to finally settle into a real camp and train MMA every single day," Arnett told MMA Empire in an interview.
"The training in Florida was full mixed martial arts practice. Back home in Canada, I sometimes had trouble finding partners willing to roll jiu-jitsu, spar boxing, or drill wrestling. Honestly, I didn't wrestle much there. Putting it all together was a challenge at times. So having complete MMA training was a welcome change. And having Robbie Lawler and my buddy Nate Marquardt come out to corner me? That meant a lot. Curtis Demarce is also stepping in to corner me."
The roster of elite-level athletes training at Sanford MMA every day is virtually endless, including the latest challenger for the UFC lightweight title.
According to Arnett, he's been training alongside Michael Chandler throughout this camp as both fighters prepare to compete on the same evening.
"Those six weeks in South Florida gave me a tremendous amount of confidence. It was incredibly cool to share a gym with Robbie Lawler and Michael Chandler. There are so many fighters there, all pushing hard toward the same objective," Arnett explained.
"There isn't a single ego in the room. Everyone's upbeat every day. Being in that setting was wonderful. Chandler's got a brutal matchup against (Justin) Gaethje. Robbie Lawler fought (Nick) Diaz early in my camp. Both are great guys for building my confidence. Feeling surrounded by world-class competitors felt amazing. I'm pumped to be part of the group."
In the buildup to this fight, Arnett has captured and defended championships across three separate promotions, including a featherweight belt.
His reputation as a prolific belt collector is well established, but this upcoming fight could produce the most prized achievement of his career to date.
"Honestly, this is the biggest fight of my career. Winning this belt would make me feel fulfilled with my career. I'm not sure how many fights I have left, to be truthful. I'm excited for Saturday night. This will be a significant mark on my record," Arnett shared.
"It's a major event with a formidable opponent. It definitely sits among my biggest potential victories. I'm looking forward to stepping into the cage and showing my abilities once again."
Keep up with Arnett on social media: TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
