Kajic Set to Defend Belt Against BFL-Newcomer Centeno at BFL 63

Like most of Dejan Kajic's bouts, you'd be wise to stay glued to this one.

Coquitlam's Kajic (11-7-2, 1 NC) steps into the cage Saturday night for the first time defending his BFL 175-pound title, taking on Ecuador's Ricardo Centeno (8-4) in the featured matchup of BFL 63 in Coquitlam, B.C.

At 34 years old, Kajic has spent his career delivering action-packed, crowd-pleasing fights, and he promises the same level of excitement awaits fans Saturday.

"I approach every fight with one goal: finish it," Kajic told reporters. "Nine of my 11 victories have ended before the bell."

"I'll study his weaknesses, identify his habits, set traps and lay out hazards. Once he triggers even one of them, I'll capitalize and either knock him out or lock in a submission."

Kajic captured the championship belt at his most recent appearance at BFL 61, dropping rising prospect Eric McConico Jr. with a first-round knockout.

Beyond securing the strap, Kajic felt that performance confirmed to himself and the wider MMA community that he's elite.

"I didn't have footage on Eric, but he had plenty on me, so I expected to play poker with my cards exposed," Kajic recalled.

"Saeid Mirzaei went three rounds with him and walked away with a draw, yet I ended him in round one. That tells you everything about where I stand."

A little over seven days earlier, Kajic's opportunity to defend his belt against Centeno nearly fell apart—not from injury or illness, but because he'd been considered as a potential replacement for Sergey Khandozhko to face Michel Pereira at UFC Vancouver.

The opening ultimately went to Tristan Connelly, a longtime friend and training partner of Kajic, who pulled off the biggest upset of the evening by defeating Pereira.

Though Kajic admitted he was eager for his own shot, he expressed genuine happiness that Connelly earned the opportunity—and noted that landing on the short list signals he's nearing the moment his call will come.

"It was a mix of emotions," Kajic shared. "Part of me was disappointed I didn't get the contract, but I still felt proud to have been part of his corner."

"This experience also proves they're paying attention to me now. Before, maybe they didn't know who I was—but now they do. That makes this next fight everything. If I dominate my opponent, I'll be the first person they reach out to for a Canadian card."

Centeno Thriving in New Home

Born in Ecuador, 28-year-old Centeno relocated to Vancouver earlier this year to join the training squad at Tristar Vancouver.

The relocation came after rumors swirled that a planned Ultimate Fighter shoot scheduled for South America had been scrapped—a platform Centeno had hoped would launch him onto the global stage.

"Once the show got cancelled, I needed to find another path into the UFC, whether that meant moving abroad or fighting elsewhere," Centeno explained during an interview.

"That's what brought me here—I'm chasing the dream."

A versatile competitor throughout his career, Centeno boasts victories via both knockdown and submission, and notably secured all eight of his triumphs inside the distance.

He says he's adaptable no matter where the bout lands, yet he'd rather see it remain on its feet so he can unleash his striking arsenal.