Michael Dufort is not short on confidence, and he will look to show why on Friday night.

Montreal, Que.’s Dufort (8-3) will take on one of his toughest tests to date in UFC veteran Kyle Prepolec (14-7) in the lightweight main event of Samourai MMA 1 in Montreal.

Dufort, 27, has long been recognized as one Canada’s brightest prospects to watch in the lightweight division, but Dufort is looking to show why he’s more than just a prospect.

“I’m an elite athlete. I train with guys like Olivier Aubin-Mercier. He was once a top 15 in the world lightweight fighter, so I train with him and we have some hard, crazy sparring. I’m an elite fighter and I know I can bring some intensity to the fight,” said Dufort in an interview with MMA Empire.

“I know I’m one of the best lightweights in the world right now and I’m only looking forward to prove it. Kyle Prepolec is the next step and I’ll be ready to take every step I need to prove I am the best.”

Prepolec will be the third UFC veteran Dufort has faced in his young career so far, having already shared the cage with Jesse Ronson and Kyle Nelson.

Dufort is hopeful that a win over Prepolec on Friday night will lead to his much-desired call to join the UFC roster.

“Hopefully we will receive that call, the call we’ve been waiting for. You know what it is, it’s the UFC. We’re waiting for the UFC,” said Dufort.

“Canada has great athletes and we just want to prove ourselves. Give me that call and I will show you how great I am.”

Despite his confidence in coming out victorious on Friday night, Dufort said he’s not underestimating Prepolec and what he brings to the table.

He said he has a lot of respect for Prepolec and is expecting a challenging test.

“Man, he’s a great fighter. No one can say he’s not a great fighter because he’s fought in the UFC, he has great standup and he had a good fight with Nordine Taleb, who is a dangerous guy on the feet,” said Dufort.

“I’m looking forward to this fight. I’m ready for everything; I’m ready to hit him, I’m ready to take him down, I’m ready to submit him, I’m ready for the TKO, I’m ready for everything.”

With six of his eight professional wins coming by way of submission, it’s no secret where Dufort is looking to take the fight when he steps in the cage. And he has no problem not disguising that.

He said he feels he will have a big advantage over Prepolec on the ground and will be looking to take that route to victory once again.

“My jiu-jitsu is great and I know he can’t match my ground game. I just received my brown belt too,” said Dufort.

“I have a good ground game, so hopefully he worked his takedown defence because I’m going to go for his neck.”

Dufort’s Shoutouts

“I want to thank everybody that’s a member of Team Dufort.” Follow Dufort on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM