Both Saeid Mirzaei and Tre'ston Vines are riding high on self-assurance and plenty of fire heading into their clash.
Canada's Mirzaei (2-0-1) is set to battle the United States' Vines (3-0) in a welterweight matchup at SHP 57, taking place on Saturday evening in Northport, Alabama.
The 28-year-old Mirzaei arrives at this card fresh from a victory over 16-fight vet Nicolae Cury at Rise FC 4. That contest came in only his third professional outing, yet it ultimately earned him the Rise FC 175-pound championship belt.
Mirzaei says that triumph over Cury significantly boosted his confidence, instilling in him the conviction that he can defeat any welterweight currently competing on the regional circuit.
"Nicolae was a judo world champion, he was a professional for 11 years, and he trained with a lot of UFC veterans, so I believe beating him gave me the confidence I can beat anyone on this circuit to get to the UFC," Mirzaei told MMA Empire in an interview.
"He (Vines) doesn't possess the grappling, takedowns, or jiu-jitsu that Nicolae brought to the table. Nicolae was also a far more experienced striker than him. He's a solid athlete with real talent, martial arts background, and skill, but he simply isn't at my level, and I'll prove that come November 7."
Vines, 24, enters this bout after securing a second-round TKO over Bryan McDowell at SHP 55, a result that pushed his knockout streak to three consecutive finishes.
Vines says that victory reinforced his ongoing development into a more reliable competitor—a quality he's consistently aimed to cultivate.
"Spectacular consistency. One thing I always remind myself is legendary glory, phenomenal fortune," Vines shared in his conversation with MMA Empire.
"I've been pursuing this dream since I was a kid. I've wanted to be a fighter since I was five or six years old."
New opportunities for Mirzaei
Just like Canadian fighters everywhere right now, Mirzaei had to search beyond Canada's borders to find a fight, as MMA promotions have been suspended domestically because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Mirzaei explained that he recently partnered with LCManagement, which ultimately paved the way for him to take the bout against Vines.
"I was working with a couple lawyers here in Vancouver, but I didn't feel like they had the connections or cared that much, so I cut ties with them and signed with an agent in the States who got me this fight," Mirzaei said.
"He's got a lot of fighters into the UFC, he's got my back, and we're working well together."
Before Saturday's matchup with Vines, Mirzaei had competed his entire professional career within his home province of British Columbia.
Looking ahead, however, Mirzaei says he wants to build greater recognition on the global stage and begin earning worldwide attention.
"I would like to start fighting more in the States, even in Bellator. I'm also open to fighting in Asia and Europe," Mirzaei said.
"Pretty much wherever there's an opponent, an opportunity to shine, show my skills, make some money, have some fun, and get another win on my record, I'm open to it. I believe I have the skills to be the best welterweight in the world."
Across his professional tenure, Mirzaei hasn't hesitated to end contests before the final bell sounds, finishing 13 of his 18 combined professional and amateur victories.
Even though Vines has been finished just twice in 15 combined professional and amateur contests, Mirzaei insists he'll be the third fighter to accomplish that feat.
"Anything can happen in a fight, but god-willing I'm going to take him out, as usual," Mirzaei said.
"It's going to be semi-easy work. I don't think he's too much of a challenge and I don't think he's on my level. I give him all the respect for his talent and his knockout wins, but I think it was against much lower-level opponents, and I'm ready to take him out."
Vines has no intent of rushing career
With a perfect professional record and every victory coming via knockout, Vines has established himself as one of the sport's most promising young talents.
A victory against Mirzaei might finally earn him some attention from major promotions, but Vines insists he's not ready to fast-track his career despite the opportunity.
"I certainly envision myself competing in larger events down the line," Vines explained. "But at this stage, I'm focused on accumulating fight experience first. Rushing into bigger opportunities now would, in my view, be a mistake."
"I need this period to develop my skills properly. If I push too hard too quickly, there's a 90% chance I could damage my career trajectory. My approach is to climb steadily, make thoughtful decisions, and absorb everything the sport has to teach me."
Even with the coronavirus pandemic disrupting much of the sports world, Vines kept fighting through 2020, making two appearances so far this year, with his latest outing occurring in August at SHP 55.
Mirzaei, meanwhile, hasn't stepped into the octagon since July 2019, missing time primarily because several opponents withdrew from scheduled bouts at the last minute.
Despite facing a lengthy 15-month absence heading into Saturday's fight, Vines refuses to dismiss any element of Mirzaei's skill set.
"My mindset is simple—never look past your opponent," Vines stated.
"When someone brings experience and recognizes they need to put in the effort, that awareness fuels their drive and determination."
Though Vines has built his reputation primarily through standup exchanges throughout his career, he's demonstrated versatility across multiple disciplines, including ground fighting and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
The Welsh fighter remains confident that regardless of how Saturday's contest unfolds, he holds advantages over Mirzaei in every area.
"I consider myself superior across the board," Vines declared. "It comes down to visualization, adaptation, and triumph. I've consistently found ways to prevail, and that's simply who I am and how I've performed throughout my entire MMA journey."
Mirzaei's Shoutouts
"I'd like to thank Nabil Salameh, Ken Tran, Titan MMA, Michael Defrancesco, and Mikhail Basharymov." Follow Mirzaei on social media: INSTAGRAM
Vines' Shoutouts
"I want to express my gratitude to everyone associated with Kagefit, both inside and outside the organization. I'd also like to acknowledge Strikehard Productions for persevering through the pandemic." Follow Vines on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
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