Neal Anderson (11-5) caught a genuine surprise when the opportunity landed in his lap: a showdown with Brandon Jenkins (15-9) at Unified MMA 46 in Edmonton, Alta., set for Friday evening.
For Anderson, a hometown fighter from Edmonton, hearing he'd lock horns with a former UFC competitor was nothing short of thrilling—especially since it marks his first outing since parting ways with the UFC. The Canadian firmly believes he belongs at that elite tier and views this matchup as his shot to demonstrate it to the world.
"I was absolutely fired up, and I know it's going to be a serious challenge," Anderson told MMA Empire.
"He's competed in both the PFL and the UFC, so this is going to be a real gauge of where I stand right now and whether I can stack up against fighters who've reached that upper echelon. I genuinely believe I can, though MMA is all about finding out come September 23."
With Jenkins on the opposing side, Anderson anticipates a striking-heavy affair, predicting both men will likely remain upright throughout the majority of the fight.
Should things unfold that way, Anderson feels he holds the edge over his opponent—but acknowledges the UFC alumnus will undoubtedly look to make a bold impression.
"From what I've gathered, he leans toward stand-up exchanges, yet he's logged roughly 26 professional bouts and trains out of Syndicate in Las Vegas, which means he has to bring a complete skill set to the table," Anderson noted.
"We're fairly even on our feet, and while he's naturally a southpaw, he frequently changes stances mid-fight. I expect it to be a compelling striking exchange and plenty of action on the feet. He'll likely want to send a message proving the UFC made a mistake letting him go, so he'll be out to teach me a lesson—but that won't be happening."
A key factor behind Anderson's belief that he can outgun Jenkins lies in his decision to step back down to lightweight.
He claims he's been stronger at 155 pounds and feels certain he'll leave with his hand raised on fight night, securing what would rank as the most significant victory of his professional career.
"I genuinely believe I'll perform much better at lightweight. I'm not completely shutting the door on a featherweight comeback, but I just feel far more comfortable at lightweight. I'll accept whatever form the victory takes—I've visualized numerous paths to winning this fight, but it certainly won't be simple," Anderson explained.
Keep up with Anderson on social media: INSTAGRAM
