Nick Hrabec is no stranger to the Unified MMA cage, and now he's stepping into the biggest moment of his fighting career.
Edmonton, Alta.'s Hrabec (8-5) faces off against Canadian MMA vet Tim Smith (16-12) in the co-main event of Unified MMA 49 on Saturday night in Edmonton. The matchup goes down at 165 pounds.
The 28-year-old Hrabec is set to compete in his 12th bout inside the Unified MMA cage, looking to mirror the journey of one of his longtime coaches, friends, and training partners.
"If I step in there and put on a strong performance, maybe even a great one, I think that puts me right in the mix for a title shot," Hrabec told MMA Empire.
"I know Shane (Campbell) holds the belt; I'd never challenge him. That's my OG, that's my brother. But honestly, the guy's too talented for the regional scene. He deserves a UFC contract after his next fight. My boy Shane's going to take care of business, capture that title, and I'm confident he'll get called up to the UFC. I'm sure he'd be happy to hand off the 155-pound strap so I can go after it against someone else."
Being placed in the co-main event marks the first time Hrabec has ever held such a high-profile position on a card, which will also stream on UFC Fight Pass.
He believes this is the ideal platform to demonstrate his true potential.
"I think the exposure is going to be massive for me. I think people are finally going to see what I'm truly capable of. I feel like most fans still haven't witnessed my real ability — I feel like they've only caught 20 per cent of what I can do," Hrabec explained.
"I think I'm really going to showcase what I bring to the table, that I'm an up-and-coming talent and the next big thing to come out of Edmonton."
When Hrabec took his first step onto the amateur circuit in 2012, Smith had already finished nineteen pro bouts.
Hrabec admitted Smith was one of the fighters he followed as a kid, and he considers himself lucky to share octagon space with the veteran.
"The first Unified show I ever attended, Smith was on the card — I was barely eighteen and still new to training," recalled Hrabec.
"It's an incredible opportunity to go toe-to-toe with him. He's been around the block, and I have nothing but admiration for what he's accomplished. We're both from Edmonton too, so this should be a crowd pleaser — I truly believe this is the people's main event."
So far in his MMA career, Hrabec has faced opponents including Garret Nybakken and Behrang Yousefi, yet he concedes Smith will probably present his steepest challenge yet.
With such a demanding matchup looming, Hrabec also thinks it could be the finest performance he's delivered to this point.
"He's been in the ring with so many different fighters, he's a pioneer in this sport, and he brings plenty of experience — without question this is the toughest challenge I've faced," Hrabec explained.
"At the same time, I feel this will be my strongest outing yet. I'm the rising talent from Edmonton, and I intend to prove I'm the next big thing coming out of this city when the lights hit on Saturday."
Hrabec's shoutouts
"My coaches and training partners at Wolfhouse and Shaved Bears MMA, and my strength and conditioning coach, Mike." Follow Hrabec on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
