Powell River, B.C.'s Nicolas Ouellet (2-0) meets Ottawa, Ont.'s Mateo Vogel (5-2) for the BFL featherweight title at BFL 72. This showdown takes place on April 28 from the Harbour Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C. and airs on UFC Fight Pass.
Ouellet, 25, has previously captured a BFL championship during his amateur days and now aims to bring home the same honor on the professional stage.
"Oh, it means a lot, man. Obviously, it's surreal," Ouellet told MMA Empire in a recent interview.
"It's a massive opportunity and I'm just thankful, man. Grateful to be in this position to fight for the BFL featherweight title. I'm excited to showcase my skills, man."
The fighter has kept his focus squarely on the immediate challenge rather than getting caught up in the spotlight of UFC Fight Pass or the prestige of a title bout.
Ouellet's perspective on Vogel reveals a healthy appreciation for the difficulty of the matchup and an eagerness to pursue high-stakes opportunities.
"We all kind of analyze tape. I don't watch too much tape because I'm not too worried about what he's going to do. I'm more worried about what I want to do in there. But yeah, he's dangerous, man. I like that he's a really up-and-coming guy and really highly-touted grappling. He looked very sharp and that's what I want," Ouellet explained.
"I want to fight the guys that are right up there in everybody's minds so that when I do beat him, I'm taking that spot. I'm taking those dangerous fights and I think Mateo is the perfect opponent for me. I think he's a grappler, I'm a grappler. But I have underrated striking and I'm excited to show it."
Follow Ouellet on social media: INSTAGRAM
