For Cole Smith, this is the moment he's chased throughout his entire professional journey.
The Squamish native, who holds an unbeaten 7-0 record (Smith (7-0)), steps onto the UFC's grandest stage just under an hour from where he grew up, welcoming Miles Johns (9-0) into the promotion for a bantamweight matchup on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 16: Vancouver.
Though Smith has fought before in his home province on the regional circuit, he told reporters that having the chance to compete for the UFC in front of friends and family feels like a dream realized.
"What an incredible feeling," Smith shared during a media interview. "I get to step inside Rogers Arena, a venue where some of the most legendary performers in history have graced the stage, and now I'm getting to do the same thing right here in front of people who actually know me."
"My hometown of Squamish has been nothing but supportive, and I'm counting on all 20,000 of them showing up to cheer me on."
While Smith's primary training base is The Sound Martial Arts back home in Squamish, he regularly splits his time across various facilities throughout British Columbia, working alongside some of the province's top-tier fighters.
A tight-knit collective of athletes from multiple gyms, including Tristan Connelly, Jamie Siraj, and Achilles Estremadura, has formed a competitive training environment that Smith says produces some of the sharpest sparring sessions anywhere in Canada.
"It's truly remarkable what's happening in Vancouver right now," Smith noted. "All the fighters who want to push themselves toward the highest levels are finally uniting."
"People have either crossed paths with each other at this point, or they're just not meant to meet. Now everyone's coming together. Saturday's lineup at Checkmat is absolutely electric. It's incredibly motivating."
Smith arrives at Saturday's card riding a winning streak from his UFC debut at UFC Ottawa, where he secured a unanimous decision against seasoned UFC vet Mitch Gagnon.
Despite the significance of that victory early in his MMA career, Smith insists it's behind him now and carries no weight moving forward.
"That result doesn't define anything anymore," Smith explained. "That bout happened four months back, and this sport only cares about what you're doing today. What have you done for me lately?"
"I closed that chapter and turned my attention to what's next. Every opponent presents something unique. I've got a fresh test ahead and I'm fully prepared."
Johns Ready to Step Onto the Big Stage
At 25 years old, Johns finds himself in the exact spot Smith occupied four months prior — preparing for his first UFC appearance.
After securing his UFC contract through this summer's installment of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, Johns expressed gratitude for the platform and felt it served as valuable preparation for stepping into the UFC fold.
"It was an unforgettable experience," Johns reflected. "They give newcomers a fantastic opportunity to put their name on the map. Afterward, tons of people reached out on social media telling me they were excited for my UFC debut. Without the Contender Series, nobody would have known my name."
"Think of it as a game show crossed with The Hunger Games. I genuinely loved it — it's a once-in-a-lifetime situation, and I wanted to soak up every second."
Long before his Contender Series clash with Richie Santiago, Johns had already been battling among the top bantamweights outside the UFC in the LFA, where he captured the promotion's bantamweight title by defeating Adrian Yanez at LFA 55.
Johns believes the quality of opponents he faced while competing in LFA, paired with his Contender Series run, will equip him to handle the nerves and pressure surrounding a UFC debut.
"My entire career has been building toward this moment," Johns said. "LFA consistently fields elite-level fighters. You watch multiple champions emerge from that organization."
"I don't flinch under pressure. I tend to elevate my game to match whoever I'm facing, and more often than not, I push myself even higher to overcome them."
Saturday's fight marks a considerable distance from Johns' home of Dallas, Texas, but sits just a short drive from Smith's hometown.
Yet even as the challenger stepping into familiar territory, Johns described the matchup as exactly the kind of bout he's dreamed about throughout his career.
"I think it adds an extra layer of intensity to the cage since he'll be carrying that fighting-at-home energy, and honestly, that's what I thrive on. I love going head-to-head with the finest competitors in the world on the sport's grandest stages. That's why I do this," Johns said.
"I'm eager to walk into hostile territory and hopefully walk out with some new fans cheering my name."
Smith's Acknowledgments
"I want to extend my appreciation to my hometown, Squamish, The Sound Martial Arts, all my coaches, and my sponsors: MJS Glazing, True Grit Drywall, and Sunny Chibas." Connect with Smith online: INSTAGRAM
