Canada's Wilson (6-3) sees this as the perfect moment to demonstrate he's ready to move forward in his career.
He'll face off against the United States' Jose Johnson (11-6) in a bantamweight bout headlining SHP 57 in Northport, Alabama on Saturday evening.
Though Johnson recently competed on Dana White's Contender Series this summer, the 28-year-old Wilson believes a victory could open the door to a UFC contract fight before the calendar year wraps up.
"I know the Contender Series returns in November, but I'm not entirely certain how long the program will run," Wilson told MMA Empire. "If I can secure a quick win without injury, perhaps I can earn a spot toward the end of the series."
"Defeating someone coming straight from the Contender Series would be a serious accomplishment."
Wilson's most recent cage appearance ended in a unanimous decision defeat against Matthew DiMarcantonio at BTC 8 in November 2019.
That setback taught Wilson he cannot rely on a single strategy when fight night arrives.
"Against DiMarcantonio, I was locked into one approach—I never developed backup plans. It was just push forward repeatedly," Wilson explained.
"This time around, I'm working to build more options, more weapons in my arsenal. I need additional paths to take the fight to the ground and varied methods to strike effectively on the feet. I have to expand my range more than before."
Wilson prepared fro Johnson's flashy striking
Johnson has established himself as a potent striker, with seven of his eleven professional victories coming by way of knockout.
After reviewing some of his latest bouts, Wilson noted there's no mystery surrounding Johnson's game plan once they step between the ropes.
"Johnson's a rangy striker, and the game plan for both of us is fairly clear," Wilson explained.
"He'll look to throw strikes, while I'll be aiming to take him to the mat. His grappling isn't exactly strong."
In the bantamweight class, Johnson towers over most of his competition at 6'0″ with a 74-inch wingspan.
However, Wilson emphasized that when facing Johnson, the focus isn't on the height and reach disparity—it's about shutting down his rhythm.
"It goes beyond his size and reach; it's how he approaches a fight. You can't allow him to build momentum, because once he does, that's when he produces all those highlight-reel finishes," Wilson said.
"My job is to keep pressing forward, maintain constant pressure, and force him backward."
Wilson's Shoutouts
"I'd like to thank Tristar Gym, Hayabusa, Janus Sports, ESS Fight, Bubba's Pizzeria, ESS Fight, Absolute Accuracy Tiling App, and Kaufman Homes, Sharon Wilson Re/Max." Follow Wilson on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
