One of Canada's most rapidly climbing prospects is getting close to landing a UFC deal.
CFFC welterweight champion Yohan Lainesse (7-0) is scheduled to face fellow unbeaten British prospect Justin Burlinson (6-0) on Dana White's Contender Series.
At 29, Lainesse hopes to follow Jasmine Jasudavicius, Chad Anheliger, and Mike Malott as the fourth Canadian to secure a UFC contract on this year's DWCS edition. It represents a major milestone for Lainesse, yet he feels his career path has equipped him well for the occasion.
"My championship bout in CFFC brought me a lot of stress and emotion. I don't think I've ever stressed like that in the locker room and I ended up doing well," Lainesse told MMA Empire during an interview.
"I believe it was a good warmup for me to fight for the belt. It was a very emotional fight and a big fight for me. Obviously, there's going to be some pressure with Dana White present, but I'm ready for it. I'm going to be more focused than ever."
As he steps into the cage Tuesday evening with a UFC contract at stake, Quebec's Lainesse has already established a strong reputation in a relatively brief span, thanks to spectacular knockouts and title-winning displays in CFFC.
With each appearance, Lainesse has grown more self-assured, and by remaining injury-free he's kept an active pace throughout the past year.
"The knockout of the year with CFFC, a tough three-round fight with Troy Green, and after that fighting for the belt and being the first to finish Evan Cutts in 17 fights gives me a lot of confidence," Lainesse noted.
"It shows me that I'm somewhat special in this sport. I haven't been doing this that long—I only went full-time five years ago. This will be my fifth fight in just over a calendar year, so I think it's a lot but I don't have damage from my last fights or any injuries so I'm in a good mood and I have a lot of confidence that I'm on my way and I'm not going to stop."
Standing on the brink of the most significant chance of his fighting life, Lainesse insists he's precisely positioned for what comes next. The "White Lion" has overhauled several aspects of his preparation, bringing on a Canadian MMA icon to serve in his corner.
"By far my best training camp because in my last training camp and my past fights I was a little bit more by myself," Lainesse explained.
"I chose my training partners. I was also a kickboxing coach, so I was sparring with some of my students. I kind of planned out my own training camp. Now, for this fight, I go with Patrick Cote. He's my head coach and he structures everything and manages my training camp. I do a lot of conditioning with him and he decides who I spar. Physically and mentally it was a very hard camp, but I know I'm at the top of my game right now."
With a solid foundation in kickboxing and a tall, athletic frame, Lainesse's hands are something opponents and commentators frequently point out.
Beyond those well-documented striking abilities, though, Lainesse has been looking forward to a moment where he can prove he can compete across the board.
"Everyone knows I'm a good striker, but everyone thinks I just want to work on my striking and fight on the feet. I know I have a lot of standup skills and great knockouts, but I don't consider myself a striker. I want to be a mixed martial artist," Lainesse said.
"I'm a grinder, I love wrestling and BJJ and I feel like I haven't been able to show a lot of my skills there. I know I have a lot more weapons to show."
Lainesse anticipates Tuesday night against the versatile Burlinson as his chance to display the full range of his arsenal.
He holds genuine admiration for the man he'll face inside the octagon, yet believes he sits a notch above in both raw ability and how thoroughly he's prepared.
"I'm very excited for this fight because I know Justin Burlinson is very good on the ground and his feet too. I think we're going to have a lot of exchanges everywhere and I think you'll see a bit of everything," Lainesse said.
"Of course, I've looked at all of his fights. He's had a lot, but he's never really been tested before. He always wins fairly easily. His last fight was against David Bear who's a good fighter, but I'm a different animal. I focus on myself. I know the guy is good, but when I train I get ready to fight a world champion. In my mind I'm going to fight the best in the world. I prepare for every situation and make sure I have an answer for every question. I feel like I know what he wants to do out there and that's my biggest advantage."
Lainesse's Shoutouts
"All my sponsors and my team. Special thanks to Patrick Cote, Jean-Francois Gaudreau and the XPN Centre." Follow Lainesse on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
