Dana White’s Contender Series<\/a>. If he leaves the cage-side UFC President suitably dazzled, he’ll be offered a contract.<\/p>\nIt’s an opportunity he’s been dreaming of since he first strapped on a pair of MMA gloves.<\/p>\n
“It’s a very exciting feeling,” Dixon, who is represented by Paradigm Sports Management, told BJPENN.com from his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “This is where I’ve always wanted to be. The UFC is the promotion that brought me to the sport. I was watching fights, watching the best fighters, watching Anderson Silva fight. That’s what actually originally made me want to be an MMA fighter, so this is huge for me.”<\/p>\n
As this critical juncture of his career draws closer, Dixon is staying calm under pressure, flaunting the poise of a much more experienced fighter.<\/p>\n
“I have fought every fight like Dana White’s watching,” he explained. “Whether he’s standing there five feet away from me or watching online, I take every fight very seriously. This is very important for me.<\/p>\n
“There’s always nerves,” he added. “But I feel very prepared for this fight.”<\/p>\n
In Cosce, who will be no less determined to earn his own UFC contract, Dixon sees a dangerous but surmountable challenge.<\/p>\n
“He looks like an athletic dude,” Dixon said of his foe. “He grew up wrestling and grappling, and it looks like he has a fundamental basis in just about every area. He throws some decent kicks, some spinning back-fists, some different strikes that are a bit unorthodox, as well as some of basics. He looks like he’s mainly comfortable on the ground, but I’m sure he’s comfortable standing up too. I’m sure he’s prepared everywhere, but at the same, I feel like I’m more prepared everywhere.<\/p>\n
“I don’t [think he’s fought anybody like me],” he added. “I know a lot of people say stuff like that when they’re getting ready for fights, but from everybody that I’ve seen that he’s fought, I don’t think any of them move like I move, or think like I think, or do the things that I can do.”<\/p>\n
If you’re not familiar with what Dixon can do, allow the man himself to provide a crash course:<\/p>\n
“What I bring to the table is a lot of dynamic striking and footwork,” he said. “My hands and my footwork, they go together, as well as my kicks. I’m no slouch when it comes to the ground either. I’ve done very well whenever I’ve needed to take the fight to the ground.<\/p>\n
“I would say I’m an aggressive fighter,” he added. “I would say I’m intelligent in there, and I’m definitely able to adapt as the fight goes on.”<\/p>\n