Jason Knight has become a familiar face in the UFC featherweight division and he will have a chance to take his status to a whole new level when he fights top contender Ricardo Lamas at UFC 214.
Knight has been in the limelight as of late with notable wins over Alex Caceres and Chas Skelly, despite not being favoured by the bookmakers. Good on the ground as well as being an excellent striker, Knight has demonstrated his versatility and ability to win a fight by any means necessary.
In Ricardo Lamas, however, Knight faces by far the toughest test. MMA Plus spoke to the 25-year-old on his next opportunity ahead of his UFC 214 bout in Anaheim, California.
“I’m excited as hell about it, I asked for the fight as soon as I heard the Korean Zombie pulled out and a few days later I got the fight,” Knight told MMA Plus. “It’s a great honour to be fighting one of the best, top ranked guys. I’ve got a big opportunity in front of me to get my hand raised and go way, way up in the rankings.
“I believe he definitely will be the toughest test to date but I look at them all the same because they’re all the next one that moves me up that ladder.”
Knight (20-2) was adamant that Lamas (17-5) will represent the toughest test of his career on Saturday 29. “The Bully” who has notable wins over Diego Sanchez, Dennis Bermudez and Cub Swanson, has faced the very best competition in the form of Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and current UFC champion Max Holloway.
“I believe if I beat Lamas, the sky is the limit for me. Everybody round the world is gonna be talking about me. In my eyes he has only been beaten by the elite guys, and I want to be one of those elite guys. Beating Lamas is the best way to put myself in the spotlight.
“I feel like I’m perfectly ready for Lamas, I can’t get to where I want to be if I’m not putting myself in these situations and fighting the best… I want to be one of the best.”
Knight, who revealed he knows what Lamas will try to do to him, compiled a list of fighters he would like to face should he be crowned victor at UFC 214. Despite persisting interest in a fight with “Korean Superboy” Doo Ho Choi, Knight revealed he would like to further himself by facing Aldo, Edgar or Swanson, who Knight claims is very beatable after a tougher fight than expected against Artem Lobov.
“I think that it showed Swanson is beatable because I really don’t think Lobov is anywhere near the competition of Cub Swanson. I think Cub showed anyone can give you trouble on any given day. If Lobov can go and give him a hard time then I can go and get my hand raised because I don’t think in any way Lobov would give me a hard fight.”
Being active has been a consistent trait in Knight’s career with an incredible 22 professional fights at the age of 25. He was eager to express that no matter what, this would always remain the case.
“I definitely want to fight as much as possible, any time they can get me in there, I want to fight. Even if one day I have the belt, I’m still gonna be the same, just because I have the belt doesn’t mean I’m going to protect it or anything. I want to fight every chance I get, this is what I love to do, this is what’s fun for me, I want to have fun as often as possible.”
The hard-working and eager Mississipi native is confident that in the near future he can reach the pinnacle of the sport. He revealed to the MMA Plus that should he continue the way he is currently progressing, that he expects to be champion.
“I see myself right up there with the best of them. If I keep improving every day like I have been, every fight camp, just getting better and better then I see myself as the champion in the very near future.”
