A UFC contract could be as little as 12 months away for Canberra fighter Ben Edwards, but a quick glance over his resume suggests it could be a matter of three punches.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Edwards has been told a 4-0 start to his mixed martial arts could be enough to secure a UFC contract and he could be halfway there come Friday night.
Edwards (1-0) will make his return to the octagon in the heavyweight division against Jeremy Joiner (5-1) at Monaro Fight Circuit 26 at The Rex Hotel on Friday night.
The 33-year-old has world kickboxing titles and an Australian boxing championship to his name, but Edwards says a UFC contract would eclipse them all - even if it was worth less than three dollars.
He has been training with prospective UFC debutant Tai Tuivasa for three years, a relationship that has got the Canberra heavyweight's foot in the door of the world's premier MMA organisation.
"[Tuivasa's] trainer was talking to some UFC scouts in America and they were saying that they're looking for heavyweights because there is not a lot of heavyweights coming through the ranks," Edwards said.
"He put my name in that and told them about my background with boxing and kickboxing. They said if he gets to 4-0 we'll make him an offer. If they offer me $2.50 I'll take it.
"It's good to know that the target is in sight. I could be there in 12 months or sooner. Things happen very quickly and I'm doing the right thing.
"This is definitely the time and I'm actually ready for it. When I fought on the world stage when I was a bit younger I wasn't quite ready for it.
"I hadn't figured out all my training yet, how to train properly and how to surround myself with the right people. I've done that now.
"When the call comes, I will be 100 per cent ready."
Edwards made an emphatic start to his MMA career with a first round TKO victory over Brandon Sosoli in July but finished his maiden victory with a broken foot and needed stitches in his hand.
Then he had to battle a staph infection - but he hasn't looked back since returning to training in August.
Edwards has sparred with former boxing heavyweight contender Lucas Browne, spent time on the mats with best mate Duke Didier and Commonwealth Games wrestling hopeful Nick Verreynne, and won two jiu-jitsu competitions.
Joiner is coming off the first loss of his professional career and Edwards is confident he can give the Melbourne-based brawler a second.
"He came into fighting with MMA so he's okay at everything but he doesn't have a specialty," Edwards said.
"You've got to be really good at everything, but you've got to have something that's yours, your go-to move, your trump card."
For Edwards, that trump card is an iron fist that has knocked out 41 opponents to date across three different sports.
If all goes to plan, Edwards will take that number to 42 and his total career win tally across MMA, boxing and kickboxing will crack the half-century.
MONARO FIGHT CIRCUIT 26
Friday: MFC 26 - Ben Edwards v Jeremy Joiner at Rex Hotel Canberra.
