Experience on his side, Nikolas Motta eyes CFFC title, UFC invite

Four years ago, Nikolas Motta thought he was on the verge of fulfilling his UFC dream.

Just 21 at the time, Motta was nevertheless selected to be a cast member on "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4." Filming took place in Las Vegas, and Motta was victorious in an elimination round contest, earning his way into the "TUF" house, and coached by the legendary Anderson Silva. It was an absolute dream come true for the Brazilian youngster.

But the fantasy was short-lived, with Motta falling short in the quarterfinal round against eventual season winner Glaico Franca.

"I was fighting MMA for only two-and-a-half years, and I was so obsessed with being a champion," Motta said. "I didn't care about anything else. No parties. Only train and fight, train and fight. Then, when I didn't get signed with the UFC, it was very, very hard to deal with that. Maybe that's why after that, I had some ups and downs, fighting against my mind, because I thought, 'Man, I should be in a big promotion. I know how good I am.'"

Motta went 3-2 over his next five appearances, a run that stretched over a three-year span. "Iron" admits he lost a bit of his determination during that time, though he did keep training – and improving – along the way. He relocated to the U.S., first partnering up with longtime UFC light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira before a call from Marlon Moraes saw him relocate to Toms River, N.J.

There, he trained alongside the likes of Moraes, Frankie Edgar, Edson Barboza and Eddie Alvarez.

"I've been training all my life with some of the best guys in the world," Motta said. "I never stopped."

In August, Motta signed with Cage Fury Fighting Championships and was thrown immediately into the deep end of the talent pool, matched up with former lightweight champion Cesar Balmaceda at CFFC 71.

Motta responded in fine fashion, scoring one of the most significant and spectacular victories of his career with a 54-second knockout.

"That performance was great," Motta said. "My first fight for CFFC was only 54 seconds, and it was against a big prospect. That kid was undefeated until not that long ago, and he was the champ. He was a good wrestler and a good striker. He puts pressure on his opponents and knocked some guys out, but I went in and did what I said what I would do."

Motta returns to action on Saturday at CFFC 79, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City. The vacant CFFC lightweight belt is on the line when Motta (10-3) takes on a well-rounded promotional newcomer in Juan Gonzalez (6-1).

Motta said he's impressed with what he sees from Gonzalez. However, Motta believes he's destined to take home the belt.

"I know he's a grinder," Motta said. "He's a brave guy, a tough guy. He does everything. He has standup, he tries to wrestle, but I'm ready for him. I'm ready for anyone. This title has to be mine, and it's my time to prove that I'm ready to go to a big promotion."

Four years ago, Motta thought he was UFC-bound. It turns out he wasn't quite ready for that phase of his career. Now, though, he believes it's certainly his time, and he looks toward another MMA legend for motivation – a fighter who experienced his greatest days years after his early start in the UFC.

"I grew up around UFC champions in Rio de Janeiro, and always, everybody said I could be in the UFC," Motta said. "I've always been a prospect. You know when you are young, and you make little mistakes? Now I have experience. It's like Robbie Lawler when he was younger. Then he came back older and became a UFC champion.”

"The ups and downs made me have more experience and learn more. Now, the other experiences, they made me become the fighter I need to be to be in a big promotion."

Another highlight-reel knockout would certainly go a long way toward that goal, but Motta has learned not to look too far ahead. Still, he knows the track record of CFFC champions making their way to the UFC, and he believes he's now ready to take that step, as well.

"I'm ready for five rounds, but I'm always going to be trying to finish the fight," Motta said. "I think a win here should be enough to get me in the UFC. I have 10 wins and eight knockouts. I've never had boring fights. Even the fights that I lost, I lost the fight but I won the respect of the crowd because all of my fights have been wars. I have the style that everybody wants to watch.”