Levi Mowles aims for big show, but more focused on capturing that 'Cowboy' vibe

To be clear, Levi Mowles intends on fighting on MMA's biggest stage, but that's not his only priority. The Texas-based bantamweight doesn't want to just be in the UFC – he wants to be a fighter you simply won't let yourself miss.

"I think something that really speaks to me is having tons of fights, like 'Cowboy' Cerrone," Mowles said. "'Cowboy' is always exciting. He has a crazy amount of fights, and he just continues to do that. I think guys like that are fan favorites as much they are contenders in their division. When I started this sport, that's kind of how I wanted to push myself, was to be liked by everybody, regardless of whether I was at the top or the bottom the division."

Mowles has done a fantastic job of that thus far, making his pro debut at just 19 years old and already earning 13 victories, including 10 via stoppage. He's 7-1 in his past eight appearances and looked prime for an invite to one of the sport's biggest promotions earlier this year, but then COVID-19 changed the world for everyone, and he's been forced to the sidelines since January.

"It was definitely hard to stay motivated more than anything," Mowles said. "A lot of my training partners were out, and just all the crazy stuff that was going on. I started looking for a fight, but then as you do, when you take time like that off, you kind of get plagued with injuries. 

"I was just trying to push hard, stay ready and do all that stuff. But I've been training hard ever since, staying injury free, trying to make sure to keep the weight down and get ready for this one."

Mowles (13-4) takes on reigning Cage Fury Fighting Championships featherweight titleholder James Gonzalez (6-3) in the main event of CFFC 86, which takes place Oct. 29 at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The two compete for the promotion's vacant bantamweight title.

The full card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS.

"I thought it was a good opportunity," Mowles said. "Me, my coaches and my manager, we all looked at it as something that would definitely put me at the cusp of like, 'You should sign this kid, regardless of whether he takes it short-notice or not.' That's kind of how we look at it. It's a big opportunity to go win a title for a big feeder league organization and kind of cement my spot as the guy that you should sign next, regardless of what happens."

It's hard to argue with that belief. After all, Mowles' career losses have come to Damon Jackson, Miles Johns, Tony Kelley and Raufeon Stots, all of whom went on to compete for the UFC or Bellator.

"All those guys are tough guys, and the majority of them were pretty close in terms of decision wins over me," Johns said. "None of them were ever finishes. It was all fights that I thought I had great success through the fight, and I thought if I had just done some things a little different, I would have a win over them. So yeah, it definitely gives me a sense of pride knowing I'm doing the right things and really pushing myself to be where I want to be at."

At just 25, Mowles isn't necessarily in a rush to get to the next level, but it seems like a near inevitability. He knows a win in a featured contest such as this one could certainly get him that invite.

"I feel like the sooner, the better," Mowles said. "This just gives me more times to really sharpen my tools against the best in the world and just stay in the limelight. 

"Max Holloway was 19 when he joined the UFC. I didn't make that kind of goal, but I've definitely always wanted to get in early so I can stay in long and have a great career, so that's been my plan the whole time. Hopefully as we get closer and closer to that plan, it comes to fruition."

Time will tell if a CFFC 86 win is enough for that call, but in the meantime, Mowles is anxious to introduce himself to a new set of fans and hopefully earn that "Cowboy" Cerrone reputation of a fighter you just simply can't afford to miss.

"I feel like in all my fights, the goal has been to make a statement, and it's not so much make a statement as in something flashy as it is in being entertaining," Mowles said. "I want to be someone that people want to watch, regardless of it's the first time you've ever seen me or it's the 20th. I feel like that's what keeps people around, and whether you're the greatest in the world or you're a middle-of-the-road guy, if people want to watch you fight, that's what it is to me. 

"For me, to make a statement would just be go out there and do what I always do, and that's for me to be exciting for everyone."