Dennis Buzukja aiming for highlight-reel finish of Soslan Abanokov at CFFC 120

'The Great' has been on the UFC's radar for several years but is aiming to punch his ticket to the show on June 16

Dennis Buzukja knows his invitation to the UFC is coming soon. In fact, he's a little surprised it hasn't been issued already.

The 25-year-old Longo-Weidman MMA product recently accepted an offer to step up on short notice against fast-rising UFC featherweight Movsar Evloev, only for the undefeated Russian to take a fight with Diego Lopes, instead, at May's UFC 288.

No bother, says Buzukja. It's just a matter of time.

"I just love to fight," Buzukja said. "What else am I going to do with my time? I don't have that entitled mindset like, 'I deserve this. I deserve that,' type of thing. I just go out there, work, earn it, and go after it and do what I love and make the most of every day."

Buzukja has had a few near misses in recent years. He was invited to Dana White's Contender Series in 2020 but suffered a decision loss to current UFC featherweight Melsik Baghdasaryan. Three straight wins followed, earning him a second booking for the show, where he scored a decision win over Keleio Romero this past July. Unfortunately, he wasn't given a UFC contract.

"We were all together when we went back to the house after the fight, and I'm like, 'I won the fight, but I feel like I lost,'" Buzukja recalled. "It wasn't about winning the fight – it was about getting a contract, so definitely a weird feeling. I felt like I lost the night, like the overall picture, but the goal doesn't stop, you know? We just keep going. This is my sport, and I'm going to build on it."

Undeterred, Buzukja (10-2) has since picked up two additional wins, bringing his current streak to six. On Friday, he'll look to make it seven when he steps in the cage against Soslan Abankov (6-4-1) at CFFC 120, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

For the New York native, the chance to fight close to home is a welcome opportunity.

"It's always nice when I fight local," Buzukja said. "I get huge support, a big crowd. It just gives me more energy when I step in the cage."

While Buzukja makes his CFFC debut, Abanokov returns to the promotion for the first time since 2013. In the meantime, he's competed across the country, including a few appearances with World Series of Fighting. Still, Buzukja is confident in the result.

"He likes to throw some bombs," Buzukja said of his opponent. "He likes to throw heavy. He'll throw a spinning kick here and there, but it's nothing I really haven't seen before. He's a little shorter than me, stocky. I've got to respect his power and respect him as an opponent with two arms and two legs, but I just think I'm on another level. I've fought the better guys, and I've trained with the best in the world, so I think it's going to be another first-round knockout."

If he can deliver on that prediction, the 25-year-old Buzukja hopes that long-awaited call to the UFC will finally come, but he knows his life won't change either way. MMA is a passion, and he intends to pursue it regardless of whose cage he's entering to compete. He's also thankful to have financial backing that has allowed him to chase his dream.

"I'm very fortunate, and I just have so many sponsors that have really backed me and given me the support I need to just train and focus and do what I have to do," Buzukja said. "I'm very thankful for them, and I know I'm going to become world champ."

First things first, and Buzukja knows he has to keep rattling off wins to get the invite that has narrowly evaded him thus far. If things go to plan, though, that may soon change.

"I'm just taking it day by day," Buzkja said. "I'm 25 years old. I just love to fight, and I'm going to keep fighting until I get to where I want to be. I'll just keep working.

"Friday, I just want to put on another crazy, highlight-reel finish. That's what I'm looking for."