'Tutorial mode' complete, Tafon Nchukwi anxious for heavyweight return at CFFC 134

"Da Don" faces fellow CFFC vet Chris Daukaus in Friday's main event at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

Tafon Nchukwi took the fast track from CFFC to the UFC, fighting just three times professionally before earning his shot at Dana White's Contender Series, and eventually a UFC contract. Unfortunately, that run at the sport's highest stage lasted just six appearances before he was ultimately released from his contract.

While it was a whirlwind start to his fighting career, Nchukwi says he wouldn't change a thing, and that the time in the UFC served as a great foundation to build upon for the rest of his professional career.

"I definitely think it has been valuable," Nchukwi said. "I think my tutorial mode as far as fighting in the UFC was a great way to boost my experience and also get the feel of the highest level of the sport. It was a great experience for me. Everything that I took in from it is also going to help me as far as continuing my career, so I'm definitely grateful for that."

It may seem a little backwards from the typical career trajectory, but Nchukwi insists he's unbothered by his particularly unique journey.

"It was definitely a grand experience, man," Nchukwi said. "It all turned out for the better for me, so I can't complain."

Now, it's time for Nchukwi to take that experience and use it to his advantage. However, while he split time between the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions during his UFC run, "Da Don" is now moving back to the weight class to where he spent the entirety of his career prior to his UFC invite: 265 pounds.

"Most people are probably thinking this is my first heavyweight appearance," Nchukwi said. "My whole career was actually in the heavyweight division until I got to the UFC, which is really when I made that change into the lower divisions.

"This is where I belong and this is where I feel great. This is the weight where I can smile throughout my whole camp without looking like a zombie out here, so I'm excited about it."

He's also returning to the promotion that helped launch his big-show career, as he headlines Friday's "CFFC 134: Daukaus vs. Nchukwi" event, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

There, Nchukwi (6-4 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) takes on former CFFC heavyweight title challenger and fellow UFC veteran Chris Daukaus (12-7 MMA, 4-2 CFFC) in a key matchup for each man in their journeys back to the UFC. Oddsmakers have installed Daukaus as a considerable favorite in the matchup, but Nchukwi isn't fazed by that assessment. 

"It doesn't bug me at all," Nchukwi said. "I already know what I'm going to go in there and do. I'm going to go in there and put on the best performance that I can. I don't care about people putting me as the underdog. I know myself. That doesn't really hold anything to me."

So it's a familiar division for Nchukwi and a familiar cage, as well. With a pair of knockout victories to his name in his first two appearances for the promotion, a third certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility.

In fact, Nchukwi believes it's a likely scenario. After gaining experience at the sport's highest level earlier than expected, Nchukwi is now right back where he belongs, and the journey begins anew.

"I had a blast the last time I was here," Nchukwi said. "The whole setup with CFFC is pretty dope. They put on a very spectacular show. My teammate just fought here, as well. Why not go back to where I feel like it's at? CFFC is where I feel it's at."