Bailey Schoenfelder unfazed by Dana White's Contender Series setback ahead of CFFC 141: 'I'm still on track'

Reigning heavyweight champ anxious to get back into the win column at April 19 event on UFC FIGHT PASS.

This past September, reigning CFFC heavyweight champion Bailey Schoenfelder stood on the verge of earning a UFC contract – and in 73 seconds, it was all taken away.

Schoenfelder received an invitation to Dana White's Contender Series, where he was paired with hard-hitting Ukranian Danylo Voievodkin. As the two felt each other out in the early going, Voievodkin landed a stiff combination that sent Schoenfelder crashing to the floor, where his opponent locked in a rear-naked choke to end the fight in the first round.

Now, seven months later, Schoenfelder is anxious to get back to work and claim a little redemption.

"I'm really excited man," Schoenfelder said. "It's been a while and yeah, it's been a rough last couple of months, but now I feel like I'm really back in my rhythm, back to normal, and camp is going great. I'm feeling better than ever and preparation is going fantastic, and we're going to be ready to rumble."

Schoenfelder admits stomaching the loss proved a bit challenging. After all, getting a chance to compete in front of UFC brass in hopes of securing a contract is a massive opportunity, and the 27-year-old prospect had that moment taken from him before he ever really settled into a groove.

Still, Schoenfelder said there were lessons he could take away from the experience outside of simply everyone at heavyweight hits extremely hard.

"Yeah, I mean, that's one of those ones that you try to glean as much as you can from it, and then you've just got to move forward after that," Schoenfelder said. "I mean, biggest thing probably for me was I think I stopped moving my feet at one point, which is a no-no for the most part, especially for me because moving my feet is a big part of it since I'm a little undersized – and then yeah, just got to kind of protect yourself in there man with the big fellas."

With that frustration behind, Schoenfelder (5-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) is ready to get back to work, and he'll get that opportunity on Saturday, April 19, when he puts his title on the line against the undefeated Anthony Guarascio (3-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) in the main event of CFFC 141, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.

There's not a lot of tape for Schoenfelder to break down, with Guarascio's three professional wins coming in a combined total of two minutes and 47 seconds, but the champ welcomes the challenge.

"He seems like a tough opponent," Schoenfelder said. "He's a little more my size, which is interesting. That'll be a little bit different. Most of the guys that I've been fighting have been at least, you know, a little bit bigger than me, so that'll be cool, and then, yeah, he seems like a tough dude. Likes to throw down and brawl and yeah, I guess we'll see how it goes, but I'm feeling good."

For his part, Guarascio has promised an unpleasant experience, making it clear he has no intention of being cordial at any point of the buildup to CFFC 141. However, Schoenfelder said he's not really interesting in any back-and-forth exchanges ahead of the matchup.

"No, I don't usually don't partake in that kind of stuff," Schoenfelder said. "But yeah, whatever works. I mean, whatever you've got to do to get your head in the game, that's good with me."

Instead of the pre-fight banter, Schoenfelder said he's simply focusing on the improvements in his game necessary to continue his rise to the UFC. Working at Florida's famed Kill Cliff FC, Schoenfelder believes the investment has been made, and his anxious to show the work.

With a win, Schoenfelder might very well find himself back at Dana White's Contender Series again this summer, especially given that talented heavyweight prospects aren't always easy to find. But Schoenfelder said he's not letting himself go down that road right now.

"I'm not saying that's out of the picture, and I'm not banking on it either, but I'm not looking past this fight, for sure," Schoenfelder said. "I'm just taking it one step at a time, especially in camp. You can't be looking into the future too far. You've got to take it one day at a time. It's long days, hard days, and yeah, I'm just going to take it one day at a time, and then when fight day rolls around, that'll be it. I'm definitely not looking past this at all."

So get the hype train going again. Sure, Schoenfelder wishes things could have gone differently in September, but what's done is done. Doubt him if you like, but Schoenfelder believes he's simply going to pick up right where he left off.

"I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone else," Schoenfelder said. "I definitely just want to get back in the win column and show that I've shaken that off from the Contender Series and that nothing's changed and I'm still getting better and I'm still on track."