Nicolas Cornejo, a 35-year-old Pueblo native, is making his primetime MMA debut on Friday at Ball Arena on the card of ONE 168.

Cornejo dominated his way through the regional scene and is 2-0 as a pro with a pair of TKOs. But the third-generation Puebloan has never fought at this level, and he’s taking on someone half his age who comes from a storied fighting family in 18-year-old Adrian Lee. Cornejo is the biggest underdog on the card at +500 odds, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

“We are the underdogs down here. We don’t get a lot of (positive) spotlight down in Pueblo,” Cornejo said. “But I consider myself the son of Pueblo… And (my coaches and I) believe we’ve put a game plan together that can stop Lee’s hype train, and stop him immediately, and wear him out.”

While Lee’s on the fast track to ONE Championship stardom and capable of adding to his family’s MMA dynasty — his brother Christian currently holds the ONE lightweight and welterweight MMA titles, while his sister Angela was the ONE women’s atomweight MMA world champion before retirement — Cornejo took the long road to his shot at glory.

An alum of Pueblo Central, Cornejo’s first son was born two weeks after his high school graduation. He spent most of his 20s working as a correctional officer and didn’t make his MMA debut on the regional scene until age 29, losing about 100 pounds to do so.

Now, he’s a utility/maintenance worker for the city of Pueblo and has five kids, including an 18-year-old senior at Central whom Cornejo and his fiancée took legal guardianship of.

Cornejo believes that despite his roundabout journey, he’s just getting started.

“I know in the MMA world, being 35 is like the 70-year-olds of the sport,” joked Cornejo, who trains at Warrior Built MMA in Pueblo. “But I’m going to go until the wheels fall off.

“… I feel like I’m at my prime right now, and I’m in better shape than I was in my 20s. Having younger kids, who are still hyperactive and full of energy, they have a hard time keeping up with me. I have a lot of reserve in me because I wasn’t fighting throughout my 20s.”

A divorce in 2018 had Cornejo “on the verge of some real mental health issues.” Four years later, he suddenly lost his father to a fatal rollover crash that occurred while driving his work truck.

In both instances, the octagon helped him heal.

“(My dad) was my first superhero, and I miss him every day,” said Cornejo, who has his father’s fingerprints tattooed on the side of his neck. “I talk to him here and there at night when I’m alone. I wear his rosary on me. And when I feel down and out, I’ll take off on my motorcycle that he left me and go for a cruise. (His death) put me in a pretty bad depression for about three months, but what helped me the most was getting back in the gym.”

With all of that behind him, Cornejo says he’s ready to walk into Ball Arena on Friday and ruin Lee’s night in their lightweight bout. Lee had a flashy ONE Championship debut earlier this summer when he defeated Antonio Mammarella at ONE 167 via a rear-naked choke.

“I’m excited and I’m anxious to get into the arena,” Cornejo said. “I just want to put on a show for my fans, for my family and make a statement for Pueblo.”

The card for ONE 168: Denver

ONE Championship returns to Denver after the promotion made its U.S. debut at the 1stBank Center last May. Friday’s fights begin at 6 p.m. at Ball Arena and will be broadcast on Prime Video.

ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title: (c) Jonathan Haggerty vs. Superlek Kiatmoo9

ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title: (c) Mikey Musumeci vs. Bebeto Oliveira

Muay Thai Dream Fight: Liam Harrison vs. Seksan Or Kwanmuang

MMA – Middleweight: Aung La N Sang vs. Shamil Erdogan

Must Thai – Bantamweight: John Lineker vs. Asa Ten Pow

MMA – Lightweight: Maurice Abevi vs. Samat Mamedov

MMA – Welterweight: Hiroyuki Tetsuka vs. Isi Fitikefu

MMA – Women’s Atomweight: Alyse Anderson vs. Victoria Souza

MMA – Strawweight: Hiroba Minowa vs. Sanzhar Zakirov

MMA – Lightweight: Adrian Lee vs. Nico Cornejo

Muay Thai – Flyweight: Johan Ghazali vs. Josue Cruz

Muay Thai – Flyweight: Sean Climaco vs. Johan Estupinan

Mike’s Knockout Gummies, launched Aug. 20, are THC-infused edibles shaped like little boxing gloves. They’re the first gummies the boxer has been able to sell here even if he’s had others available throughout the U.S.

In 2022, Tyson released his first line of edibles, Mike Bites, featuring gummies shaped like ears with a missing piece of cartilage at the top – a nod to Tyson’s infamous 1997 fight against Evander Holyfield. Clever, right? Well, not according to state law.

In 2017, Colorado banned the production and sale of THC-infused edibles shaped like people, animals and fruit to deter children from mistaking them for other kid-friendly snacks like gummy bears.

Mike’s Knockout Gummies, from the company Tyson 2.0, are made with full-spectrum rosin and join Tyson’s roster of cannabis flower and prerolls that have been available for sale at dispensaries throughout the state since 2021. Consumers can currently find them at Jars Dispensaries, Cookies on Broadway, and Police and Thieves, among other pot shops.

“Whether it be through ears or gloves, I’m always looking for new ways to connect with my fans, and I think these gummies will pack a real punch in Colorado,” Tyson said in a statement.

To celebrate the launch — and the upcoming bout between Tyson and YouTuber Jake Paul — the company is hosting giveaways at sevenpointdistributors.com.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.

The year was 2010, and Sandhagen was a senior on the Smoky Hill High School hoops team. But basketball was getting stale, and he wanted a new challenge. So he decided to learn how to fight.

What followed was a daily commitment to learning jujutsu, striking and wrestling at a nearby MMA gym.

“All my teammates and coaches thought I was kind of crazy,” Sandhagen said. “MMA wasn’t as cool then as it is now. So, yeah, everyone at the time pretty much thought that I was a weirdo.”

Little did his classmates know, Sandhagen was just starting to tap into his calling.

Sandhagen (17-4-0) is fighting in the main event this weekend at UFC Abu Dhabi, a bantamweight title eliminator bout against Umar Nurmagomedov. Whoever wins will get a crack at the belt, likely sometime early in 2025, against either Sean O’Malley (the current title holder) or Merab Dvalishvili (who fights O’Malley in September at UFC 306).

For Sandhagen, a Castle Rock resident who is also a CU alum, a win over the undefeated Nurmagomedov (17-0, 5-0 in the UFC) would be the latest highlight in a strong career that’s had a few speedbumps.

“I came out the gate really hot, winning a lot, then lost one to the former champion (Aljamain Sterling in 2020), then won some more, then lost to (TJ Dillashaw) and the interim title bout (to Petr Yan),” Sandhagen said. “But I’ve been on a winning streak since. So I would say my whole career has been up and down, sort of falling and then rising again. It’s been tough, but really good.”

In the matchup against Nurmagomedov, the Coloradan’s elite striking ability will be contrasted by the Russian’s wrestling prowess. To get ready for the fight, Sandhagen worked on his grappling with his head coach, Carrington Banks, in addition to training with renowned striking coach Trevor Wittman.

“Umar has a very accoladed wrestling background that’s going to really test me,” Sandhagen said. “No one’s really seen that set of skills on me yet, so I’m going to have to use them in this fight and show people that I’m good in that aspect as well.”

Sandhagen’s current three-fight win streak includes a TKO over Song Yadong in September 2022, a split decision over Marlon Vera in March 2023 and a unanimous decision over Rob Font last August. In that latter victory, Sandhagen suffered a torn right tricep in the first round, leading him to take a wrestling-heavy approach with seven takedowns and a lot of time spent maintaining top control.

After a year off, Sandhagen is healthy again. And he has tunnel vision on beating Nurmagomedov, knowing full well from the defeat in his last fight with major implications — the loss to Yan in 2021 — that there can be no looking past the job to do in Abu Dhabi.

“It takes time and experience to get good at martial arts, and I’ve been gathering a bunch of that, working hard, and it’s coming to a head now,” Sandhagen said. “I remain steadfastly focused on this Saturday.”

With heavyweight champion Jon Jones holding out for a matchup against Stipe Miocic, does Blaydes’ interim heavyweight title bout against Tom Aspinall mean as much? Should Blaydes be mentioned in the same breath as Jones, who is perhaps the greatest fighter ever?

Blaydes, a Golden resident, doesn’t care about those storylines. He just wants to beat Aspinall on Saturday in the co-headliner of UFC 304 in Manchester, England.

“In a perfect world, it’s Aspinall vs. Jon (for a unified heavyweight title), but that’s not the world we live in,” Blaydes said. “The UFC’s had a lot of weird, wonky matchups over the years.

“… The money is title fight money, so that’s what matters to me. Everything else is going to be the same — five rounds, and I’ve had multiple five-rounders. The biggest difference is it’s going to be 4 a.m. (Manchester time), and that’s where it doesn’t feel like a real title fight to me. You wouldn’t have (Conor) McGregor fighting for a belt at 4 a.m. regardless of where it is in the world.”

Blaydes beat Aspinall two summers ago when the Englishman suffered a knee injury 15 seconds into their main-event fight in London. Since then, Aspinall’s recorded a pair of first-round knockouts, first of Marcin Tybura and then of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 last November.

Jones was supposed to fight Miocic on that card, but the fight was scratched because Jones tore a pectoral tendon in training. Jones had that surgically repaired, and also had surgery on his elbow. Amid his recovery, he’s maintained his intention to fight Miocic next.

That’s kept Aspinall waiting and led to the rematch against Blaydes on Saturday.

“I’m expecting aggression, speed, (Aspinall) trying to knock me out fast and early,” Blaydes said. “… I’m just going to be organic and take whatever’s there. I’m going to be opportunistic if there’s a hole in the defense. I don’t expect there to be any holes, but if there’s a lay-up, I’ll hit the lay-up.”

Blaydes said that if he wins, he’ll consider himself the heavyweight champion without any thought to the asterisk that comes with it.

“As long as I’m getting paid like I have the belt, I have the belt. That’s all that matters,” Blaydes said. “People might not remember, but I remember, Jon got the belt off the guy who had an interim belt. So is that belt really that valid? That’s a debate. I don’t know. I don’t care.”

Jones, who is 27-1 as a pro, won the vacant heavyweight belt in 2023 with a first-round submission over Ciryl Gane, who initially claimed the interim belt against Derrick Lewis in 2021. Gane lost the belt to Francis Ngannou in 2022, and then Ngannou left the UFC, vacating the title and leading to the Jones-Gane fight last March. So as Blaydes points out, there have been a lot of moving pieces in the heavyweight title fights over the past few years.

Plus, Jones might retire after fighting Miocic. There’s a possibility that fight could happen in late fall at Madison Square Garden. That would leave the winner of Saturday’s bout between Aspinall and Blaydes in prime position to finally unify the heavyweight belt.

For Blaydes (18-4), his approach against Aspinall isn’t rewriting a new blueprint. He says he doesn’t feel any extra pressure with so much at stake as an underdog in the fight in Aspinall’s home city.

“Conditioning has been a focus,” Blaydes said. “I don’t adjust for anyone. I’ve prepared for this fight the same way I prepared for everyone. I don’t like to add to extra adjustments, extra things to think about. There’s already a whole lot (to consider). I don’t need to add anything else.”

Colorado’s Rose Namajunas defeated Tracy Cortez via unanimous decision in the main event.

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.

Rose Namajunas beat Tracy Cortez by unanimous decision at Ball Arena, the only one of the four local fighters on the card to win after Josh Fremd lost by unanimous decision, Cody Brundage got a no-contest and Drew Dober was TKO’d.

Cortez, who took the fight on short notice after Maycee Barber withdrew due to medical issues, held her own against Namajunas. But Namajunas, a Westminster resident by way of Milwaukee, showed her mettle while registering her second win in the flyweight division after the two-time strawweight champion moved up a weight class last year.

“I’m happy with the performance,” said Namajunas, who took a step forward toward a shot at the flyweight belt. “I’m happy with having very little injury, being able to win and I thought it was an exciting fight.”

Namajunas struck first with a knockdown two minutes into the fight, rattling Cortez with a left hook that caused one of Cortez’s fake eyelashes to fly off. In the second round, Cortez got a takedown, but the crowd roared when Namajunas got back up and then registered a takedown of her own in the waning seconds.

Then Namajunas took control of the bout in the third round, with a couple of takedowns, a ground-and-pound and a kick to the face. Cortez got more aggressive in the final two rounds, but it was too little, too late as Namajunas played good defense and landed a few more jabs of her own.

“I knew I was up three rounds to nothing (entering the fourth round), so it was all about being smart,” Namajunas said. “I knew she was going to try to make it chaotic, which she did in certain moments, but nothing was landing super solid.”

Namajunas finished with a 119-85 advantage in total strikes and a 96-58 advantage in significant strikes while snapping Cortez’s 11-fight win streak, five of which came in the UFC.

Dober vs. Silva delivers. Drew Dober’s face was bloodied as he took the mic and smiled, even in defeat to Jean Silva.

“I got these Neanderthal eyebrows that cut open very easily,” Dober said after getting TKO’d in the third round. “But Jean Silva and I, this is what I mean when I talk about being a warrior. He took (the fight) with two weeks’ notice. I will fight anybody. This is what fighting’s all about. I don’t care who, and when, and where. We throw hands and we make war.”

The two fighters did just that in Saturday’s lightweight UFC bout. Silva cut open Dober’s right eyebrow in the first round and the blood kept pouring out of Dober’s face until the fight was called one minute and 28 seconds into the final round.

Silva, who took the fight on extremely short notice — he won at UFC 303 just two weeks ago — dropped to his knees in the octagon after winning and started to cry. The 14 days between his bouts tied for the third-quickest turnaround in modern UFC history.

“I’m telling you, I’m different,” Silva said.

While Dober had an edge in significant strikes (59-53), Silva’s quick hands and spinning elbows were a deciding factor as the Brazilian consistently battered Dober’s face. Both fighters showed good sportsmanship throughout the match, up to and through Dober consoling an emotional Silva after the bout was called and even raising his hand.

“The elbows, the hands, everything was planned, everything was trained,” Silva said. “But I just really want to thank Drew Dober, a guy who I’ve been following throughout my whole career. He’s always proved to people that no matter the size, you’re always going to be going to war. Thank you, Drew Dober.”

The bout was deemed the fight of the night in front of a sold-out crowd of 16,884 that featured a number of notable local fighters on hand such as Donald Cerrone, Justin Gaethje, Curtis Blaydes, Brandon Royval and Raquel Pennington.

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.

In the UFC’s return to Denver for the first time in six years — a period in which Petroski’s been in recovery from drug addiction — he won by unanimous decision over Englewood resident Josh Fremd in a middleweight preliminary bout. Petroski entered the night coming off consecutive losses and admitted the possibility of getting cut from the promotion with another defeat loomed in his mind.

But for someone who battled heroin addiction and came out the other side, a fighting career hanging in the balance is small potatoes.

“I really have been through so much (adversity) in my life, with the drugs and substance abuse, going through treatment and getting arrested,” Petroski said. “I’ve been through way worse positions than losing a fight or losing two fights in a row. If I don’t wake up and have to go find $10 to get high, then I’m winning at life.”

With that mindset and a well-constructed game plan, Petroski defeated Fremd 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 as the former college wrestler capitalized on his clear edge in grappling. Petroski took down Fremd in each round, and each time, the Factory X fighter was unable to get off the canvas.

“I had done some training with Josh in the past, and I knew where I had the advantage over him,” Petroski said. “I think that I’m a better striker than Josh, but I also knew my grappling was so much better than him.

“I was in a position where I’m coming off two losses and it’s not about getting a highlight or anything like that. It’s about doing what I have to do to win and keep this career going and provide for my family.”

Petroski improved to 6-2 in the UFC with the victory, while Fremd fell to 2-4. Petroski paid no mind to the deafening cheers for Fremd when the local stepped into the Octagon, nor did Petroski mind the chorus of boos that rained down on him throughout the fight and after he was declared the winner as the crowd expressed its distaste for the one-sided wrestling match.

The Philadelphia fighter held Fremd down for the majority of the first round, nearly submitted Fremd via a triangle in the second round, and then fended off a quick flurry of punches from a desperate Fremd in the final round to eventually notch another takedown.

After the victory, Petroski reveled in the win and recalled how six years ago, he was an amateur fighter who was winning on the regional scene but his body was “depleting” as he battled his intravenous heroin addiction.

Now, he’s a father of three, including a newborn son who arrived two months ago amid his training camp for Fremd.

“(In 2018), I tried really hard to kick it, and ended up getting high and overdosing and got arrested,” Petroski said. “After that, I went through treatment and was able to get clean and go pro. My life has been constantly getting better (since that point).

“Me overdosing was my act of providence. Because I couldn’t stop. I had tried a million times to stop getting high and I couldn’t, but that happening was the interference from God. … The hardest reminder for me is seeing the guys I was in treatment with, and a lot of them are still getting high. I’m so many worlds moved on from that, and I’m so grateful that I’m not there anymore.”

Lightning-quick knockout. The highlight of the preliminaries came in the bantamweight fight when Montel Jackson knocked out Da’Mon Blackshear in just 18 seconds.

Jackson, who has now won five bouts in a row, hadn’t fought in over a year. His knockout of Blackshear came on a slick one-two combo where he connected with Blackshear’s face with a straight left punch.

“(Blackshear) came out a little passive, so I knew I could get on the gas and I went for it,” Jackson said. “… A lot of these (other bantamweights), they’re ducking…. eventually, I’m going to see everybody. I want to fight again ASAP. If something comes up on short notice, if somebody drops out, I’ll say yeah, even though I’m not sure if they’d say yeah to me.”

Controversial finish. The first fight of the main card came to a controversial ending 37 seconds into the first round after Cody Brundage, a Parker resident who trains at Factory X, could not continue.

Brundage’s opponent, Abdul Razak Alhassan, landed a couple of blows to the back of Brundage’s head as the Ghanaian had Brundage on the ground. The referee stopped the fight, and Brundage appeared confused as he took several minutes to get off the canvas, repeatedly asking his corner, “What happened?”

After being evaluated by medical personnel, it was deemed Brundage could not continue. The crowd was not pleased, and a loud chorus of boos permeated the arena. Alhassan was clearly furious at the stoppage of the fight, pacing around the octagon and cursing.

The fight was deemed a no-contest.

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.

Sitting 15 feet from the Octagon, the vibe was palpable — a Monster Energy drink come to life. The roaring crowd at Ball Arena was told it was “about to see something it has never seen before.” The fights, as promised, blended karate, jiu-jitsu, martial arts, wrestling and boxing.

There is an urgency to the bouts that conjure memories of Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns in the 1980s. The first rounds are not methodical. They are about survival.

“Everybody is tough early,” Evan “The Phenom” Elder said. “It’s the second and third rounds you find out what you are made of.”

Elder took the first fight to Darrius “Beastmode” Flowers, delighting the crowd in the UFC’s first card in Denver since 2018. Elder kicked, punched — one was deemed below the equator, causing a near-five minute delay — and won by submission over Flowers. Elder on the mic was even better than Elder in the fight.

“I am trying to break necks and cash checks. UFC, Dana White, put me back in here,” said Elder after his welterweight victory. “I want to make some moneeeeeeeey!”

UFC has come a long way since holding its first two championship events in Denver in November 1993 and March 1994. It’s a coed sport now. Ball Arena featured entertaining women’s fights — Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez were the headliners — and “U-S-A!” chants for flyweight Fatima Kline. She lost to Jasmine Jasudavicius, who told the heckling crowd to “shut up!”

UFC has figured out how to entertain, how to market, how to deliver. It has done an amazing job branding itself as a reality show, and Elder’s post-fight address is exactly the type of moment that resonates with the audience on screen and in the arena. There is candor, bravado, vulgarity and vulnerability rarely seen at the podium following an NFL, NBA or MLB game.

The UFC feels everywhere. It is omnipresent on ESPN through classic highlights, contender shows and “The Ultimate Fighter.” And the sport’s best rarely, if ever, duck each other. UFC soared in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many sports struggled to survive, UFC thrived, matching the NFL in its desire to move forward against an avalanche of criticism. The draw is undeniable based on sold-out bouts, and eyeballs on TVs. It features fights locally, globally and the product is endlessly and easily available through streaming.

In-person, the raw appeal possesses a pull that makes me hope there is not another six-year pause between UFC events at Ball Arena. There is a gladiator nature with these men and women. These fighters do what we can’t do and won’t do. They train with the discipline of a monk. They eat like a jockey and compete like they are on a ledge with only one cushion available on the ground below.

There is accountability to how it plays. No teammates to blame. No fingers to point at officials. We know they are great athletes. But who is the toughest?

It is a loaded question because it requires such a diverse skill set. The first eight fights included three submissions, two decisions, a no contest — Cody Brundage was illegally elbowed multiple times in the head; not cool — and a pair of knockouts, one 18 seconds into the bout.

When Josh Fremd entered the arena in the second preliminary fight, he was embraced like a long, lost friend, showered in applause. He is from Pittsburgh but has trained in Denver for more than a decade. This night provided an opportunity “to make a statement.” Instead, the only appropriate description 15 minutes later was buzzkill. His opponent Andre Petroski took the fight to the mat, laying on and outmuscling Fremd.

He blocked out the merciless boos to win a decision that featured few memorable snapshots beyond Fremd’s running knee to Petroski’s ribs. Fans entertained themselves with Rick Flair “Woooooo!” chants throughout the final two rounds.

The bout required an appreciation for the science of winning on the mat and provided the first negative feedback about the Mile High City.

“There’s no (bleeping) air up here,” said Petroski in the ring afterward. “(Wrestling) was the only game plan to win. It sucks. But, you have to do what you have to do to get the win. I couldn’t take risks.”

Part of the charm of the UFC is that the next fight can be the fight of the night, and can leave jaws agape. Bantamweight Montel Jackson delighted the packed arena, living up to his “Quik” nickname. Eighteen seconds into the first round, he floored Da’Mon Blackshear, catching him flush in the face with a straight left. Blackshear required medical attention before leaving the ring. Jackson thanked Blackshear for taking the fight on short notice, saying too many “chumps” don’t.

The crowd was not as familiar with his game, but they appreciated the jolt.

UFC is not for everyone. It is violent. It is dangerous. But that has always been the fight game, whether it was Jack Dempsey, Mike Tyson, Chuck Liddell or Anderson Silva.

It makes no apologies. The “oohs!” when kicks smashed into chests and “aahs!” when punches slammed into chins offered a reminder of why it was hard to find any empty seats when the lights turned on.

There were fighters who left needing to practice getting up. There were fighters who needed practice in shutting up.

But there were UFC fighters, based on the attendance and reaction, who should be back in Denver.

“Denver, Colorado is amazing,” said featherweight Julian “Juicy J” Erosa. “Thank you so much.”

Then you watch his highlights, and wonder how long his opponents take nourishment through a straw after his bouts.

Dober is helping headline UFC’s first card in Denver since 2018. He is known for knockouts. He competes as if everything is personal, like the person across from him is not only trying to beat him but devour him.

Dober finishes take on a common theme. Straight left. Right hook. Left hook. Opponent’s knees buckle. Head bounces off the mat. Dober leaps into the air in jubilation.

While it’s not his focus leading into Saturday’s fight vs. Jean Silva at Ball Arena, Dober understands the fascination with his power. He sits tied with Dustin Poirier for the most KOs in UFC lightweight division history with nine.

Reaching double figures in Denver, the place he’s long called home, matters.

“Truthfully, it snuck up on me,” Dober told The Post. “I am just out here working hard and having fun and a couple of fights ago I learned I was tied. It’s not something I think about like a lot of other people apparently do. But it means a lot to be part of a UFC world record.”

Dober is not from Colorado, but he might as well be. He shifted from training in Nebraska to the Centennial State in 2012. His career was gaining traction. From April of 2012 to October of 2013, he posted a 6-1 record. He found his sweet spot.

“The guys in Denver were tougher. I was already kind of training out here on my vacations. So eventually I just wanted to make the move,” Dober said. “I could have gone to New York, Florida and California. But Colorado was just calling me out.”

Dober, who is now  27-13, takes pride in being part of this event. Then again, at 35, he embraces every opportunity to step foot into the octagon. He was so determined to stay on this card, that Dober agreed to five different names after Mike Davis suffered an injury in training. Jean Silva took the bout just two weeks after registering a TKO versus Charles Jourdain. Silva is 13-2 with a 10-fight win streak.

“It can be hard because of the uncertainty because you don’t know what you are going to get when they replace a fighter (last minute). But luckily, I train in a way where I don’t focus on the opponent,” Dober said. “I am ready. And I don’t care who stares across at me in the ring.”

Styles make fights and the crowd is already rubbing their hands together in anticipation of this one. Silva is not boring. He will take chances. That means Dober could finish on his feet.

“He’s not going to try and lay on me for 15 minutes,” Dober said during his pre-fight presser. “So, I think this match is made for me, made for Denver, Colorado, and it’s going to be the fight of the night.”

While there are many stories of boxers and wrestlers finding homes in mixed martial arts by function or desperation, Dober’s path was more linear. He gravitated toward Muay Thai training at the age of 14. He became a two-time amateur national champion. But when he saw Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture compete, his mind was made up.

“I recognized that it was a physical chess match. Seeing them, I was dumbfounded. I saw the art and the beauty,” Dober said. “And I wanted to be part of it.”

Dober’s passion has not dulled. Most fighters his age are not capable of or interested in getting hit anymore. But Dober believes he’s aging like Benjamin Button. And inspiration comes easily with young daughter Sonya now attending the fights. That is his why?

“Yeah, because you only live once, these careers are short and you never know when it will be over,” Dober said. “I stay active. And it’s kind of hard to explain, but I feel better at 35 than I did at 25. When you are in your 20s, you live on piss and vinegar. You are a bad driver of a sports car. Now, I have mellowed. I am wiser and I think you see that in my performances.”

He hasn’t lost the thump in his fists. They should come with obligatory ice packs and health insurance co-payments. This will be Dober’s 41st UFC bout, but this one feels different. He’s home. And it figures to pack a punch. Maybe even a knockout.

“Oh man, I haven’t been in front of the Denver crowd in over 10 years. That energy and that love from the crowd, it’s going to be exciting,” Dober said. “I can’t wait to hear that song walking to the ring. It’s going to be a special night.”

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.