TJ Laramie VS Daniel Swain

If there’s one thing that stands out to the UFC brass on the Contender Series, it’s finished. And both TJ Laramie and Daniel Swain are no strangers to ending fights early.

Canada’s Laramie (11-3) and U.S.A.’s Swain (20-9-1) will square off in a featherweight bout on Week Two of Dana White’s Contender Series: Season Four on Tuesday night. The fight will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.

Laramie, 22, said although he’s looking to lock down a UFC contract in front of Dana White himself, he’s treating it as any other fight, and believes his exciting style will speak for itself.

“I feel like I’m a pretty exciting fighter, for the most part. At the end of the day, the most important part is to win, obviously, because they’re more than likely not going to sign a loser to the contract. Being exciting, that’s just going to come with everything I plan to do as far as my gameplan,” said Laramie in an interview with MMA Empire.

“I feel like it’s just another fight, at the end of the day. If it’s anything like my last fight was, I feel like it’ll be a no-brainer I’ll get a contract.”

While it’s not an official rule of the Contender Series, historically, finishing the fight goes a long way in increasing the chances of securing a UFC contract.

And while he knows the significance a finish could have, Laramie said he doesn’t feel the need to push harder to ensure he gets the finish, but rather let it happen naturally.

For Swain, fighting in the UFC has been a goal of his since his teenage wrestling days, a goal he has the chance to finally fulfill Tuesday night.

Swain said it feels amazing to have the chance to show the years of hard work and dedication were all worth it.

Throughout his career on the regional scene, Swain has competed all over the world against some of the best competition available.

With Laramie having fought primarily in and around his home province, Swain said he believes this step up in competition and the bigger stage will play a factor.

Given the strength of Laramie’s striking game, Swain said he expects him to want to keep the fight standing when the action starts.

But after a few minutes, Swain said he expects Laramie will abandon ship.

“I see him realizing quickly that this is more than he can chew. He’s had a very successful career as a young guy up in Canada, but I don’t think he’s fought anyone near as good as I am,” said Swain.

“I think he’s in for a rude awakening. He’s going to step in there and think things are going to go his way, and as soon as they stop going his way, I think he might be the first one to take a shot. If he keeps trying to land those big shots on me, but just gets peppered and peppered and peppered, I guarantee he might take a bad shot on me. And if you take a bad shot on me, the fight’s over.”