It's been almost a year since the fight world saw Ivan Salaverry (Pictures) in action, inside the UFC's Octagon. The Seattle-based grappler envisioned his fight with Terry Martin (Pictures) ending quite differently. In just over two minutes, Salaverry was gazing at the stars and birds circling his head thanks to a slam and some follow-up punches.

Salaverry hinted at retirement in the days following his loss to Martin, but almost a full year later and the AMC Pankration-bred fighter is gearing up to fight again. Was it an itch for competition, a lack of money or simply a bruised ego that brought him back to the Octagon?

"This is the last fight of my contract," he laughed sincerely. "But seriously, I honestly think is one of my last fights. I'm not going to tell you exactly that yes; this is the end of my career because if something pops up and I feel good about it, I'll fight. But I really am looking at this as the end of my career and not the continuation of my fighting. I got a gym, two kids under three years old and other priorities that I feel are more important right now than fighting."

Age also plays a factor in Salaverry's decision to eventually walk away from the sport sooner than most as the self-proclaimed king of diaper changing has too much on his plate. Whether chasing two toddlers and keeping them away from wall sockets or instilling the same fighting knowledge he's soaked up over the years, the solid all-around fighter knows that he simply can't, at this stage in his life, focus full-time on training.

"I've got so many things going on right now that I just can't really train to fight as much as I need to," he said. "I don't make enough off fighting to really live because, well, I'm a fighter and you know we don't make s***. I got my business to run and like I said; raising two kids under the age of three is tougher than fighting!"

Whether this truly is Salaverry's last hurrah remains to be seen but one thing is certain: he's not looking past or taking opponent Rousimar Palhares lightly. Salaverry is slated to face the Brazilian submission phenom this Saturday on the UFC 84 card inside the MGM Grand. And while most of the American MMA audience may not know much about "Toquinho," Salaverry boasts much knowledge of his foe.

"I do know quite a lot about him," he said with a devious chuckle. "He's progressed throughout the years. His striking has gotten better but it's not like world-class caliber of striking. He's got awesome submissions and he shoots really deep. He's supposedly the number-one rated Brazilian jiu jitsu MMA fighter right now. He's out of the Brazilian Top Team and he really emphasizes his submissions. He's a short, stout and really strong grappler."

One aspect that Salaverry can't pinpoint is whether Palhares will adapt to the UFC and the raucous, sold-out arena this weekend. Often a fighter enters the Octagon for the first time only to become sapped of energy and throw gameplans out the window.

"I really can't anticipate what anybody else does; that's not how I think," Salaverry muttered. "If he gets UFC jitters, then good for me but if he doesn't, well, whatever. But he's a professional and he has fought a few guys out of the Chute Boxe club and some guys who have been in Pride. He's also pretty well built-up in Brazil and that should have helped his confidence. But is he ready for Las Vegas with over 12,000 people screaming their heads off? We'll see."

For someone who has been out of action, at least professionally, for almost 12 full months, Salaverry is unconcerned and feels as though there will be no cage rust once the horn blares to begin the duel.

"I mean every day I am fighting out there with my crew of guys," he said. "I don't see any reason to have ring rust. The cage in the MGM is my second home so I'm good to go."