Regardless of Odds, Davis Expecting Battle with Nogueira

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When it was announced last week that Phil Davis would be replacing Tito Ortiz against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 24, plenty of fans did not hesitate to pick Davis to win.

Davis, a standout wrestler at Penn State, has transitioned quickly to MMA. In two years he has built an impressive 8-0 record en route to becoming one of the top prospects in the sport.

Nogueira, however, has been a top-class light heavyweight for roughly a decade. Davis isn’t so sure he should be heavily favored over the Brazilian.

“People don’t always know exactly what they’re talking about. … I, for one, am not taking this fight for granted,” Davis said recently during a “Savage Dog Show” interview on the Sherdog Radio Network. “This is a huge fight for me. As far as I’m concerned -- I don’t care what the bookmakers say -- this is a battle. But that’s what I’m used to in my career and my life. I’m used to having an uphill battle. I’m used to winning that fight.”

Davis will have a little more than a month to prepare for the March 26 matchup at the Key Arena in Seattle. He’s filled in as a replacement before, stepping up on short notice to fight Rodney Wallace last August at UFC 117. Davis won a unanimous decision, but he does not consider the bout one of his better performances.

A key difference between that bout and this one, though, is that Davis has already been in training. He had been scheduled to fight Matt Hamill on April 30.

“I was kind of geared up and kind of in fight mode, so to speak,” Davis said. “The Rodney Wallace fight took me completely by surprise. I’m a little bit more prepared this time around.”

Nogueira fought last in September, dropping a unanimous decision to Ryan Bader. While some may consider that defeat evidence that his best days are behind him, it is Nogueira’s only loss since February 2007.

“He’s obviously a legend in the sport because he’s a proven winner,” Davis said. “He’s just tough. [I] have to go out there and just make it happen.”

Nogueira is also a major step up in competition. Just a year into his UFC tenure, Davis has a chance to beat a top-10 fighter and move into the title hunt.

“It’s a little daunting to think about, but you win because you did the right things,” he said. “I know I’ve been doing the right things.”

After already progressing so rapidly, it’s hard for Davis to see where he could be in another year. How he performs against Nogueira could be pivotal as far as launching him forward or slowing down his climb.

“A year ago, I didn’t know where I’d be. It’s silly to put a timeline on where I want to be and when because it’s just -- it will happen,” Davis said of becoming a champion. “It will happen, I’m certain of that. I’m going to just sit back and enjoy the ride. … I’m not anxious to get to that belt. It will be there waiting for me, polished up and shiny.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 14:00) with Davis.