Jordan Williams Checking His Ego at the Octagon Door

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Jordan Williams on Tuesday will look to make the most of a second chance when he competes on Season 3, Episode 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. There, he has another opportunity to cash in on an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

During Season 2 of the series, Williams, 28, claimed a decisive unanimous decision over Tim Caron on short notice. However, he did not land a deal with the UFC and the result was later overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he tested positive for marijuana -- a substance he uses for medicinal purposes to combat the effects of Type-1 diabetes. Williams in April admitted that his desire to shoot for a takedown late in the fight with Caron may have cost him. He has since expanded on his statements and the pressures of proving more to UFC matchmakers.

“For me, it’s not really so much pressure, but it’s alright, let’s show them what I can do on my feet,” Williams told Sherdog.com. “I’ve been knocking people out. I’ve been getting standup finishes. I was in the wrong state of mind [against Caron], because it was more my ego. I was the better wrestler, and this guy tried to wrestle me. He was a striker, talking in all the pre-fight interviews of how he was going to head kick the hell out of me. I was beating him on the feet, I was outstriking him, so then the striker turned into the wrestler and that’s why I was like, ‘Yo, you’re going to wrestle me?’”

In an exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Williams also discussed his path to MMA, his adoration for former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and his passions outside of fighting.