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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Tom Breese has found a home for himself in the middleweight division, and he hopes to continue demonstrating 185 is where he thrives when he competes at UFC on ESPN+ 27.

After spending his entire career at welterweight, Bresse (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) moved up a weight class for his most recent outing. The results were immediate, because he scored a first-round TKO of Daniel Kelly in his divisional introduction.

Breese (13-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has his sophomore contest at 185 pounds Saturday when he meets Brendan Allen, and without 15 additional pounds to shed, he said he’s the difference is noticeable.

“One hundred percent (I can’t believe I used to make welterweight),” Breese told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ESPN+ 27 media day on Thursday. “I started mixed martial arts very young. I made my pro debut at 18, so I was at welterweight, but my body was growing. I thought that was the weight class for me. I wanted to stick with the weight class, but natural development forced me to move up.”

Breese said that move up taught him the lesson that weight cutting isn’t alway effective, and said changing things up with the “good move” for his short and longterm future.

Now he can commit more of his mental and physical attention to his performance in the octagon, and he intends to have a good one at UFC on ESPN+ 27, which takes place at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va., and streams on ESPN+.

“I’ve been more focused on myself,” Breese said. “I had a quick look at Brendan, but this is my journey, I’m focused on myself. I don’t worry too much about the other fella.”