Filed under: News, Radio Highlight, UFC

Whether it ends up being properly channeled or not, there’s bound to be some measure of nerves as a fighter heads into a UFC debut.

But then there’s Dana White’s Contender Series – an experience in which not only does an athlete have to think about coming out victorious, but also doing it impressively enough to be favored over other winners hoping to earn UFC contracts.

Alex Perez, who competed at UFC Fight Night 123 last week, went through both. So which one was more nerve-racking?

“For the Dana White contender show, I was kind of like, ‘Alright, I’m going to get knocked or knock the guy out. I’m not going to go in there and hold anything back,’” Perez told MMAjunkie Radio. “To be honest, I wasn’t as nervous. Because I was like, ‘I’m going to let everything go. Whatever happens, happens. I know I put everything I had into it.’

“Now when I got into the UFC, in my last fight, I was kind of nervous. Because it’s a bigger stage. Cameras right in front of you the whole time. And I want to win. I need to win. Just because it’s in my backyard. So I was a little bit nervous. But I felt there was a lot more pressure in Fresno then there was in the Dana White (Contender Series).”

It probably helps that, although shows like DWCS and “The Ultimate Fighter” are often platforms for fighters with modest records looking to break into the scene, 25-year-old Perez (19-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) wasn’t one of those cases. By the time he fought in front of White, he’d already fought under Tachi Palace Fights, RFA and CFFC banners.

Not taking any shortcuts paid off for the battle-tested Perez, who managed to thrive in both occasions. On Week 5 of DWCS, he choked out Kevin Gray to earn a first-round win and a UFC contract. Four months later, his UFC debut saw a similar ending, with Perez locking in an Anaconda choke to get rid of Carls John de Tomas in the second round of a bantamweight encounter.

There was an extra level of stress heading into that one, too, as Perez and de Tomas had originally agreed to a flyweight fight. Concerned about de Tomas’ weight progress, though, the California State Athletic Commission thought it would be best to move the bout up a division. Perez, understandably, wasn’t happy about that.

With that in the past, Perez is now looking into his octagon future. And, despite his own extensive professional record, he has an idea of how he’d like to conduct it given a choice.

“I’d rather fight those guys that are 7-0 than fight a guy that’s had a couple of losses on his record,” Perez said. “Most of the guys who are 7-0 get knockouts quickly and haven’t been the distance. So I like to test those guys in deep waters.”

Naming specific targets, however, Perez offered two that stray a bit from that: “TUF 24” alumni Eric Shelton and Matt Schnell, both of whom carry identical 11-4 pro records. Shelton is 1-2 in the octagon but has most recently beaten Jenel Lausa. Schnell was also off to a 0-2 start, but has bounced beat with a decision over Marco Beltran.

“Those two guys would be the guys I’d want to come after,” Perez said. “If I had a choice, I’d pick one of those two.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Dan Tom. For more information or to download past episodes, go towww.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Filed under: News, Radio Highlight, UFC