MILWAUKEE – Edson Barboza finds himself in a new spot this week in Wisconsin.

For the first time, the Brazilian veteran and fan favorite will have to try to climb back from a two-fight skid – the first consecutive losses of his career. But heading into a critical lightweight fight in the UFC on FOX 31 co-main event against Dan Hooker (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Barboza (19-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC) said he isn’t feeling any pressure.

“Of course (there’s) no pressure,” Barboza told MMAjunkie today in Milwaukee. “I feel zero pressure. I don’t put pressure on my shoulders because sometimes it’s a win, sometimes it’s a loss, and the most important one is the next one. That’s the fight to have – the next. No pressure. It’s one more fight.”

UFC on FOX 31 takes place Saturday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The main card airs on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

A win over Hooker would be big for Barboza, given it would snap the New Zealander’s four-fight winning streak at 155 pounds – a streak that includes four stoppages.

But Barboza isn’t stressing about the quality of the foe in front of him.

“He’s a great fighter,” he said. “He’s a top guy, and my whole life in the UFC, almost 20 fights in the UFC, I’ve fought the best guys in the world. Hooker’s not different. He’s one of the best.

“I know if I go there and give my best, I’m going to win this fight. That’s the game plan. Go there, have fun, give my best. If I go there and give my best, I’m going to win this fight.”

And he believes that will keep him right in the title mix, despite coming off the back-to-back losses.

“If I win this fight, I will be very close to a title shot,” Barboza said. “There’s only four guys ahead of me in the rankings. If I win this fight, I will be there – very close. That’s the goal. (I’m) still in UFC, still have a dream: Get the title shot. Get my chance for the title shot – and I’m very close.”

For more from Barboza, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC on FOX 31, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.