UTICA, N.Y. – Sijara Eubanks lost out on her first chance to challenge for a UFC title, but she insists another opportunity is coming.

Friday is Eubanks’ first chance to show herself worthy of second consideration after weight-cutting issues left her ineligible to step in the cage as a finalist on “The Ultimate Fighter 26” late last year.

“It was one of the hardest points of my whole career,” Eubanks told MMAjunkie of her withdrawal from that planned championship fight with eventual winner Nicco Montano. “It was tough, getting that close and not being able to even make it to the scales. So it was tough, but it definitely has motivated me. I was able to make a lot of changes in my life and my career, and quite honestly, it’s like the best worst thing that could have happened to me because I was able to make a lot of changes with my conditioning, with the way I train, with the way I treat myself.

“I was humbled by the whole experience, so I’m a much better fighter than I was before, coming into December. I’m a better fighter, a better person, so it’s going to be real exciting on Friday because I can’t wait to show how I’ve grown over the past few months.”

On Friday, Eubanks (2-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) faces fellow “TUF 26” cast member and UFC vet Lauren Murphy (10-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) on the FS1-televised preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 131, which takes place at Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y. Early prelims stream live on UFC Fight Pass, while the main card also airs on FS1.

Eubanks and Murphy started out as teammates on the show. However, Murphy later changed sides following her loss to Montano in the season’s tournament bracket.

Eubanks admits she wasn’t impressed by Murphy’s decision.

“Everyone handles their ups and down differently, and I guess that’s how she handled it, but she just kind of, to me, I guess you weren’t as mentally in it as you first showed off that you were because after she lost, she really kind of unraveled a bit,” Eubanks said. “But, you know, everybody handles their losses different.”

Still, Eubanks knows she has to be aware of her opponent’s savvy, even if she’s not all that impressed by her actual fighting skills.

“She’s got a lot of experience,” Eubanks said of Murphy. “She’s a veteran. She’s fought a lot. She’s gritty. But I think she’s got some holes in her striking, and I don’t think she’s as solid a wrestler as she’s shown in her fights. I think there’s some holes in her grappling, as well.”

It’s a big fight in the UFC’s still-developing women’s flyweight division. Valentina Shevchenko is expected to be up next for current champ Montano, but Eubanks – who sits at No. 2 in the latest UFC.com official rankings – believes she’s still very much in the mix.

“I was right there,” Eubanks said. “It’s unfortunate I didn’t get to the fight, but I didn’t forget. Everyone had me ranked pretty high after that, so I’m here to prove that I can make the weight, that I’m a true flyweight, and that I’m one of the best flyweights in the world. A win over Lauren keeps me at the top of the heap.”

It would also go a long way toward answering the critics, who wonder how Eubanks could allow herself to lose out on her first shot at the title, which could have proven life-changing.

“Sarj” insists not getting to fight was life-changing, as well, and now she’s ready to deliver following a dress rehearsal that came up just a little short.

“I kept forgetting this whole camp, like this is my UFC debut, again,” Eubanks said. “But for me, I love it. This is exciting. This is the debut I’ve been waiting for. I waited my whole career to get into the UFC, and I feel like I got a trial run kind of. Now I get to do it for real this time, so I’m super-pumped about this week.”

To hear more from Eubanks, check out the video above.

For more on UFC Fight Night 131, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.