LINCOLN, Neb. – Andre Fili is branching out from his role as a UFC featherweight to be typecast on film.

Prior to booking a fight against Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 135, Fili (18-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) signed on to “Green Fever,” a movie produced his longtime coach and friend, Team Alpha Male founder Urijah Faber.

“He said, ‘I’ve got a role for a sketchy, weed trimming cousin,’” said Fili, who faces Johnson (17-13 MMA, 9-9 UFC) in the FS1-televised co-headliner of Saturday’s event at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. “I said, ‘Say no more. That’s me.’”

Fili, 28, was born in Federal Way, Wash. But before he made Sacramento, Calif., home as a part of Team Alpha Male, he grew up in Northern California, a hotbed for marijuana cultivation. He read the script and felt he was stepping into a high school reunion.

“I had to do no homework for the role,” he said.

The movie, which currently is in post-production, centers around a medical marijuana grow operation that’s invaded by dangerous criminals.

Fili promises the film isn’t the B-movie action flick so common to current and former MMA stars. He has a prominent role in several scenes as the character of Diego Beltran.

In other words, Fili said, it was a real acting job, one he’d love to reprise in the future. Given his look, he doesn’t expect to be cast as a wholesome dad. But any chance he gets to be creative outside the cage is welcome.

“The thing about having throat tattoos is you get kind of type cast,” said Fili, who’s won his past two in the octagon. “I could be the guy who robs the young dad. I think there will always be a spot for me.”

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