IN THE MICK OF TIME
Brit Mick Parkin out to steal Mohammed Usman’s shine at UFC Vegas 89 as he bids to extend perfect octagon record
The Sunderland slugger faces the toughest test of his mixed martial arts career tonight
MICK PARKIN hopes to make himself a household name in America tonight with a win over the biggest-name opponent of his career.
The Sunderland slugger returns to action this evening on the prelims of UFC Vegas 89, which is headlined by the return of former strawweight champ Rose Namajunas.
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Parkin has been punch-perfect in his brief octagon career, going 2-0 in mixed martial arts' top promotion.
Dominant displays against Jamal Pogues and Caio Machado have earned him a clash with Mohammed Usman, the brother of former long-reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
And the former part-time doorman believes he can steal some of Mohammed's shine and name recognition with a second successive win in Sin City.
He told SunSport: "I was thinking exactly that. He's got a big social media and stuff and he won The Ultimate Fighter and his brother is Kamaru Usman.
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"So he'll have loads of American fans. So when you beat them, you might steal over a few of his fans and stuff like that.
"Maybe a few more Americans will start watching us after it."
Parkin and his team have studied every facet of Mohammed's game extensively during this training camp, reinforcing the belief he had when the match-up was announced.
"It's a great fight and a fair match-up," he said. "It's the perfect time for it too, it's my third fight in the UFC.
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"It's the perfect time and the perfect guy to fight. Like I said, in heavyweight MMA, they're all dangerous.
"So people saying, 'He's athletic and he's this and that' - I could do the same thing.
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"I could swing just as hard as these other heavyweights, but I don't fight like that.
"I feel like I'm better all around, to be honest."
Parkin celebrated the first anniversary of his UFC debut - which came on the undercard of Leon Edwards' fight trilogy with Kamaru - earlier this week.
Reflecting on his time in the promotion so far, Parkin said: "Life has definitely changed. It's been amazing.
"Fighting on [Dana White's] Contenders Series and getting here and having two fights in the UFC and having a third coming up. It's been amazing.
"Every day I train with my friends and get a little bit better and I travel to Wigan to train with more of my friends.
"It's such a great job to have, it's Probably the best job in the world."
The UFC are understood to be weighing up a return to the UK later this year, with SunSport understanding Manchester is in contention to host the card.
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Parkin is refusing to look past the tough task ahead of him but admits he'd love a spot on the Manchester card if it comes to fruition.
"It was amazing last time [in London]," Parkin said. "So many people came down to watch us, they got the train down and travelled back.
"And Manchester is even better and drivable for people.
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"People would probably just drive there and drive back or even get the train as that's so quick.
"Hopefully they can get us on that card and I'll really look forward to that."