Armed with a wealth of experience, Algeria’s Mehdi Baghdad sets his sights on the UFC

Mehdi Baghdad may be fighting for the RFA lightweight title in the near future, but his sights are set on a potential UFC contract; and while other fighters of Arabic origins have made UFC debuts in the past, Baghdad think he right representative to spearhead a new surge of Arab talent in the promotion.

"Let me go to the UFC and I'll prove that Arabs are real fighters." Baghdad told BloodyElbow.com.

Baghdad trains out of Black House MMA in Los Angeles, where he spars with some of the UFC's top talent, and is coached under the tutelage of noted professionals like Daniel Worin and Kenny Johnson.

"I follow my coach Daniel Woirin. He's one of the best Muay Thai coaches ever in MMA. I was in Brazil with him for four years. He has been my coach for eleven years; we left for Team Quest with Dan Henderson and then we came to Black House, where he is now the coach for Muay Thai and striking.

"After that, I have Kenny Johnson for wrestling. He's a really crazy wrestling guy - one of the best coaches in wrestling. Jiu-Jitsu is everybody: Pedro Munhoz and others give classes. Mostly Kenny Johnson gives classes for wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu and MMA."

The RFA added the opportunity to spar with the likes of Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida had provided him with a wealth of experience and priceless knowledge that will only benefit him as he furthers his campaign to the UFC.

"Anderson Silva is going to come up with the belt (again). Lyoto Machida is going for the belt too. There are going to be a lot of different fighters from Black House (fighting for titles at all weight divisions)."

Although some may consider him a journeyman of sorts considering his career trajectory, Baghdad claims his goal was always to fight for MMA's top promotion. He began his quest over 13 years ago in Japan and has gradually flourished into a well-rounded mixed martial artist.

"I started to train in 2001 as a sparring partner for Ricardo Arona and Kazushi Sakuraba," Baghdad explained. "It was a long time ago now. Right now, the time goes really fast. All my friends that I started with have gone to the UFC. I started with Junior dos Santos. I was hitting in the same room as him, (back when) he was fighting just in Brazil; same thing with Diego Nunes. Lyoto Machida asks me, ‘why don't you go to UFC?'"

So what was the problem?

"My problem is just that nobody wanted to fight me. I stayed four years at Team Quest by 29 guys pulled out, even guys from the UFC. They don't want to fight me. They want to go back to the UFC and I understand this. You need some wins to get back in the UFC. Right now, everybody think about the UFC, but they don't think about their fights.

"I deleted a lot of videos on YouTube because nobody wants to fight me. I am happy to fight in RFA and Joe Silva knows about me now.

"My manager calls him everyday to put me in the UFC."

The route to the UFC was never the issue for Baghdad. A few wins on the regional scene is generally enough to build one's name in the modern Era. He, however, preferred the long course - the one that gave him the confidence to believe he is a legitimate threat in the talent-filled lightweight division.

"Going to the UFC is not really hard. You just build your record and go to the UFC. Right now it is more difficult staying in the UFC. I When I go, I know I'm going to stay - like Anderson Silva.

"I'm not too sure the lightweight division is harder (than others). I know I can be one of the Top 5. I know nobody has my striking. They will try and put me on the ground but I have been training wrestling and jiu-jitsu for a long time."

"Just ask Anderson Silva what is going on with my striking."