Put 'em up again: N.L.'s 1st UFC fighter eyes second win Sunday

The first person from Newfoundland and Labrador to be part of the UFC is stepping back into the octagon this weekend in the hopes of mirroring his winning debut.

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"I just love competing," says Ryan Janes, originally from Grand Falls-Windsor.

Janes will take on Gerald Meerschaert in Halifax on Sunday as part of UFC Fight Night 105.

"I don't feel like his skill set is crazy, I don't think he's better than me," James told CBC's Central Morning Show. 

"My biggest battle is fighting his experience. How do I make him uncomfortable?"

Janes has a 9-1 fight record compared to Meerschaert's 25-8.

Overweight to making weight

Janes, who now lives in British Columbia, said he wasn't always in fighting form.

After moving from N.L. to Canada's west coast almost a decade ago, he started packing on the pounds.

"I was getting kind of big so I decided to lose weight. Weights weren't really my thing, so I looked up martial arts places because I wanted to also learn something," Janes said.

While the fights can seem lightening fast on TV, Janes said there is a lot of strategy and technique that goes into them.

"You got your basic striking, so your kick boxing, boxing, which is huge. Then you got your wrestling … and then you got your grappling," he said.

"Three different kind of disciplines that you have to integrate all into one and try to do it seamlessly."

Mom can't watch

Janes said he gets "random messages" of support from people across Newfoundland and Labrador, cheering on his trailblazing efforts.

He may be the first, but now he's not the only person from this province in the UFC.

Gavin Tucker, originally from Ship Cove but now living in Halifax, has stepped onto the fight scene and will take on Sam Sicilia Sunday at the same UFC event.

Those making the trip to Halifax for Janes' fight on Sunday include his two older brothers, two cousins and his mom — sort of.

"I don't even think my mom is going to come to the event, but for her to be [in Halifax] is kind of a cool thing," he said.

"I'm her baby, so she can't do it. She's like, 'I'll watch it after when I know what happens.'"