After odd 1-fight stint outside promotion, UFC Fight Night 103's Ben Saunders back and ready to impress

MESA, Ariz. – Ben Saunders’ path out of the UFC was a not an everyday departure, but so far his road back has been an uplifting one.

After a TKO loss to Patrick Cote in Boston a year ago snapped his three-fight winning streak since returning to the UFC after a lengthy stint in Bellator, Saunders suddenly found himself on the outs with the promotion.

He had fought out his contract – and also fought out his contract with his previous management team. That combined with personal family issues with the deaths of his grandparents and uncle all came together in a perfect storm. Suddenly, despite wins in six of his past eight fights, and a 3-1 mark since returning to the UFC, he was out the door.

So Saunders did the only thing he knew how to do – he fought on. He took out another ex-UFC fighter in Jacob Volkmann for a regional promotion in Minnesota in just 17 seconds in September. And that armbar got him back.

Not only did Saunders (20-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) get the chance to return to the big show, but he’s on Sunday’s main card at UFC Fight Night 103 in Phoenix against Court McGee (18-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC). UFC Fight Night 103 takes place at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The main card airs on FS1 following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“It always sucks when you’ve got other things occupying your mind and other things going on in the background,” Saunders told MMAjunkie today. “As of now, I’ve got none of that. I’ve got my team and my camp together, everybody’s working together. The promotion seems like they’re down to work with me and they’ve got my back – my first card back, and I’m on the main card. They gave me a veteran and a known opponent in Court McGee. So I’m really happy with the fight and really happy with the event and happy to be back in general.”

Saunders is plenty familiar with McGee, as it turns out. The welterweights actually helped train UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell for what wound up being his final fight at UFC 115 in June 2010.

Then, Saunders was in his first stint with the UFC and went to San Luis Obispo, Calif., to work with McGee and others to get Liddell ready to fight Rich Franklin. McGee also was getting prepared for “TUF 11” final against Kris McCray at the same time.

“We both were staying at Chuck’s house, so we got a lot of time to get to know each other, lots of talking,” Saunders said. Everybody knows his story (as a recovering addict) is truly inspiring. I have a lot of respect for him. As a fighter, he’s super well-rounded, super talented, extremely durable, and endurance for days. He brings a high pace, he likes to come forward, and I like the same – so it should be a very fan-friendly fight.”

But Saunders said the fact he’s fighting someone he got friendly with about seven years ago shouldn’t have an impact on things. He won’t be holding anything back.

Neither, he suspects, will McGee.

“I know what it’s like to go against people I have respect for or I like or I’m friends with,” Saunders said. “Once the cage door closes … my focus is going to be there, I’m sure his focus is going to be there. If the fight goes the full three rounds, you’re going to see 15 minutes of us both trying to kill each other. We don’t like to lose and we’re very competitive, and we’re both going to be doing everything we can to win.”

Check out the video above for more from Saunders ahead of his fight with McGee at UFC Fight Night 103.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 103, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.