For RFA 9 headliner Pedro Munhoz, UFC nibble could be a bite by beating Curran

To be the best, you have to beat the best. It’s cliche, but that’s pretty much what Pedro Munhoz is thinking these days.

And he thinks one of those “best” is Jeff Curran, who stands in the way of him winning a title and getting his name out there to the masses.

Munhoz (8-0) meets Curran (34-15) in the main event of RFA 9 on Saturday, and Resurrection Fighting Alliance’s bantamweight title is up for grabs. The fight takes place at StubHub Center in Los Angeles. A six-fight main card, headlined by Munhoz-Curran, airs live on AXS TV.

A win for Munhoz, a Brazilian, could catapult him quickly into the bantamweight conversation – and it could have the UFC paying extra attention to him with the hope of him one day coming over from the promotion that wants to act as an unofficial feeder league.

Munhoz had a nibble from the UFC in 2012 when he made the cut to be on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.” But when show producers realized he already was living in the U.S., a decision spurred on by his manager and RFA promoter Ed Soares, the plug was pulled.

But Munhoz, who has five of his eight wins by submission, isn’t just looking for any kind of win to get back on the big show’s radar. He knows what fans want to see.

“He’s a really tough opponent, but I’m ready and I’m going to finish this fight,” Munhoz told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I don’t want this fight to go do a decision. I really want a knockout or a submission. Always when I fight, I like to move forward and I like to finish the fight. The fans like it, and I’m going to show it for myself that I can beat the best fighters in the world.”

Curran, who returns to 135 pounds after a one-fight stint at flyweight, has fought at featherweight and lightweight, as well. In the WEC, he once challenged for Urijah Faber‘s 145-pound title.

He’s got the resume, to be certain, and more than half of his wins are by submission. He has tapped out more than twice as many opponents as Munhoz has total fights.

But that’s not stopping the Black House-trained fighter from having confidence if Curran wants to go to the ground.

“I think to fight a guy like Jeff Curran is always dangerous,” he said. “But I’ve been training so long and hard for this fight, especially my jiu-jitsu. If the fight goes to the ground, I really want to submit him because not a lot of guys have done that before. But I know myself and I know my skills – and I can submit him.”

Indeed, Curran has been submitted all of three times in his career, most recently by Faber in 2007. You have to dig back to 2001 to find the last time someone knocked him out.

But still, Munhoz remains confident. And that may do wonders for him on Friday.

“I feel ready for the fight and very strong in my mind,” Munhoz said. “I’m looking forward to Friday night and I can’t wait to do this for my fans and myself.:

For the latest on RFA 9, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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