Intimidation of Mendez not a factor for Daniel Sarafian at UFC on FUEL TV 10

“The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” veteran Daniel Sarafian has bumped into his next opponent, Eddie Mendez, more than a few times prior to UFC on FUEL TV 10.

For some fighters, that’s a cue to mean-mug or get bent out of shape.

But the way Sarafian (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) sees it, as long as they’re not sharing a gym for training camp, it will be just the kind of distraction he needs before their fight, which is part of the event’s main card at Paulo Sarasate Arena in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.

“I really don’t try to intimidate my opponent or anything like that when I run into him,” Sarafian told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I think it’s good, because in a sense, it gives me some motivation and it serves as a stimulus to me to be more alert.

“And there’s an adrenaline rush. It wouldn’t be good if I had to meet him all the time, because then it becomes routine. But to see him every now and then reminds you that you have a fight coming up.”

Sarafian has had no shortage of fights since he joined with the UFC for the inaugural international edition of the reality show, where he finished two of three opponents before an injury forced him to withdraw from the show prior to the finals.

After healing from injury, Sarafian returned to the cage at UFC on FX 7, where he took on veteran C.B. Dolloway and lost a split decision that won “Fight of the Night” honors. The setback didn’t fit into his career plans, but he said it did forward his ultimate goal of becoming a better fighter.

“I continued to perfect what I was already learning, like a continuation of the learning process you have from fight to fight,” he said. “I think I was able to show that I am able to fight with high-level fighters. Also, I suffered a knockdown, which was the first in my career, so that was important to see how I can compose myself and how I react in a tough moment. I think overall, I learned some important things in the fight.”

Sarafian didn’t need a lesson in how to handle himself after the show, unlike some of his fellow cast members, who, according to UFC President Dana White, got a little too high on themselves as they became household names in Brazil.

“I didn’t really feel like I could fit in those shoes,” he said. “I think it was not my case. I tried to stay focused and not get carried away with the post-TV show, and not change my values and what I believe. Just keep focused on the fights and training and all the aspects I have to do as a professional fighter.

“In the end, all the attention and all this hype that you get from the show is good for your personal marketing, but that’s not really what matters the most. In the end, you’re a fighter, and you’ve got to be focused on training, and you’ve got to be a fighter and be truthful to yourself. Because in the end, it didn’t change anything. You’ve got to go in there and fight.”

That’s exactly what Sarafian plans to do against Mendez (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a Strikeforce vet on a two-fight win streak. They’ve seen each other several times now, and if all goes as planned, the learning process will continue for the “TUF” vet.

For the latest on UFC on FUEL TV 10, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.