UFC 170’s T.J. Waldburger expects to enter ‘top 20 mix’ with win over Pyle

While 38-year-old Mike Pyle is trying to hang on in the twilight of his career, his UFC 170 opponent, T.J. Waldburger, is on the opposite end of the spectrum with hopefully many years ahead.

Even though Waldburger is roughly 13 years Pyle’s junior, he still feels “Quicksand” has a lot to offer in terms of skills. And perhaps more importantly, he still holds the name value to move Waldburger a few rungs up the ladder.

“He’s not carrying a cane or anything, but he is a veteran of the sport,” Waldburger told MMAjunkie Radio. “He’s still up to date and still improving, and really, he’s dangerous everywhere, so I’m excited.

“It’s going to be a good win for me. It’s going to throw me up into the top 20 mix, and that’s where I feel like I’m at.”

Entering Saturday’s bout at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center on the heels of a highlight-reel knockout loss, Waldburger (16-8 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has made some adjustments to ensure he doesn’t suffer a third defeat in four UFC appearances when he meets Pyle (25-9-1 MMA, 8-4 UFC) on Saturday’s pay-per-view main card.

The most significant of those changes is raising his level of intensity come fight night. Waldburger admits overtraining took away some of his killer instinct in the past, but now he’s rediscovered his fire.

“I’ve got to keep that eye of the tiger,” Waldburger said. “I think at times there’s a point in a fighter’s career where you get so complacent because it feels like training. You have to remember it’s not training; it’s a fight, and you have to go out there with a viciousness.”

Pyle has shared the cage with some of the sport’s most notable fighters over his 15-year career. Defeating him would be the most meaningful victory of Waldburger’s UFC tenure thus far, and that’s why he thinks big things are to follow once he gets the job done.

“I don’t want to look too far ahead because Saturday’s the day and that’s the day I need to look at, but once I do win, it’s going to be a step up,” Waldburger said. “I’m down for whoever they give me. Whatever Joe Silva thinks I’m good for. Most likely it will be top 20. I’ll work that bracket and then move up.”

For the latest on UFC 170, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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