A career in prize fighting is one where the total sum of wins, dollars earned and recognition gained typically dictates how successful a fighter's time spent in the realm of combat sports is viewed. Much like its peers, mixed martial arts is a rigorous trade where very few things are given out freely, as every victory or rung on the ladder climbed is earned on a high-risk tilt.
It's not referred to as the "hurt business" for nothing, and at the end of the day, it's the business side of things that can cast different shades of gray.
Given the nature and conditions of such a hectic environment, personal progress and the quest for growth on all fronts can easily get lost in the shuffle or pushed to the background, but Myles Jury has never let such things fall out of scope. The surging young talent has continued to push for further development and in the process, has crafted a versatile and well-rounded skill set.
The 26-year-old Michigan native has also kept a keen eye on his affairs and all things that connect to his personal profile, taking sound advice from his inner circle and making sound business moves when they are there to be made.
The hard work invested in every one of his endeavors all yield the fruits that progress has made possible, and his ability to capitalize on opportunities that continue to get bigger serve as further proof and validation that Jury's methods are working.
"I feel my career both inside and outside of the cage is happening just how we planned it," Jury told Bleacher Report. "Things are happening how I wanted and expect it to go. I feel very fortunate for that because not a lot of people have come out of the gates as successful as I have."
The Team Alliance representative has become a surging force in the talent-rich ranks of the UFC's lightweight division and has continued to look more impressive with each and every step.
His 15-0 record speaks for itself, and with six of those victories coming inside the Octagon—his latest coming by way of knockout over legendary Japanese lightweight Takanori Gomi back in September—expectation and potential fulfilled appear to be lining up perfectly.
Yet, Jury isn't one to get hung up on labels. He's focused on doing what he's poured everything he has into doing, and answering each challenge with steady progression is what matters most.
"Everything feels great right now and the hard work I put in is visible," Jury said. "All of the sacrifices I've made and obstacles I've overcome in my past are showing...especially when I go out there and fight. I'm good standing up on my feet. I'm good on the ground, and I'm good in the places in between. I'm good wherever the fight goes, and I've worked hard to make sure of that.
"Labels like 'prospect' or 'contender' really don't matter to me because I want to become the champion one day. That's the one that matters, and people can make their labels and put them where they want, but I don't look at things that way.
"I look at each fight individually because each new opponent brings a different set of challenges and a different set of weapons and I have to deal with that on a fight by fight basis. I don't think about being a prospect or a contender because that's all just perceived pressure, and if anything, all it is going to do is affect your focus."
While the San Diego transplant has steadily climbed the ladder of what is arguably the most competitive division under the UFC banner, he'll face the toughest test of his career when he squares off with Donald Cerrone at UFC 182 on Jan. 3 in Las Vegas.
Cowboy has been a perennial contender in the 155-pound fold since coming over from the WEC back in 2011 and has amassed an impressive body of work over that three-year stretch, winning all but three of his 15 showings inside the cage.
The Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter has become a staple in the lightweight divsion's upper tier and will come into his tilt with Jury on a red-hot, five-fight winning streak. Yet, while Cerrone carries the bigger name and set of credentials in the sport, Jury sees his bout with the former WEC title challenger as the perfect next step in his quest to earn a championship opportunity.
Cerrone is an established fighter with an entertaining style, and if Jury can add that name to his resume and extend his own winning streak, his case for future title contention becomes hard to ignore.
"I got into this sport to get big fights and to fight the best in the world," Jury said. "I've put myself in a position to fight a great fighter like Cowboy, and I'm looking forward to going out there and competing. It's a dream come true and I'm looking forward to throwing down for 15 minutes.
"I want to be the best in the world, and in order to do that, you are going to have to beat some of the best guys out there. Right now Cerrone is on a hot streak. He is a big name—a household name—and that's what it's all about."
In addition to future title contention being on the line when the two top-ranked lightweights step in to handle their business at UFC 182, the bout warrants additional interest due to the respective styles each fighter brings to the Octagon.
Both have proven finishing abilities no matter where the fight takes place and will have deep arsenals at their respective disposals. Where some matchups are fairly clear cut—at least on paper—the tilt between Jury and Cerrone has the potential to explode into an action-packed affair in any number of avenues.
And this only lends further appeal for Jury. Cerrone's status in the game makes him a suitable target as is, but with the diverse skill set he brings, the crafty lightweight is looking forward to testing himself and stepping up to the challenges Cerrone presents. He's excited to mix it up with one of the best the division has to offer and will be looking to get the jump from the opening bell.
"I won't know until I get in there and get things going, but this could definitely be one of those fights where it is a back-and-forth chess match," Jury said. "Then again, it could be a fight that gets finished early. There are a lot of different scenarios as to how this fight could play out and I think that's what makes it so exciting.
"Like I said, I won't know until I get out there, but if I can take advantage and capitalize early, that's a given. I think any fighter would want that, so if I can put him away early, I definitely will."
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
