UFC Fight Night 34’s Sean Soriano taking advice from Eddie Alvarez for Kawajiri bout

Tatsuya Kawajiri has designs on making a quick run right out of the gate in in the UFC to get to a title shot. But Sean Soriano would love to have something to say about that.

Soriano (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his UFC debut on Saturday, as well, against veteran Japanese legend Kawajiri (32-7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 34 in Singapore. The fight is the co-main event – pretty lofty status for Soriano in his first fight with the company.

UFC Fight Night 34 takes place at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore. Both the main card and prelims stream on UFC Fight Pass, the promotion’s new digital network.

The undefeated Soriano said his record doesn’t tell the story about his experience in the sport.

“It feels great – it’s been a long journey to get here,” Soriano told MMAjunkie Radio. “It’s been about five years to take me here, but it’s all worth it. 8-0 seems like a little time, but I’ve been with top teams my whole career and training with top guys my whole career. It’s nothing new to me, but I haven’t had the chance to get as many fights as I’ve wanted to.”

The records will go right out the window, though, if Soriano can upset Kawajiri, who is a 2-to-1 favorite over the Florida-based featherweight, who trains at the Blackzilians camp.

Making matters potentially tougher on Soriano is that he had to travel around the world to get to Kawajiri, who gets to be on his home continent of Asia. But the 24-year-old said he won’t let that effect him come fight time.

“It doesn’t really bother me,” Soriano said. “I’m in his backyard. I’m in Asia. But I’m here to prove I belong here and why I belong in the division, and that’s what I’m going to go do. He’s fought three of my teammates, so I have them going over stuff. I just take what they give me and add it to my style. But I fight a little differently than them, so I’ll just go out there and fight.”

Kawajiri has wins over Soriano teammates Luiz Firmino and Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, both by decision. But another teammate, Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, has a TKO win over the Japanese legend.

And it’s Alvarez who has been offering Soriano the most advice.

“Eddie Alvarez has been texting me the whole time, and he told me to enjoy the moment and live in the moment,” Soriano said. “Don’t get starstruck or caught up in the lights – it’s still a fight, so just enjoy it. This is something we get to do for a living, so I’m just going to go in there and enjoy my 15 minutes.”

Soriano hopes that 15 minutes will result in the type of win that will have his name starting to get some recognition. Maybe not Kawajiri-type recognition just yet, but eventually …

“It’s a big challenge, of course,” he said. “I didn’t hesitate when I got the call. He was fighting before I was in high school. But the new era is a more complete style of fighter, more well-based. I think it’s going to make a good matchup.”

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For more on UFC Fight Night 34, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.