While opponent eyes top-10 fights, Jimy Hettes keeps focus solely on UFC 171

Jimy Hettes has no thoughts regarding how a fight with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo would play out. He doesn’t care about getting a matchup with a ranked fighter. All that’s on his mind is how he’s going to defeat Dennis Bermudez on Saturday at UFC 171.

Unlike Bermudez (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who recently told MMAjunkie Radio he wants a top-10 opponent with a victory at UFC 171 and believes he has Aldo’s number, Hettes (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is maintaining focus on his immediate task.

He knows that without getting his hand raised inside Dallas’ American Airlines Center this weekend, any discussion about moving up the ladder and eventually into title contention becomes a moot point.

“There’s no point thinking where I rank with all these guys or what I would do with Jose Aldo, because if I don’t get past Dennis Bermudez, it doesn’t really matter at all,” Hettes told MMAjunkie Radio. “I don’t think about it too much. It has been all about Dennis Bermudez and thinking about him and his style. I haven’t really thought too far ahead. It’s just whoever I fight, that’s where all the attention goes to.”

Hettes’ one-fight-at-a-time mindset has worked out for the most part. To date he only has one blemish on his MMA record, and that came following a nine-month layoff due to injuries.

While the 26-year-old has carried his frame of thinking through most of his career, he said the downtime during that injury period allowed him to appreciate each day he has in the sport. And he won’t spend any of them looking past an opponent.

“Physically the pain was so-so, but mentally I think that’s the worst part when fighters get injured,” Hettes said of his ailments. “On a typical day, you’re used to training maybe six hours a day. When you’re injured, the doctors will tell you not to train or you’ll make it worse. Literally you can’t do anything.

“Mentally you feel kind of irrelevant. You can’t do anything, and you’re just sidelined watching everyone else get better. It’s the worst part because there’s nothing you can do. The one good thing you do take out of it is when you come back to train, you don’t take it for granted.”

Hettes needs to be on the top of his game if he hopes to stop Bermudez, who carries a five-fight winning streak into their preliminary-card bout, which airs on the FOX Sports 2 prior to the pay-per-view main card.

Bermudez has been on a roll since his runner-up finish on “The Ultimate Fighter 14,” defeating every opponent placed in front of him while putting on some spectacular performances in the process.

Hettes said he has the utmost respect for what Bermudez brings to the table, but like always, “The Kid” feels his crafty submission game will reign supreme.

“I plan on just keeping a high pace, constantly looking for the finish,” Hettes said. “He’s smart when he fights. I think it will be a real good fight because he is really cerebral.”

For the latest on UFC 171, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.