Video: Danny Castillo has his hands up for Edson Barboza’s wheel kick at UFC on FOX 9

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – UFC lightweight and Team Alpha Male regular Danny Castillo is a fan of Edson Barboza‘s work. He just doesn’t want to be a victim of it.

Barboza (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), whom Castillo (16-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) fights on the FOX Sports 1-televised prelims of UFC on FOX 9, is a striking dynamo. He is likely to dispense a variety of kicks that aim to relieve him of consciousness.

Famously, the Brazilian wiped out Terry Etim with a wheel-kick that earned “Knockout of the Year” honors and earned him a nomination for “Best Play of the Year” at the 2012 ESPYs.

Castillo, though, said he’s well prepared for anything that comes his way. He also has noticed a small change in Barboza.

“Since that Etim fight, he hasn’t really landed [the wheel kick],” he told MMAjunkie. “So I hope he doesn’t land it on me. But my hands will be up, and I’ll be swinging for the fence, looking for the takedown, and making it an ugly fight.”

UFC on FOX 9 takes place at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The event’s main card airs on FOX.

While both men suffered setbacks in 2012, they are coming into the fight on the strength of back-to-back wins. The winner is likely to meet a top-15 opponent next year.

Castillo, who lives in Sacramento, often is an overlooked asset at Team Alpha Male, but stands to put an impressive notch on his belt by beating Barboza.

In the video above, watch him talk about fighting in front of a hometown crowd and dealing with the threats posed by Barboza.

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 9, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.