Long before Tyrell Fortune found himself climbing the UFC heavyweight rankings, he had already built a reputation on the wrestling mat. A two-time NCAA champion at junior college level, NCAA Division II national champion, Wrestler of the Year, Team USA representative and later a student assistant wrestling coach at Grand Canyon University, Fortune spent years pursuing excellence in a sport that offered prestige but little financial security.Mixed martial arts came later. So did Bellator, the PFL and eventually the UFC.Ahead of his second UFC outing against Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, Fortune believes the foundation laid during those years still gives him an edge over anyone standing across the cage.“I think I’m always able to exploit everybody with my wrestling,” Fortune told TimesofIndia.com ahead of his UFC Fight Night bout. “Wrestling is where I started and it’s my dominant martial art. But I think I’m stronger, faster, and better than he is in every position.”Fortune has previously acknowledged that the decision to move into mixed martial arts was driven as much by practicality as ambition. The financial opportunities simply weren’t there in amateur wrestling.Bellator signed him while he was still pursuing international wrestling, and by 2016 he had committed fully to MMA, embarking on a professional career that would take him through Bellator and the PFL before finally earning a UFC contract.His arrival in the UFC came under far from ideal circumstances.Fortune accepted the opportunity on just 12 days’ notice against Marcin Tybura in March this year. He won, although the night was briefly overshadowed by a rare blunder from the famed UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, who mistakenly announced Tybura the winner initially. The result, however, left him with little doubt that he belonged among the sport’s elite heavyweights.“It told me that I can fight through a difficult situation and make the best of the 12 days I had to prepare for my UFC debut.“It made me more confident and reassured me that I was in the right place and that I could hang with these guys.”This time, the preparation has been entirely different. Instead of a rushed camp, Fortune has enjoyed a full build-up, something he believes has made all the difference.“I feel very prepared and ready. I had a full training camp, and after already being in the UFC, I made sure I stayed in shape and kept training at a good pace. I feel like I put in a lot of work during this camp, so I feel very prepared.“I would say just staying in good shape, focusing on cardio, and pushing my cardio. That’s really it. I focused on myself to be well-rounded and prepared for anything that can happen.”Standing opposite him will be Kuniev, a bigger heavyweight who enjoys advantages in height and reach on paper. The burly Russian is 1-1 in UFC, and like Fortune will be looking to assert himself in the division. But Fortune is unperturbed by the challenge.“No challenge. I don’t think there’s anything difficult about that. Most guys are at least an inch or two taller than me because I’m about 6’2″ or 6’3″. So I’m used to guys being at least an inch or two taller than me. One of my main training partners is 6’7″, so I’m used to dealing with height.”Nor does he believe there is a particular area where his opponent holds the upper hand. Asked where Kuniev is most vulnerable if the fight unfolds on Fortune’s terms, his answer was blunt.“Everywhere. I’m better than him everywhere.”The confidence isn’t without context. Fortune rebuilt momentum before earning his UFC opportunity, stringing together successive stoppage victories after his PFL stint and carrying that form into the Octagon. A victory over Kuniev, who currently sits one place above him in the rankings, would move him another step closer to the division’s top contenders.“I’m number nine right now, and he’s number eight. So I think it moves me up one spot in the rankings. My next opportunity, I think, will be even higher up the rankings. As long as I keep moving up the rankings and get to the belt, that’s what I want.”For all the milestones that have marked his sporting career – from national wrestling titles to Bellator main events and now the UFC – Fortune insists very little has changed in the way he approaches competition.“Nothing. Nothing changes. Same job, same mission, same goals as always. Just go out there, dominate, win the fight, and keep moving forward.”(Watch UFC Fight Night – Ankalaev vs Rountree Jr. on July 25, from 9:30 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD and Sony LIV.)
