UFC legend Junior Dos Santos wants to put the boxing world on alert with an upset win over Kubrat Pulev next month in a hybrid-rules fight.
Dos Santos and Pulev will both compete in Triller Fight Club's new triangular ring for their second Triad Combat event, where fighters wear special gloves and can throw certain MMA punches that are illegal in boxing.
And after Pulev brutalised former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir in his last outing back in November, Dos Santos has taken it upon himself to represent the MMA community on February 26 in Texas.
Dos Santos, also a former UFC heavyweight champion, has long been considered one of the best strikers in his sport, and has called out Tyson Fury for his next bout, once he has got through Pulev.
But the former world title challenging boxer is a tough test given his impressive boxing resume, which includes wins over Hughie Fury and Derek Chisora.
"I'm fighting against Pulev who is a very experienced fighter, very good boxer," Dos Santos told Mirror Fighting in an exclusive chat.
"Fans can expect a good fight, I watched the Frank Mir fight and I didn't think he showed up in very good shape, he wasn't throwing great punches or moving, he was an easy target.
"I'm not taking anything away from Pulev, he did what he had to do and Frank Mir wasn't in great shape - I'm not Frank Mir, I'm Junior Dos Santos, it's going to be much different this time.
"He's a great opponent, a great boxer, he's fought all of the top guys in the boxing world and it's a great challenge for me.
"It's something that I was looking for, I don't want to go out there and just make any fight, I want a big fight and that's what this is, a big opponent with dangerous skills.
"I will be there to beat him up - the main goal here is to show the whole world that Junior Dos Santos is still here."
Dos Santos left the UFC at the start of last year after losing four fights in a row, two of which were against last weekend's world title fight competitiors Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou.
Who do you think wins, Junior Dos Santos or Kubrat Pulev? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
But he felt that it was not a positive relationship with the promotion, and is now hoping to channel the success of fellow Brazilian Anderson Silva by reinventing himself in the boxing world.
He is happier with Triller than he ever was during the later stages of his run with the UFC, and will make one of the biggest purses of his career for the fight.
"People can expect to see 100 per cent of me," Dos Santos continued. "I'm happy again!
"I took a year after I left the UFC thinking about my next step and this Triad thing, it just fits perfectly for me and I'm very happy to take my next step in the fighting world.
"Everything, our relationship with Triller is amazing and the guys here know how to give respect to the fighters which is very different to the UFC.
"I'm being appreciated again, something I wasn't feeling for a long time in the UFC, it's great to be here, competing against someone like Pulev who is taking a big risk."
Triad Combat II is headlined by a nine-round heavyweight clash between Kubrat Pulev and former UFC Heavyweight World Champion Junior Dos Santos on February 26, live on Fite TV.
