Kyle Daukaus: Patience paid off with UFC on ESPN 12 opportunity

The wait was worth it for Kyle Daukaus.

One of the newest members of the UFC roster, Daukaus (9-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) signed with the promotion in mid-June. An undefeated fighter and middleweight champion under the CFFC banner, Daukaus is excited to find himself in the midst of UFC on ESPN 12 fight week.

“It feels good,” Daukaus told MMA Junkie at a virtual media day held Thursday. “It feels familiar. I’ve always envisioned myself here. It feels like second nature. It feels like home.”

The pandemic hasn’t affected many UFC fighters. Meanwhile, regional promotions, and their fighters, have been hit hard. With no local shows happening, most fighters have found themself in financial limbo. Daukaus was one of them, but he kept training until his UFC opportunity came.

“It was tough,” Daukaus said. “I thought I might have had to have gotten a 9-to-5 job. My family members told me to keep pushing and we’d eventually get the call. I’ve been training really hard lately. The pandemic has been tough, but I got training in either in a friend’s house or my house. I feel as good as new and ready to go.”

On Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 3 last summer, Daukaus was passed over by UFC president Dana White – despite a winning effort. His opponent on Saturday, Brendan Allen (14-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC), however, was signed by White later in the season.

“I (knew) who Brendan is,” Daukaus said. “I’ve seen him fight after me on the Contender Series. I’ve always had a feeling we would cross paths. It would just be a matter of time. I’ve always had an eye on him and I’m going to do very well against him.”

UFC on ESPN 12 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.