DWCS 28 contract winner TJ Laramie willing to fight top-level UFC guys but also go slow

LAS VEGAS – TJ Laramie is only 22, but he has plenty of experience behind him.

Laramie (12-3) secured a contract Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 28 with a stoppage win over Daniel Swain, notching his fourth straight win.

Despite Swain being rendered unable to continue after Round 1 because of a rib injury, Laramie looked impressive, showing off his grappling and ground-and-pound skills. Laramie is young, but the former TKO and PFC featherweight champ is ready to take on established contenders and doesn’t mind working his way up the ranks.

“I’m only 22 years old, I got 15 pro fights, I’m pretty experienced,” Laramie told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after his win at the UFC Apex. “I feel like I’m ready to fight some of the top-level guys now, but I have no problem takings steps into getting my career. I’m not in a rush at all. I can see myself in this sport for a long time.”

He continued, “I wouldn’t mind starting at the lower-ranked guys and moving up accordingly. I’m not in a rush, but if I feel like there’s an opportunity, I’m gonna grab it.”

Swain had double the amount of pro fights as Laramie, but Laramie insists he was the more experienced competitor heading into the bout and that his performance proved it.

“That’s the one thing I noticed. A lot of people would be like, ‘Oh, he’s a rookie, he’s young, he hasn’t seen much,’ but when you look at my amateur career and how long and the different martial arts that I’ve won titles in, my experience is through and through,” Laramie said. “I’ve seen it all, and there isn’t that much that I haven’t seen at this point at being only 22, so I feel like it’s a mistake a lot of guys make.”