By Kelsey Mowatt

Despite returning from a seven month layoff due to multiple surgeries and recording a unanimous decision win over Mike Massenzio at last week’s UFC131 card in Vancouver, Krzysztof Soszynski still isn’t overly thrilled about his most recent performance. Soszynski headed into the June 11^th card in search of a memorable, stoppage win, regardless of the fact that his opponent changed three times heading into fight day.

“It was really hard to face someone who really didn’t want to fight,” Soszynski told FCF when asked for his thoughts on the bout. “It’s not to say he didn’t want to fight, it’s just that every time I would step forward he would shoot; every time I threw a punch he would shoot.”

“There was no window of opportunity there for me,” Soszynski added. “I wish I would have had a little more time to prepare so I would have thrown the knees as he came in; I would have thrown the uppercuts…I’m just a little disappointed with not getting the finish. That was something I really wanted to do. I really wanted to showcase my striking.”

Soszynski referred to needing more time to prepare, as originally he had been scheduled to fight BJJ black belt Anthony Perosh, before an injury brought Mirko Filipovic’s training partner Igor Pokrajac into the mix. Then when injuries swiped Pokrajac from the card, to Massenzio’s credit, he agreed to step in on short notice to fight the much bigger Soszynski.

“The fight was such short notice, like three days notice, so it was really hard to get any film on him,” Soszynski said about the experienced wrestler, who moved up from middleweight to compete at 205lbs. “So I think that’s why he took me down the first two times because I wasn’t expecting him to come out right away with the shot…Once I got the rhythm, once I got his pattern down and figured everything out it was easier from then on.”

With the win, Soszynski’s Octagon record now stands at 6-2, with his only losses coming to Brandon Vera and Stephan Bonnar during his tenure with the UFC. As a result, one would think that the former TUF competitor could face another of the light-heavyweight division’s more established fighters in his next bout.

“I’m always looking for the challenge,” said Soszynski. “I always want to see where I belong in this weight division. This is probably one of, if not the best weight division that there is in the UFC. I feel like I’m ranked 14^th, 15^th, around there, and I would like to fight a guy that sits right around the top ten, just to see if I belong…it’s up to Joe Silva, whoever they want me to fight, but I feel like a bout with Matt Hamill would be fantastic, a third bout with Stephan Bonnar would be another great fight.”

Although Soszynski added that he hopes to fight at least one more time in 2011, possibly twice, due to the Canadian’s burgeoning acting career the light-heavyweight has been keeping a rather busy schedule. Heading into his UFC 131 bout with Massenzio, Soszynski spent a couple of weeks in Boston acting on the set of an upcoming MMA film starring comedian Kevin James.

“That was definitely my first ever, big movie production; Hollywood style,” said Soszynski, who also played a small role in an episode of CSI. “It was huge part, Sony Pictures; I was very excited that the UFC was part of it as well. I was really fortunate that everything fell into place. I just went in, auditioned, and got the part.”

“Right now I’m in Montreal working on a film called “The Immortals,” Soszynski added, who wasn’t free at this juncture to elaborate on his role. “Great opportunities are happening for me now in acting and fighting. It’s an opportunity to make more money and provide for my family. Everybody says I have a look so I’m just using that look now I guess.”