Yagin (photo via Twitter @EddieYaginMMA)

By Kelsey Mowatt

It’s been over seven months now since Eddie Yagin was forced to pull out from a bout with Dennis Siver due to a frightening head injury, and not only is the vet eager to fight, he believes a more powerful featherweight will make his return.

“Every day goes by I’m getting more antsy each day,” the 34 year-old fighter relayed on a recent episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio. “For some reason, after my injury I don’t know why…I feel like I hit harder and I feel stronger than before. I can’t wait to get back in there.”

Yagin was scheduled to fight Siver at UFC on FOX 5 on December 8th, but a few weeks before the fight, the featherweight was hospitalized with a subdural hematoma. Yagin was told that it would take approximately six months to recover from the head injury, and now that he’s feeling better, he’s hoping to fight before the year is up.

“Right now we’re in the process of just getting my license reinstated,” said Yagin, who also relayed that he’s relocated to Las Vegas, after residing in California and Hawaii before that. “Right now I’m just being patient and sitting on the sidelines and just waiting for the right time to come back in. Everything should come out as I expect it and hopefully I can get in at least one fight this year. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Yagin (photo via UFC.com)

“Hopefully before winter, being realistic,” added Yagin. “Maybe the fall, right after summer.”

Yagin hasn’t fought since last April now, when at UFC 145, he battled his way to a split decision win over Mark Hominick, who at the time was one of the promotion’s top featherweights. As a result of the memorable and pivotal win, Yagin was booked to fight the highly regarded Siver (who is currently ranked 6th in the division). As a result, the “Filipino Phenom” is hoping to jump right back in the deep end of the division’s talent pool when he returns.

“Honestly, I just want the top guys,” Yagin noted. “Whoever they throw me in with I want him to be at the top, not just a rookie in the UFC, I want him to be one of the best guys in the world.”

While there’s no question that Yagin went through a frightening setback that no fighter would want to endure, there’s also been some positive experiences for the vet. In addition to the outpouring of support Yagin received after his injury was disclosed, he was able to return to his native Hawaii, and reconnect with certain members of his family.

“It has helped me,” said Yagin, who has been competing professionally since 2000. “Going back to Hawaii, it helped alot with my recovery, the love and support from everybody. A lot of my family members don’t realize that I’m the same guy before I was fighting, so when I went out there I think they realized I’m still the same humble person that I was back in the day. I didn’t change because of my UFC status.”