High elbowing Todd Moore (photo via Karl Hubert / Forza LLC / Showtime)

By Kelsey Mowatt

It’s been over three years since Jason High competed in the Octagon, and after putting together a seven fight win streak and three victories under the Strikeforce banner, “The Kansas City Bandit” will finally make his return on June 8th. While High has been scoring wins and did his part to secure another UFC contract, the last couple of years haven’t been easy for the 31 year-old vet.

“Yeah man, it’s been almost a year since I fought,” High noted on Full Contact Fighter Radio recently, while discussing his upcoming UFC on FUEL TV 10 bout with Erick Silva. “So it’s been a little frustrating to be sitting like that, so yeah, I’m definitely glad to get something scheduled and get back in you know?”

High was let go by the UFC in 2010 after he dropped a unanimous decision loss to Charlie Brenneman at Fight Night 21. The bout was High’s first and only Octagon appearance to date. After winning four bouts in a row he signed with Strikeforce in 2011, and after competing twice that year, High sat on the sidelines for most of 2012 as the promotion’s final months ticked away.

“I’d like to stay more active,” High added. “I’m not getting close to retirement but I’m certainly not like 23 years old. So I want to get in as much fighting as possible in the next few years. In the past two years I’ve only had two fights so it’s a little frustrating, and besides that, if I’m not fighting I’m not making any money, so it’s difficult.”

Jason High (photo via UFC.com)

High was originally scheduled to fight Ildemar Alcantara at the upcoming June 8th event, however, after John Hathaway was forced to withdraw from the card due to injury, High was moved to face Silva. Although Alcantara has won eight straight fights and is coming off a kneebar victory over Wagner Prado, Silva is a more established UFC fighter.

“Definitely; either way it’s a big opportunity,” said High. “The other fight was a pretty big opportunity too. Even though it’s on Facebook it’s still, nowadays with the UFC every fight is aired on the card so people can see it. Every fight in the UFC is a big opportunity to me you know?”

“Of course it’s nice to get on the main card and it’s nice to get a little bigger name,” High added about the fight, which will take place at the Ginasio Paulo Sarasate in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. “It’s still a good opportunity; you can’t take anybody lightly, especially guys fighting in front of their hometown crowd.”

Silva hasn’t fought since October, when he lost by unanimous decision to Jon Fitch, in what was a memorable and competitive battle. Fitch’s wrestling abilities were a deciding factor in that bout, and considering High is a former NCAA Division 1 competitor, his wrestling skills could be key in this fight as well.

“I definitely think with the grappling in general, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, I think that’s where my biggest advantages are for sure,” said High.

“Fitch can make anyone look bad and I’m going to be trying to do the same thing,” High relayed. “Fitch and I have similar styles but I actually think I’m better at some areas than him, so I think I can fight it however I want. I can stand-up with him, if I need to take him down, I can do that too, and I know I can grapple with him.”

Stay tuned to Full Contact Fight for more UFC on FUEL TV 10 coverage as the event draws near.

Cole Miller (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

The latest episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio features discussions with UFC competitors Jason High and Cole Miller. High is preparing for a June 8^th bout with Erick Silva at UFC on FUEL TV 10, while Miller is coming off a submission win over Bart Palaszewski at the TUF 17 Finale.

Rounding out the show is a talk between host Kelsey Mowatt and Brendan Leier, who share their thoughts on UFC 159 and what’s next for Jon Jones.

You can listen to the program by heading here or through iTunes.