Mike Pyle

By Michael Hatamoto

After a knockout win at UFC on FX 3, MMA veteran Mike Pyle believes he’s now a contender in the UFC welterweight division.

The 36-year-old Xtreme Couture product knows he only has a certain amount of time left at the top level of the sport, and wants to fight the best the UFC has to offer.

Here is what he had to say during a recent interview hosted by Sherdog:

“I consider myself as a contender. I will continue to impress myself, my coaching staff and the UFC and the fans each time that I perform. There’s just been a few things that were lacking in my earlier career up to just a few fights ago that I’ve corrected and paid attention to and made sure that I go in 100-percent prepared. The last two fights have really shown that I have made some changes and worked on my striking ability. I have the striking ability. I have knockout power. It’s just a matter of meshing with a coach that will bring that out in me and make it a reality.”

Since losing to rising star Rory MacDonald at UFC 133 in August 2011, Pyle has bounced back with TKO and KO finishes against Ricardo Funch and Josh Neer. If Pyle can avoid a fighter’s power – also suffering a loss to Jake Ellenberger in 2010 – and can control the grappling, then he has a good chance at winning.

It will be interesting to see who the UFC matches him up with next, as he hopes to face a legit welterweight contender. I don’t think he’s going to capture the UFC welterweight championship before retirement, but he’ll be more than happy to go down swinging.