By Kelsey Mowatt

When Seth Baczynski takes on Lance Benoist at the upcoming UFC on FOX 3 card next month, the “Ultimate Fighter” vet will be looking to write the next chapter in his latest success story, which began approximately two years ago. Like others before him, Baczynski has rebounded from the UFC dismissal notice that was served to him in the summer of 2010, and has returned to make a noticeable impact in the Octagon.

“It wasn’t necessarily that I was upset with them for letting me go, I was upset with myself,” said Baczynski, who was released from the promotion following his unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares at the TUF 11 Finale. “First thing in the morning, when I opened my eyes at 5:30 to go for a run, I kept telling myself ‘that’s not what people are going to remember me for.”

“It wasn’t the loss to Brad so much, it was that horrible foul I committed with that kick to the head,” Baczynski added, in referring to the illegal soccer kick he utilized against Tavares in their initial meeting at the TUF 11 quarterfinals, which resulted in his disqualification. “I was bound and determined that’s not the last they’re going to hear of me…that was a big motivation for me, to come back and give people something positive to say about me.”

Baczynski worked his way back to the UFC by knocking out Tim McKenzie and Alex Garcia, before earning victories over Clay Harvison and more recently Matt Brown. While the win over Harvison was certainly key, Baczynski’s tap-out victory over the veteran Brown at UFC 139 prompted plenty of positive buzz.

“Every win is important, and every win is as important as the last win, and I’m still trying to make a name for myself in this division,” Baczynski told FCF. “Of course beating Matt Brown was a big deal. He’s a really tough guy; he has a lot of experience, and I knew that was going to be a tough fight going in. He’s known for going the distance, being incredibly mentally and physically tough, but we thought we could catch him with something. It ended up working out for me.”

Although Baczynski has only lost three times since 2007, the 30 year-old-fighter says there is no comparison between the fighter that made the eleventh season of TUF, and who will fight Benoist on June 8th.

“Oh huge. I put so much more attention towards details and being technical,” Baczynski said, while discussing his evolution as a fighter since he was first let go by the UFC. “I have such a great coaching staff at Power MMA; great jiu-jitsu, great partners, Tom Vaughn. We have amazing guys coming in all the time from Fit NHB in New Mexico pushing me and testing me.”

“I’m not only training harder than I ever have in my life, I’m also training smarter,” Baczynski furthered. “I really feel that I haven’t hit my ceiling yet and I’m going to continue to grow. I’m just trying to staying positive and I’m just happy that I have a good atmosphere around me with good partners.”

In Benoist, Baczynski will face one of the newest additions to the UFC welterweight ranks, who extended his undefeated record to 6-0 last September by handing Matt Riddle a UD loss.

“I saw him fight in New Orleans, and just like any other fight in the UFC, I thought I’ve got a tough opponent, and I’m going to have to train hard for it,” Baczynski said about the 23 year-old-fighter.

“I don’t watch too many films, my coaches do that for me and let me know what I have to watch,” Baczynski furthered about the upcoming fight, which will take place at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale. “From what I remember, I remember him being well rounded. I don’t remember there being many holes in his game and I remember him being mentally tough as well….It’s going to be a fun fight.”