Myles Jury: 'I'm improving like crazy' heading into UFC 182 bout
Conventional wisdom has it that Myles Jury (15-0) will be in the biggest fight of his life Jan. 3 at UFC 182 against Donald Cerrone (25-6). The undefeated lightweight certainly sees "Cowboy" as a huge challenge, but tells FOX Sports that he isn't fazed after beating the likes of former world champ Takanori Gomi and former world title challenger Diego Sanchez.
"On paper, this might be the biggest fight for me, but I feel like, from a fighter's perspective, this is just another fight," Jury said recently.
"This is just another 15 minutes of putting in work, another time I have to make weight. Anything else, saying that Cerrone is the biggest fight, and that this is my chance, or whatever, is just added perceived pressure. I'm really focusing on what I have control of, and that's another fight of hard work."
Jury also says that he doesn't put too much stock in his own hype as an undefeated, rising contender. Many undefeated fighters say the "0" at their end of their records adds a ton of weight to their shoulders, as they begin to fear losing more than they desire to win.
"I honestly don't really think about it as much," Jury claims. "The reason is probably because I always have solid challengers in front of me every time; that the last thing I'm thinking about is my record. It would be cool to keep that record and stay undefeated forever. But, I'm flexible. I'm willing to do whatever I have to do. I hate losing. It's the worst thing ever, but I'm not afraid of it. That frees me up to fight. If I'm thinking about how I can't lose, and how I need to stay undefeated, I wouldn't be focused on fighting."
Statements like that stand in stark contrast to comments Jury has made in the past, which Cerrone says rub him the wrong way. According to the 31-year-old veteran, Jury is arrogant and in need of a lesson.
However, "Fury" says there's a difference between his confidence and arrogance. "I stay confident," he clarifies. "I feel like I'm speaking truth on how I feel and some people like it and others, not. I don't care what others think."
The truth that Jury sees in Cerrone is sizeable, for what it's worth. The 26-year-old Jury may be confident he'll come out on top at UFC 182, but he knows it won't be easy against the division's hottest fighter.
"He is tough, durable and well-mixed," Jury says. "He's a good kickboxer and has experience."
As Jury builds his own experience base, he feels both a sense of urgency to reach a title bout, and patience to accept the things he cannot change.
"I'm not in a rush to get a title shot. I'm not going crazy waiting for one. I have no control of if I'm fighting for a title," he said. "But I tell you what: If I keep beating guys like Gomi, Sanchez and Cerrone, you better bet I'm going to call for a title shot."
In the end, whether he's arrogant or simply confident, Jury's reason for being that way has to do with his rapid improvement in the training room and Octagon. "I definitely feel like I'm improving like crazy," he concludes.
"The reason I'm improving so much is because I have a great team that prepares me, great training partners who get me ready. I also have an open mind and I'm always trying to learn. Evolution is the key. You've got to try and evolve and add skills."
