Joe Pifer says he's a 'trending superstar' before main event

Joe Pifer thinks he's about to step into the bigger public eye as he approaches his first main event opportunity at Saturday's UFC Fight Night 236.

Making his fourth Octagon appearance, Pifer (12-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will face Jack Hermansson (23-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) in a five-round middleweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (ESPN+). He's getting a chance to headline more quickly than the average fighter with UFC experience, but in his mind it's all for a good reason.

“I wouldn't say I was pushed into a spot,” Pifer told Sportsnet's Aaron Bronsteter. “I think I earned this position. I'm coming off three games, making sure I'm exciting, saying what I'm going to do, going out there and backing it up. I'm a draw. I think – anyway, I'm starting to draw. I think I'm a trending superstar, and if everything goes as expected until Saturday, I think I'll be at that superstar level. I'm on my way to that level.

“I deserve the fast track. I have a story, I have charisma, I know how to talk, and I am an absolutely extraordinary unit.”

After finishing his first three opponents in the UFC in a combined bout time of just over nine minutes, the 27-year-old Pifer is set to headline a matchup with Hermansson, who is ranked No. 15 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings. He took the necessary step up.

Hermansson, 35, has shared the cage with many of the elite 185-pound fighters, including former champion Sean Strickland, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier and “Jacare” Souza. But Pifer is undaunted by his experience and expects to shine on game night.

“I don't care about the rankings. Just because he's No. 10[in the official UFC rankings]doesn't mean he has special fighting skills or cardio, or that he has a stronger jaw to take punches. ” Pifer said. “I'm going to treat this like a new battle and go out and do my job and be excited and talk about myself.”

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 236 event hub.