"I've been trying to get on contenders for two, three years now - and it didn't happen. I was actually cut from the Ultimate Fighter, the season that Robert [Valentin] was on it, and he went in final. I was like in the one of the last, I was not in the last alternate, but I was like waiting."
"It was like a full life circle. It was crazy. My manager just told me like you got a fight and I'm okay with the opponent. I didn't really know and then he sent me his topology. I was like, wow, that's crazy."
"I respect him a lot... I do believe that he's going to come out really hard in the first round. So I'm going to be ready for the fire. The only way I see it and ending is with my hand raised."
Julien Leblanc, a veteran in the sport for over a dozen years, finally received his call to the UFC after numerous attempts. He had been close to competing in the Ultimate Fighter but was ultimately cut. When informed that his debut would be against TUF 32 finalist Robert Valentin, he felt it was a full-circle moment. Acknowledging Valentin's skills, Leblanc is determined to seize this opportunity and aims for victory in their upcoming fight during the UFC Winnipeg prelims.
Read at Cageside Press
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