From his time on The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes to now, show winner Norman Parke has learned a lot, especially since uprooting his life to train exclusively in the United States.

Parke has now spent two full fight camps at Alliance Training Center where he works alongside fighters like UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis and other top MMA competitors to better his own game.

The young Irishman has his next test in the Octagon coming up at UFC 162 against Kazuki Tokudome, but this is just the first step to what he hopes is a long, prosperous career.

Despite his relative novice status as a UFC fighter, Parke believes he's going to quickly make an impact in the lightweight division, starting with his fight on July 6.

From there it's only onwards and upwards to face the best of the best in the division. Even though he's not ranked yet, he knows it will happen sooner or later.

"I'm not top 10 already, I'm training here with animals everyday and it's just a matter of time," Parke said. "I know you've got to work your way up the ladder and stuff like that, but I know if I was to fight anyone in the top ten straight away I would give them a run for their money no problem."

Check out this exclusive one-on-one interview with Parke ahead of his fight at UFC 162 where he talks training in America, his fight with Tokudome and much more.