A professional fighter’s training camp is regarded as one of the most physically and mentally straining processes an athlete can go through.

Two times a day for eight weeks a mixed martial artist will fight through hard sparring, strict dieting, submission grappling practice and conditioning.

Former Penn State wrestler and now-Ultimate Fighting Championship light-heavyweight, Phil Davis returned home this weekend in the middle of a fight camp. He was in town in order to promote the Central PA Health and Fitness Expo, and met with fans in the Bryce Jordan Center.

“I love it and I miss it,” Davis said on returning to his old stomping grounds. “It’s kind of one of those things every time I’m here I want to go down and get a stickie bun [from The Diner]. You want to do the stuff that you normally do when you’re up here visiting for Homecoming or the arts festival, but it’s not that kind of time.”

Davis, who trains in San Diego, is five weeks into his training camp for his upcoming bout against Brazilian Glover Teixeira. This weekend he took advantage of this rare time off.

“There’s a time to just keep your nose down and keep working hard, but there’s also time to break up the monotony of training camp just to mix it up, do something else, come see your folks and recharge your spirits,” Davis said.

The No. 6-ranked Davis is coming off just his second loss in the UFC. Davis’ opponent, the No. 4-ranked Teixeira, is also coming off a loss to UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Teixeira is known for his power, wrestling defense, and high level jiu-jitsu.

Both fighters are high-level grapplers, whose skills could be negated by each other. The fight may end up a striking battle. A win over Teixeira could mean big things for the former Nittany Lion.

“I definitely think [a victory] puts me right back in line for the next title,” Davis said.

The fight will be the co-main event at UFC 179 on Oct. 25 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But Davis is no amateur when it comes to competing in foreign territory. The former national champion is 5-0 against Brazilians, and 2-0 when competing in Brazil.

“I’m the first American to ever submit a Brazilian in Brazil [in the UFC],” the fighter said. “I’m definitely the only American to win twice down in Brazil.”

Brazilian fans are notorious for their strong distaste toward foreign fighters. Davis believes the experience he gained wrestling for Penn State is the reason for his success fighting in front of unfriendly crowds.

“I refuse to lose. I’ve been in the Bryce Jordan Center, Carver-Hawkeye Arena,” Davis said. “I’ve wrestled in the arena down in Oklahoma State.”

The 6-foot-2 fighter knows that dealing with raucous fans is just part of the job as a professional athlete.

“When you go into these place and they’re so hostile, fans are yelling at you. You’ve got to know how to shut all of it out or channel it into be something positive,” Davis said. “If you can’t do that and you get overwhelmed, you crash as soon as you’re in that environment.”