In 2013, while lying on a Queensland footy field with a badly broken ankle, a UFC debut was the farthest thing from Tyson Pedro’s mind.

With one professional fight under his belt at the time, he didn’t think he’d even make the walk out for his second.

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“I shattered my fibula and dislocated my ankle and was out for almost three years – they were pretty dark times,” the light heavyweight prospect told Sporting News.

“I had three failed surgeries as well, so I was supposed to be back walking again in six weeks and I ended up being out for almost 12 months.

“It was just a local Queensland rugby game. Two guys were on me – I almost scored the try – but one guy went under me and it felt like someone stepping on a stick.

“My ankle was trying to turn, and they turned it so far that the fibula had a spiral fracture because it twisted so hard.

“My foot was facing the other way.”

It was a dark period for Pedro, then just 21-years-old, but he never strayed far from what he knows best: fighting.

“It was pretty hard times, but I was still doing jiu-jitsu with my leg hanging out to the side and doing everything I could to train,” he said.

“It took a while – I started boxing again – but didn’t really know when I should start kicking again. I was lucky I had good training partners to train with.

“When I was a bit younger, I played rugby league a lot, but it’s always been fighting. I’ve always done a lot of other sports, but I’ve always come back to fighting.”

It’s something he’s been immersed in for his whole life.

Pedro’s dad, John, was a pioneer of Australian MMA and Tyson started training while still at primary school.

While teaching Tyson the basic elements of MMA, John also trained UFC veteran James Te Huna, who became a mentor for the youngster growing up.

“I always go back to James Te Huna, he’s always been a massive part of my life – I’ve known him since I was a kid,” said Pedro.

“He’s helped me out with a lot of stuff and I still message him – I’ve been messaging him throughout this camp.”

After a two-and-a-half year rehab following the broken ankle, Pedro stepped back into the cage last March in a small fight night in Western Sydney.

Eight months and two more fights later, the Western Sydney submission artist made his UFC debut, walking out to the Octagon at Rod Laver Arena to face The Ultimate Fighter runner-up Khalil Rountree.

Having stepped in on just a few weeks’ notice, Pedro was clocked flush on the chin in the opening minute by a powerful Rountree left hand.

“I didn’t have much sparring leading up to it, especially with a southpaw,” Pedro remembers.

“That showed as soon as I squared up and caught the left on my face. I usually don’t hear the crowd, but that was the first time I heard it, and I’ve never heard so many ‘ooohs’ in the crowd.

“That was probably the only thing I remember from getting hit and I just said ‘ok, we’re in a fight now.’”

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After regathering from the flash knockdown, Pedro earned a slick submission finish, showing off some beautiful jiu-jitsu to lock in a rear-naked choke that had the packed-out arena pumping.

Three months later, Pedro, speaking from the famed Jackson-Wink gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the 25-year-old is preparing for his next UFC challenge against Scotland’s Paul Craig in Las Vegas at UFC 209.

The home of Holly Holm, Andrei Arlovski, Jon Jones, Carlos Condit, Cowboy Cerrone and many, many more, Pedro says it’s the perfect preparation for his first fight outside Australia.

“I can’t say enough good things about the coaching staff here and just making it an awesome experience all-round,” he said.

“It’s a surreal place to be when you’ve wanted to be here so long and you just walk through the hallways seeing all the posters of champions and ex-champions and seeing all the people who have trained here. To be amongst that is pretty amazing.

Craig, who made his UFC debut just a few weeks after Pedro, is dangerous on the ground, having beaten Brazilian Luis Henrique da Silva via second round armbar.

A jiu-jitsu specialist, Pedro has finished four of his five wins via submission and the bout, which will headline the exclusive Fight Pass Prelims, will be an intriguing encounter.

“It was great news for me,” Pedro said of landing the headline spot on Fight Pass.

“I’m very excited and thankful to be doing it on such a big card.”

UFC 209: Woodley v Wonderboy 2 will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 5 (Australian time). To start your free seven day Fight Pass trial, click here!