USA Today

It's no coincidence that in his first three UFC bouts, the promotion booked Johnny "Hollywood" Case for events in Japan, Boston and Mexico City.

Taking on Francisco Trevino at UFC 188 Saturday in Mexico, Case once again finds himself boarding a plane and leaving the continental U.S. for a scrap inside the UFC's Octagon. The travel, according to the 25-year-old Alliance MMA fighter, is by design.

"I'm looking at my UFC career for longevity," Case told Bleacher Report. "It doesn't really matter who I fight at this point. It's where I fight. I want to use the UFC to my privilege, not the other way around.

"I want to take fights in other countries. ... I'm here to make money, I'm here to have a good time and I'm here to make some memories."

When the lights go down on Case's career, he says these experiences in other countries are what he'll remember and what he'll be most proud to share with his family.



"I just love seeing the world, going to see other people's cultures, how people are living," Case said. "One day being able to tell my kids and grandkids that this is what I did—I wasn't afraid to go outside my comfort zone. I wasn't afraid to go to other people's hometowns, their territories, and just kick their ass, you know? It's about just living life to the fullest."

Now, Case takes the next step on that journey Saturday against Trevino, a Mexican-born fighter hailing from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Because of these strong ties to the nation, Case believes Trevino will feel all the pressure Saturday.

"Not only is he undefeated, but he'll be in front of his friends and family in his stomping grounds," Case said. "For me, I thrive on that. I don't have any pressure. He's undefeated, so if some s--t happens and he beats me, it's not like he's a bad fighter. He's a great fighter, 12-0 record, so there's no pressure for me. If there's any pressure, it's on him."

That said, Case is not one for making excuses, and he certainly has no intention of leaving the Octagon without his 11th straight victory.

Undefeated since January 2011, Case slowly rose the regional ranks before punching his ticket into the UFC. Once under the banner of the world's premier fighting organization, he rattled off two more victories—one knockout and one submission—over increasingly tough opposition.

If he continues at this pace, Case can expect some top-15 or top-10 bouts in due time, but that's not necessarily his endgame. In his eyes, fighting regularly, making money and taking time to enjoy the ride is more important than focusing solely on the shiny golden strap looming ahead.

"Whoever's ready to go, I'm glad to accept, whether that be a bigger name or someone 3-0 or whoever," Case said. "I don't really have a personal preference right now. ... I would, actually, like to be more like [UFC lightweight Donald] Cerrone in taking quick fights back to back. If I can stay healthy, if I can go out there and get a quick knockout or get a quick submission and come out of there with no damage taken, I definitely would turn around and rack another one in. I have to get paid!"

To accomplish this, Case believes the proof is in the preparation. Training at the esteemed San Diego camp alongside fighters such as UFC veterans Myles Jury, Jeremy Stephens, Kelvin Gastelum and others sharpens his skills on a daily basis. He knows Trevino is not getting the quality of training on display at Alliance MMA, and he draws confidence from this fact.

"I'm 100 percent sure that every one of my training partners would completely dominate the kid I'm going to fight, so there's nothing to worry about," Case said. "I think the advantage I have is my wrestling. I've wrestled my whole life, and I haven't seen much of his wrestling game in his fights. But I'm going to go out there and I’m just going to fight, you know?

"If we're standing up and I feel comfortable there, I'm going to be looking to finish it there, to go for the knockout. But if something is up and I'm not able to get in my groove and my striking isn't working, I'm going to take his ass down, and I'll finish him there."

And while extra motivation isn't needed for the rising lightweight, Case does enjoy the sweet taste of the bad blood brewing between him and Trevino. The two were previously scheduled to fight at UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston, but Trevino pulled out at the last minute with an injury, leaving Case to face Frankie Perez instead.

On its own, this is not so bad. Fighters get injured and late replacements happen in MMA.

It was when Trevino opened his mouth after Case's win that things went south.

"After my win in Boston, he got on Twitter and started saying s--t like he's going to knock me out, he'd out-strike me and all this and that," Case said. "He just kind of came after me after that win, so, yeah, he started with poking the bear. ... I don't like this kid, he doesn't like me, and it's cool.

"I'm ready to kick this kid's ass and shut him up good."