By Jeff Kunkle/Ramen Choke Hold

The UFC light heavyweight division has become more and more muddled in recent months.

With a suspension looming for its most recognizable member, Jon Jones, and its champion, Daniel Cormier, heading to heavyweight for a super-fight showdown vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 226, the near future looks bleak for the weight class.

With that prognosis, the UFC is quietly begging for a new face to regenerate the interest the division once garnered. While many have tried, few, if any, have succeeded.

Enter Tyson Pedro.

Seventeen months ago, Pedro locked up the third submission of his career and had an eye on the AFC title. But that opportunity never revealed itself. Why? Because greener pastures were ahead.

Fast forward to the present day, and we’ve got ourselves a contender. Currently ranked No. 12 in the UFC's official rankings, the best may be yet to come from the 26-year-old Australian.

And after a dominant performance at last month's UFC 221 in Perth, his journey to the top has sped up quicker than many anticipated.





The Climb to Contention

Not many know the name Saparbek Safarov, and they can't be blamed for their ignorance. After all, when Safarov enters the cage, he looks more like a beer-league softball pitcher than a UFC fighter.

But don't let the unassuming figure fool you. Behind the superficial characteristics lies a tough, gritty brawler with a heart larger than his fists. So it surprised many when Pedro finished him inside the first round at UFC 221 — including Pedro himself.

"I was expecting to have a scrap for 15 minutes," Pedro told Ramen Choke Hold for FloCombat. "I saw him with Gian Villante and he's definitely a tough dude… He took some of those right hands that I thought would have dropped him, but he done pretty well."

Ultimately, Safarov succumbed to a ruthless kimura that made his arm look more like a wishbone and less like a limb. The finish put a stamp on the superb display from Australia's own, perhaps the best of Pedro's career.

His knees were active, his right hand was firm, and his killer instinct was sharp. But perhaps the most impressive element surrounding that performance was that it came on the heels of Pedro's first career loss.

The Gift of Losing

For many fighters, the loss of an undefeated record can be harrowing. But for Pedro, it has become a learning experience rather than a setback.

After a 6-0 start to his pro career, including a 2-0 UFC record, Pedro was knocked from the unbeaten ranks by Ilir Latifi at UFC 215 last September.

"It was a big mindset thing," Pedro said. "I knew I messed up in the Latifi fight as soon as I walked in the cage. You see I'm dancing around when I'm walking in there. Usually, I'm happy... but in the Latifi fight I was really amped up for some reason.

"I remember I was pacing back and forth… I was thinking where my wife was sitting. I punched myself in the chin and said, 'C'mon bro, let's go.'"

While Pedro has put the Latifi fight behind him, he understands the role a loss can play in the development of a budding MMA star. Learn from the losses; build from the wins.

Now that Pedro is back in the winner's circle, what happens next? He's got an idea...

The Next Step For Tyson Pedro

One month has passed since UFC 221 and Pedro sees no reason to slow his momentum.

"It's gonna be a quick turnaround I think," Pedro said. "I've probably got a couple more weeks now, not even, probably a week of rehab… then I'll get straight back into it. Hopefully, around May/June, I'm looking at."

As for an opponent, he's down for anybody — as long as the path leads to bigger fights and bigger opportunities.

"I'll fight anyone at anytime but it showed my inexperience going against Latifi," Pedro said. "I should have been able to change up things and I didn't, so it shows that I have a little bit to go, but [in] 2019 I'll be in that top five.

"That's my goal timeline, and [in] 2020 I'll be looking for that title shot."

Wins will get him there. By the end of the year, the number beside his name should shrink as the lights above it brighten.

For Pedro, he's got a nation behind him as he helps lead the charge for Aussie MMA on the world stage.





The Aussies Have Arrived

Not long ago, Australian MMA rarely made an impact on the worldwide stage. Talent came and went far too quickly, and the established fighters became cult figures rather than legitimate contenders.

However, the landscape has changed over the past couple of years. Thirteen Australian fighters are currently signed to the UFC. Of those, four are ranked and the country's first champion — UFC middleweight king Robert Whittaker — has been crowned.

Not to mention, Australia's own Martin Nguyen is fighting for his third belt at ONE Championship: Iron Will at the end of March.

As you can see, change has come. And Pedro has been at the forefront of the explosion.

"I'm excited because I'm that first generation that's going to be pushing it into every household in Australia, so it's a very exciting time... the Australian media is finally getting behind us," Pedro said.

But for Pedro, he feels like his assault on the UFC's light heavyweight division has just begun — anyone can get it. He's just sitting here waiting for his next opportunity.

"I'll fight anyone below or above, so I'm not too worried about rankings," he said. "I'm planning to be in the top five in 2019."