WITH a flatwhite coffee in one hand, mixed-martial-arts fighter Anthony Perosh can envisage how he intends to beat his next opponent when the UFC Octagon returns to Australia on May 10.

Infact, coffee is this 42-year-old’s favourite past time away from the sport and nothing tickles his fancy more than a sugarless Australian flat brew from his favourite cafe, Lilly’s.

media_camera Anthony Perosh defeated Guto Inocente via first round submission in November.

“As long as I can remember, my parents were drinking coffee. It was almost a natural thing to do,” he told the Inner West Courier.

“I saw my mum this morning, she was with a friend in front of a cafe next to my gym. Flat white with no sugar makes me very happy. It’s been a while, the older I get the more I like it.

“I have no sugar, I like it all natural. I can’t stand it (sugar in coffee), I cringe as soon as I have a sip if it has sugar.”

He intends to beat down and submit American light-heavyweight (93kg), Sean O’Connell, in the May contest.

Perosh runs Concord’s Sinosic Perosh Martial Arts school but he will prepare for the upcoming fight at acclaimed American gym, Jackson‘s MMA.

media_camera A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Perosh teaches students at his gym

Situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jackson’s is home to many high calibre fighters, including UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, as well as coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn.

“Getting out of your comfort zone is always a good thing, it’s no good being the best person in your gym, you want to go there and spar different people,” Perosh said.

“At Jackson’s there are 25 or 30 people on the mat and 80 per cent are in the UFC. Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn are good coaches, they care about you and want you to improve. They do feedback and coaching. Last time, UFC fighters John Dodson and Carlos Condit were on the mat.”

media_camera Perosh beating an opponent into submission media_camera Cheers

As far as nerves leading up to a fight, he has learned to convert that into excitement.

“At the moment I train smart, not hard. That doesn’t mean I coast through my sessions, all my sessions are planned out. I know what I want to do and how long it’s going to be. I plan in all my massages, physio and rest and make sure I get good nutrition.”

He has considered taking on former heavyweight contender Brendan Schaub who recently made the weight cut down to 93kg.

Adelaide Entertainment Centre will host the UFC Fight Night 65 event, which includes a main event between heavyweights Mark Hunt and Stipe Miocic.

Perosh won his last UFC fight in November, which extended his professional record to 15 wins from 23 fights.

The Adelaide event also includes Aussie fighters Robert Whittaker, Jake Matthews, Kyle Noke, former Olympian Dan Kelly, Bec Rawlings and Alex Chambers.