Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Camozzi confidently fielded questions from inside New York City's Best Buy Theater Thursday afternoon as part of the UFC's Ultimate Media Day leading up to Saturday's UFC on Fox 15 card in Newark, New Jersey.

Just days ago, Camozzi expected to watch this card from home, wondering when he'd get his second chance inside the UFC's storied Octagon. The middleweight fighter was cut from the organization after four straight losses from May 2013 to September 2014, but he posted an impressive 2-0 record in local action following his release and was preparing for a return.

After UFC on Fox 15 co-main event combatant Yoel Romero was forced to pull out of his fight against Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza just days before the event, Camozzi perked up.

This could be his chance.

"I told my wife two days before I got the call that I was going to get back in the UFC on short notice, then it happened," Camozzi told Bleacher Report in New York. "Guys fall out all the time, so I made sure my weight was low and I was ready."

His vision proved accurate just moments later.

Despite a first-round submission loss to Jacare at UFC on FX 8 that began his UFC skid, Camozzi knew fighters wouldn't be lining up to face a fighter of Souza's caliber. Jacare is a world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with ever-improving sledgehammer fists, and his killer instinct is terrifying to behold.

Still, there was no hesitation when the UFC rang Camozzi's phone and asked for a favor.

"The answer was 'hell yeah' right away," Camozzi said. "It was within about 10 seconds that I responded."

While Camozzi's first bout against Jacare didn't necessarily warrant a rematch, the opportunity is his. He stepped up when nobody else would, and now he has the chance to pull off a career-defining upset in Newark.

After evaluating his past performance against Jacare, Camozzi feels confident heading into UFC on Fox 15. He knows where he went wrong, and he feels he's righted the necessary wrongs to lead himself to victory.

"It [the first fight] was only a couple years ago, but I feel like—maturity wise as far as a fighter, fight IQ—I'm being smart in there," Camozzi said. "I'm getting better and better and better. I'm getting more mature as far as making the right decisions, and I feel a lot better now. I know I got a little anxious in my first fight instead of being patient, and I think that was the biggest thing that messed me up."

Should he pull out the victory, Camozzi believes he'll be launched right into contention in the middleweight division. Jacare is the No. 1-ranked middleweight in the organization, so a victory over him, Camozzi says, would prove he belongs with the big dogs.

"It puts me up there if I win, otherwise, everybody expects me to lose," Camozzi said. "The pressure's on him, not on me. I feel great. I'm excited about it. Right after the first fight, I was like, 'God, I want to fight him again.' So I got my opportunity. I'm not one of those people who says something and doesn't mean it. I said it and I meant it.

"I think it puts me right at the top. And whoever's at the top is who I'll fight."

After Jacare—win or lose—Camozzi said he'll be sticking around the UFC for a bit.

"Yeah [I'll have another fight in the UFC after this one], the UFC is taking care of me," Camozzi said. "They offered me a new contract. They're great. They've been awesome through this whole thing, making sure I have everything I need and helping me out. It's just great to be back. This is the best organization in the world."