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British mixed martial artist Tom Breese may have gone a little under the radar since his defeat to Sean Strickland back at UFC 199 in June. But rest assured he will be back in 2017, and he's coming back the best version of himself.



Speaking exclusively to FloCombat this past week at the Renzo Grace BJJ Academy in New York, Breese talked about the changes he's made since losing the fight with Strickland. One of decision he took at that point was move back to the U.K. and to leave the Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada.



"I just wanted to be happier," Breese said. "I find that when I'm happier, I'm more motivated and I perform better.



"I've got a lot of respect for the guys at Tristar--they are nice people. I just didn't find that Montreal was the best place for me to be. I felt a bit drained there, a bit bored, and it was a bit repetitive.



"Now I'm back home I think I'm going to fight with a lot more pride now I'm in Birmingham. I can't wait to fight next year."



Breese is targeting a return on March 18 at UFC Fight Night London 2017. While he was happy to pick a date, he wasn't quite so comfortable picking an opponent.



"I'd love to fight on the card in London in March," Breese said. "That's what I'm aiming for.



"I've just come into a new division so I don't want to call anyone out yet. I want to put on a great performance and then I can call big names out."



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Breese made the decision to move to middleweight shortly after his split-decision loss to Strickland at UFC 199. Having made the adjustments now for the 185-pounds weight class, Breese feels better than ever and is ready to show what he can do in the division.



"It's going to be a lot more comfortable," Breese said. "I've put a little bit of weight on, and I've been able to lift some weights and do a bit of strength work. I walk around at around 205 pounds, so it's still a 20 pounds weight cut to 185.



"I feel a lot more energetic, and I won't be as gaunt. Mentally I won't be as drained. The week of the fight it used to take so much out of me just making weight. When it came fight time I used to be exhausted from just the weight cut, so I will be a lot more energetic."



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Breese then revealed some of the struggles he would have to come through to make the welterweight limit.



"I just felt flaky, and to be honest, even when I was two weeks out from my training I used to be like 185 pounds, and I don't feel at my best at that," Breese said. "Now I will train at like 205 pounds, 200, and I will cut down to 185 pounds and then rehydrate to what I train at. I just made sense really."



Having been through both the highs and lows in 2016, Breese reflected on the year that had passed and things he'd taken from it.



"I've learned a lot and my training has been great, but my performances weren't the best this year," Breese said. "The fights in London and LA, my first two UFC performances were better. I've taken some time out now and I'm ready to come back refreshed.



"I can't wait to come back in there now. I'm more experienced right now, and I've learned a lot of lessons."



With 2017 now ahead, Breese is setting his sights on making a big impact on the UFC's middleweight division and is hoping by the end of the year he can set himself up for some big fights.



"I want to be on a three-fight win streak by November 2017," Breese said. "Then I'll be looking at entering the top 10 or top five."







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