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Pressure is carried by individuals in vastly different forms and has a way of shaping the perception of those it weighs the most heavily on. Throw a truckload of expectation into that mix, and the situation at hand could become all the more volatile.



Justin Scoggins knows these elements far too well, and it would come as no surprise if they served to harden or weather him because of it. Nothing could be further from the truth.



On a humid day two steps into the new autumn season, the UFC flyweight known as "Tank" is wearing an easy smile on his face outside of Revolution MMA in Spartanburg, SC. The elder of the fighting Scoggins brothers is standing in an open field across the parking lot from the gym where he sharpens his craft and watching some of the best parts of his world enjoy the sunshine as they run in the open.



With wife Hannah standing by his side, Scoggins launches objects for his two German shepherds to fetch and retrieve. Once his out-of-town guests arrive for the afternoon session, Scoggins politely strolls over and offers a greeting in a laid-back and easy way.



It becomes clear from the jump the rigors of a young life in the fight game have not worn him down. The once touted prospect turned UFC Octagon veteran has experienced highs and lows while competing on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts, but no single result has tangled his fleet-footed approach.



At the same time, there doesn't seem to be much simplicity where Scoggins is concerned. His fighting nature is very much apparent, but the edges are sheathed with a surfer-seeker appeal that amplifies each laugh or smile. From first take, it appears Scoggins loves life, and with fighting being a big part of such things, he loves everything about how his journey has been crafted.



The 25-year-old steamrolled the regional competition in and around his native South Carolina to earn a call from the UFC in 2013 and has spent the past four years attempting to carve out his place as a legitimate threat to the flyweight divisional crown. When success has been found, it's arrived in impressive fashion, yet his is a path which has come with a learning curve as well.



During his eight showings inside the Octagon, Scoggins has earned victory in half of those showings, which is a far different mixture of victory and defeat than he knew in his days before the bright lights. That said, the leader of the fighting Scoggins family also takes a keen perspective, as he's now competed in more fights inside the Octagon than he'd ever accrued before receiving that coveted invite.



Furthermore, when Scoggins' defeats are examined, it's clear slight mistakes in otherwise effective game plans have brought adversity front and center. In Scoggins' mind those are further signs of the greater education in process, and he brims with the inner confidence of a man who has finally figured out how to turn a crucial corner.



This is exactly what the Greenville native plans to do when he steps in against Tim Elliott on Dec. 16 at UFC on Fox 26. The bout pits two of the flyweight division's most high-octane performers head-to-head in a fight that figures to have heavy implications for the futures of the fighters involved. Not only could the bout produce a future title challenger, but the man who loses the tilt will also be facing a tough reality.



And while all of these circumstances could create unbearable pressure, Scoggins' ever-present smile doesn't hide the tenacity behind his eyes. In fact, it only serves to amplify it, because that's the Scoggins way.







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