TORRANCE, Calif. – At just 30 years old and on days before one of the biggest fights of his career, UFC bantamweight Ivan Menjivar (25-9 MMA, 4-1 UFC) speaks with the wisdom of a man who realizes that nothing is guaranteed in the sport of MMA. There’s a reason for that.

“Three, four years ago, I got an injury, and I took a little break,” Menjivar told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “That showed me that you can’t take the sport like it’s your sport. You don’t decide.”

Born in El Salvador, Menjivar is a longtime resident of Canada and was a pioneer of sorts in the Great White North’s regional scene, even competing against Georges St-Pierre way back in 2002. But a knee injury and a series of contractual issues left him sidelined for three-and-a-half years.

Menjivar said the experience gave him an honest appreciation for his professional career.

“Just this week, the UFC cut like 10 guys,” Menjivar said. “It’s sad to see.”

Thus far, Menjivar has been making the best of his second stint in MMA while winning four out five UFC fights and earning the No. 10 slot in the UFC’s official rankings. On Saturday, he has a chance to make an even bigger impact as he meets former WEC champion and No. 2 ranked Urijah Faber (26-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC). The contest is actually a rematch of a 2006 affair that took place in Canada, which Faber won by disqualification when a doctor ruled him ineligible to continue after being struck by an illegal soccer kick.

It was the first of six fights Menjivar would take in 2006 before his extended layoff.

“Last time, we just got the time to warm up,” Menjivar said. “This time, I think we’ll both be prepared. We both have experience. We’ll show the people this is the highest level of the sport.”

For Faber, the bout may very well earn him some consideration as a title challenger in the UFC’s wide-open 135-pound division. But an impressive showing by Menjivar could see “The Pride of El Salvador” earning some much-deserved respect in the class, as well. But Menjivar said he’s not worried too much about where he’s ranked or who thinks he’s deserving of anything in particular.

As a man who’s seen what life is like after fighting, and it’s helped him enjoy his time in the sport even more.

“I love fighting,” Menjivar said. “I love training, so for me it’s another opportunity to show people what I love to do, and that’s it – another day of fighting.

“Right now, I’m just enjoying the moment. I train. I do my diet. Afterward, what happens is what happens.”

Menjivar and Faber meet on the pay-per-view-broadcast main card of Saturday’s UFC 157 event, which takes place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

For more on UFC 157, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.