UFC on Versus: CB Dollaway Confident, Excited for Defining Moment of Career

Last September, two UFC middleweights stepped inside of the world renowned Octagon. One, a seasoned veteran of the sport with fifty-nine professional fights and thirty-three wins coming by way of submission.

Standing across from him was a younger and highly talented collegiate wrestler turned successful mixed martial artist with twelve professional fights to his credit. Seven of those victories coming by way of technical knockout and submission.

On that night, an highly impressive performance was turned in by CB “The Doberman” Dollaway (11-2, 5 TKO’s, 3 Submissions), when he submitted Joe Doerksen (46-13, 33 Submissions) by guillotine choke, to earn submission of the night honors and to take the next step in his career.

“It was a huge victory and I think it made a statement,” Dollaway said. “Plus, it was huge getting that submission of the night bonus and it definitely set me up financially a little bit.”

Indeed that fight was huge, not only financially but also to help continue building Dollaway’s confidence in knowing that his game is evolving into a complete mixed martial artist and the hard work spent preparing in the gym is paying off.

“I think it showed my progression as a mixed martial artist and showing that I am dangerous on the ground as well,” he explained. “Being able to finish a guy like that and the manner I did it in, was really a confidence booster and going into this next fight, it just gives me that much more confidence that I can do it again.”

His next fight comes against the powerful Mark Munoz at UFC on Versus III in Louisville, Kentucky on March 3. Dollaway and Munoz will co-headline the event and “The Doberman” is excited for the opportunity to take the next step in his career.

“I knew it was a good step up in competition and it was a good chance to move up the ladder. A chance to rise up the rankings if I can beat him, getting the co-main event was huge and I’m excited.”

In preparation for Munoz, Dollaway honed his skills at Power MMA and Fitness in Gilbert, Arizona. The facility was started by himself and fellow UFC contenders Ryan Bader and Aaron Simpson. The benefits of having a gym to call home, has been huge and provided the middleweight with world class training partners.

“It’s a huge benefit, before we were hopping around to different gyms wondering where we were going to train from day to day and now we have a home base,” Dollaway explained. “We bring guys in like Robbie Lawler, Jon Madsen, DaMarques Johnson, Chris Tuchscherer, and we have a lot of good guys come through. We know what kind of facility we have now, and having a full size UFC Octagon makes it great to be able to practice in there, so it’s pretty awesome.”

With the uncertainties of where to train behind him and everything now in place to be successful, Dollaway can now focus on improving his overall skill set without the unnecessary worries about training. Overall, he feels he is in a good place to succeed and will be looking for yet another impressive victory.

“My overall games improved and I’ve focused on certain areas that I feel will be beneficial in this fight,” he said.” Overall, the training partners we’ve had come through, all the guys that I’ve got to work with, and some of our new coaches. I just feel that my games improved and hopefully you’re going to be able to see me put it all together and come out with an impressive victory.”

Dollaway closed out both his 2009 and 2010 campaigns with victories and if he is indeed successful by defeating Munoz in impressive fashion, he will be on a four-fight win streak with a lot of momentum behind him for 2011.

“I believe a win would put me a few fights away from a title fight, so it’s kind of a defining moment for both of us,” Dollaway explained. “Whoever wins this fight it puts us in the title picture and I’m excited for it.”