Strikeforce: Roger Bowling Q&A on Tony Ferguson, War Machine and Bobby Voelker

This Friday, Roger Bowling will headline Strikeforce Challengers 17 and attempt to avenge the only loss of his career in a rubber match with Bobby Voelker.

At 9-1, Bowling is one of the brightest welterweight prospects on the Strikeforce roster. With a win over Voelker in this fight, Bowling could graduate from the Strikeforce Challengers series and earn a regular spot on the main card of the organization's larger events.

Bleacher Report recently had the opportunity to talk with Bowling about his upcoming fight with Voelker and a number of other topics:

B/R: Why did you first decide to get into MMA?

Bowling: Just because it's not a team sport. If you win, you get most of the praise. But if you lose, it's on yourself. You got a lot of coaches and good people around you to help you get ready and stuff, but once they close the door it's about you executing the game plan.

B/R: When you first started fighting, did you ever dream you'd be headlining a card under the Zuffa banner?

Bowling: No, it's crazy. It's definitely a dream come true. I can remember as a kid growing up, I loved boxing and Mike Tyson. I would be walking down the street just hearing the entrance music playing in my head. It's indescribable, the feeling of headlining a show like this.

B/R: Having quickly defeated two recent participants—Shamar Bailey and Seth Baczynski—would you ever consider competing on The Ultimate Fighter?

Bowling: I don't know that I would ever want to go on the show. I don't know if I could take being in the house, to be honest with you. I'm not saying that I wouldn't. But, at this point, I don't see it in my future.

B/R: How do you think a fight between you and last season's winner, Tony Ferguson, would go?

Bowling: I definitely think I could beat him. I think that I could beat anybody that they put in front of me at 170. He's a skilled fighter. He's a good fighter but definitely beatable.

B/R: Awhile back, War Machine talked a good bit of trash about you after you were forced to pull out of two scheduled fights with him. Since he is expected to be released from jail later this month, would you ever consider fighting him or have you moved on from the idea?

Bowling: No, I don't care about that guy whatsoever. Everything happens for a reason. I had two big injuries leading up to both the fights with him. He's nowhere in my sights. I could care less even thinking about that guy.

B/R: What changes have you made since your last fight with Bobby Voelker?

Bowling: I made a lot of changes to my coaching, just getting back to the basics and working on what I'm good at and what I know I can do. 

B/R: With this being your third fight against Voelker in your last four appearances, does a part of you just want to get this series with him over with so you can move onto bigger and better things?

Bowling: About 10 percent of me does, but the other 90 wants to get out there and do the job this third time.

B/R: Do you feel the need to finish Voelker in this rubber match to prove a point that you are the better fighter and how do you see this fight going?

Bowling: He's got a hard head and good stand-up, so I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna try like hell to finish him. If that doesn't happen and it goes to decision, I'm fine with that. This fight will definitely show who the better fighter is.

Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter here.