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Jordan Mein: Comeback has been '(expletive),' goal is to 'basically die in there' for UFC-Winnipeg win

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WINNIPEG – Jordan Mein’s return from retirement hasn’t exactly gone according to plan, but the UFC welterweight is not deterred by his underwhelming results.

Since coming back from a nearly two-year retirement in December 2016, Mein (29-12 MMA, 3-4 UFC) has dropped both of his fights. He’s sitting on a three-fight losing skid overall but hopes to bounce back against Erick Silva (19-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC) at UFC on FOX 26, which takes place Saturday at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The bout streams on UFC Fight Pass prior to the televised card on FS1 and FOX.

Despite his comeback not going as well as he’d hoped, Mein is making no qualms about his situation.

“I’m 0-3 in my last three fights, so it’s been (expletive),” Mein told MMAjunkie. “I’m looking for a win. It’s hard to talk about anything when you’ve lost three fights. Before every fight you’re saying all this stuff, and you want it to happen, and it doesn’t. Just because I’ve lost those three fights doesn’t waver me in any negative sense. I still feel great. I still feel powerful.

“I feel great. I feel the same as before. I’m ready to come in and win and show more aggression. That was the change this last training camp – show a little more aggression and a little more threat.”

Although there are things Mein could hang his head on, he said it’s not his style to do so. He said knowing that he’s preparing properly helps him through the difficult moments.

Mein said earlier in his career such struggles would be harmful to his overall attitude. With 41 professional fights and more than 11 years in the sport, though, Mein understands his position.

“I look at my record, and I see three losses, but inside it doesn’t bother me,” Mein said. “I know I’m a warrior. I’m training hard. I’m going in there, and I’m going to show them that I’m a warrior again, and I’m going to put everything on the line. That’s how I see it. I see three losses, and I’m like, ‘Oh, they’re giving me another chance.’ I’m grateful for that.”

For Mein, the key to getting back on track at UFC on FOX 26 stems from his aggression in the octagon. The Canadian hasn’t won a fight since a 72-second TKO of Mike Pyle at UFC Fight Night 49 in August 2014, but he senses a return to the win column is just around the corner.

If anyone is going to give Mein a chance at victory, too, it’s Silva. The Brazilian is one of the more tenacious fighters on the UFC roster in terms of finishing fights and is tied for the second most first-round wins in welterweight history. Mein said he’s not going to back down from Silva’s fighting style.

“You could say to avoid that aggression, or to run away from that, or to take him down,” Mein said. “I’m going to do all those things, but I’m also going to apply lots of pressure on him, as well. That’s the beautiful thing about this game. We can talk all the (expletive) we want or say everything we want, but once we get in there that’s the true self in there. I’m excited for that.”

For Mein, winning is the only option. At 28, Mein already feels like he’s been in the sport forever, but “Young Gun” is still young and could potentially have his best years ahead. He’s not thinking about anything beyond fight night, though, and said it’s going to take something significant from Silva to get past him.

“The goal is to basically die in there,” Mein said. “Leave everything I physically can in there. That’s my goal.”

For more on UFC on FOX 26, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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