Dana White Contender Series winner Javid Basharat makes his UFC debut this Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Basharat, 26, will become the third MMA fighter from Afghanistan - Siyar Bahadurzada and Nasrat Haqparast being the other two - to ever compete in the UFC when he faces Trevin Jones in a bantamweight three rounder.
The Paktia-born Afghan, who escaped his war-torn homeland with his mother when he was just five years old and fled to England where they were reunited with his father, originally had aspirations of playing professional football but now has set his sights on becoming his country's first ever UFC champion.
However, he won't be too annoyed if Haqparast gets there first.
Speaking exclusively to GiveMeSport, Basharat said: "I think I'm the third Afghan ever, right?
"As of now, it's only me and Nasrat Haqparast, so there's two of us in the UFC. And it's just a great honour, it's a great honour.
"I want to become the first UFC champion from my country, but if Nasrat beats me to it, I'll be happy for him.
"I hope he beats me to it, as I'm not that type of guy [laughs]. I'm competitive, but I wish well for my brothers, you know, so hopefully he gets it done and hopefully we can hold the title at the same time."
Javid Basharat faces Trevin Jones in Las Vegas on Saturday night
The DWCS graduate fights out of Xtreme Couture, the same gym as Francis Ngannou, and like the UFC heavyweight champion, he is trained by Dewey Cooper.
Like Ngannou, Basharat is a formidable striker, but he also has all the ingredients to become a success in the UFC.
During his eleven fights, he has finished all of his opponents, and was last seen submitting Oron Kahlon in October.
Asked if he has a preferred method of victory, he replied: "My favourite way of finishing somebody? That's a good question. I don't know, I just like to finish.
"A rear-naked choke feels good because it's like a very dominant win, you know, but at the same time a knockout feels great too [laughs].
Javid Basharat won a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series
"I don't know, it's very hard to pick. I really can't say.
"You can expect another finish as usual from me. There's not much else to say. Whatever he gives me I'm going to take and I'm going to be looking for a finish the whole time.
"It's going to be - I want to say round two - but I know he's tough so I'm thinking maybe early round three.
"But you will know who the winner will be like after round two, like midway through round two, you will understand, 'Okay, he's going to close the show now.'"
Basharat, also known by his ring name 'The Snow Leopard', also described Amir Albazi as an important part for helping him to prepare for Jones.
He continued: "Amir is my longest training partner, ever since I started the sport he's been with me every step of the way.
"We actually moved to Vegas together. He's an inspiration, he's a role model to me, and I know I can always go to him for advice. We bounce ideas off each other, we push each other in training, so it's great.
"He's kind of already made the walk, he's had two fights, he's 2-0 in the UFC already, so I've kind of experienced it all through him, you know, and I can't wait for him to be in my corner on Saturday night."
UFC Vegas 50 takes place Saturday night. The early prelims will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, while the prelim card and main card will be broadcast live on BT Sport.