Bryan Barberena isn’t a man who believes in storylines.

In his last two fights, the American has upset two UFC narratives. Firstly, his win over Sage Northcutt in January put a stop to the younger’s rapid rise up the ranks, and then later in May he scored a massive win over hometown boy Warlley Alves in front of a packed-out stadium full of Brazilians in Curitiba, Brazil.

Taking some much need R&R

Since that fight with Alves, Barberena hasn’t been seen in the UFC Octagon, but after a little rest and recuperation, he’s finally now ready to get back to action and ruin someone else’s party.

“After the fight with Alves I had to take some time to let my body heal,” Barberena said. “I had to, my shoulder was hurt and I had to let that heal up. I got that checked out by the doctor and everything and it just needed a little time. Now everything is good though, I’m ready to get back at it.

“My goal is to get a fight in before the end of the year. If I can get a fight in December now that would be great.”

The fight that never happened with Ellenberger

The welterweight division has seen a lot of movement up and down the rankings recently with the removal of Rory MacDonald and the crowning of a new champion. Barberena revealed he had previously requested a fight with one of the guys in the rankings, but that it never came to fruition due to them getting another fight.

“In the division there a lot of top guys and there are a lot of people sticking out,” Barberena said. “I asked Jake Ellenberger if he wanted a fight over Twitter, but he got matched up with Jorge Masvidal so that’s unfortunately not going to work out.

“I just want to get someone who’s in the top 15 or top 20. If I can I’d love to fight someone higher up. I want to keep climbing the ladder. I’ve always said that I’ll fight anybody, but now I really want to be given the opportunity to fight someone that’s above me and not below me.”

Spoiling the party

Barberena has built a reputation in the UFC as being someone who comes in and spoils the party. Barberena thinks this a good and unique brand to be building and hopes to continue doing so.

“Sure I want to continue doing that—I’ll continue on that path of beating the guys I’m not supposed to beat,” Barberena said. “If not and something else comes up then I’ll play that too, but I’m just going in there to win fights. I’ve never let talk or mental stuff get to me. I just sort of see how stuff plays out and that’s what I go with.

“Saying that, I don’t enjoy being known as the guy that beat Sage Northcutt. People know me as that now—the guy that beat Sage. It is what it is. I’m the guy that beat him for sure but my win against Alves was a lot more impressive. That win is worth talking about a whole lot more than beating Sage. I just want to keeping growing my brand more and more and beating more top people. If I get known as the guy who keeps going in there and winning fights then I’ll get that belt around my waist.”

Not concerned with Northcutt any longer

While people are still talking about his win over Northcutt, Barberena isn’t overly concerned of how the youngster progresses and is only focused on his own path.

“They are still going to market him nonetheless,” Barberena said. “He’s still going to get the same shine and the same opportunities and if they are going to take care of him great. I’m just concerned about me and I don’t care. I like to fight and I like to go out there and put on a show for everyone.

“I’ll take whoever they want to give me. If they want to handpick stuff for me as well then go for it. If they want to do more marketing and more promotional stuff for me that’s great, but I’m not going to get hung up about it. I’ll take whatever road it is to the top and I’ll make it there.

“I don’t think everything went the way they planned it to, but there was no ill feeling or anything like that afterward. It was just the usual stuff backstage. Perhaps a little more quiet backstage, but hey whatever.”

Where his strong mindset comes from

Barberena revealed that his strong mentality and resilience comes from bullied when he was younger. Even now as an adult he revealed that he’s still the butt at the end of all jokes to his inner circle.

“My strong mind comes from the way I was raised,” Barberena said. “It’s all about doing me. When I was younger I was picked on and stuff and that taught me a lot. People still mess with me now. I’m the guy in my group of friends that people constantly give s**t to. They make fun of me, but whatever. I think it’s funny and I’m always good for a laugh.

“My mindset is always the same and I always just focus on moving forward and do what I want to do. If it all plays out, then awesome. I’m just going to work as hard as I can, to be the best that I can, to do the best that I can. No one can say anything if you live like that.”

All the way to the top

With a positive mindset and healed body, the plan for the rest of the year and 2017 is simple for Barberena—fight and work his way through the 170 pounds division.

“The long-term plan is to get that belt and remain on top,” Barberena said. “I just want to keep beating people, keep fighting and keep taking top name guys out. If I keep doing that then it will take me to where I want to go. I want to get the belt around my waist, have top exciting fights and just please the fans. I’m ready to go put on a show for everybody”