UFC Denver came down to crunch time for freshly inked UFC lightweight Devonte Smith. 

Weeks ago, Smith was contacted by the UFC about potentially fighting in his new backyard of Colorado. Unfortunately for Smith, opponent after opponent after opponent turned “King Cage” down.

It was just two weeks before the event and still no opponent had stepped up. Smith couldn’t be dragged through the woodwork any longer. After discussing the situation with his coaches, Smith set an ultimatum. If he didn’t have a fight by Tuesday at midnight, he’d yank the idea of fighting in Denver.

Tuesday evening at 10 PM local time, just two hours before his deadline, Smith received the offer he was waiting for. UFC newcomer Julian Erosa had stepped up.

Smith couldn’t be more thrilled for the opportunity. In fact, he thinks the opponent-less camp could prove to be extra beneficial.

I’m ready...#allhailkingkage @VIRUSintl #ufcdenver pic.twitter.com/nsVZjLts94

— Devonte Smith (@K_O_E_KINGKAGE) November 7, 2018

“I’m super excited, bro,” Smith said in an interview with FloCombat. “I’m so ready to shine. I’m so ready to show the world [and] my family all of the hard work I’ve put into this.” 

A lot of people might think I fight the same. Because I didn’t have [an opponent] name, I didn’t work on anything specific. I worked on everything I could leading up to this fight. I worked on my wrestling, standup, my jiujitsu, my fighter IQ, my cage work and everything.”

Now that he has a specific opponent in his sights, Smith’s confidence in his abilities hasn’t faltered in the least.

“No disrespect to Julian, but he’s just another body—just another obstacle,” Smith said. “He’s just another person in my way that I’ve got to go through, go around, go above, or below—just get out of my way.”

This past summer on Contender Series, Smith made a statement to Dana White and the MMA world with his quick knockout over undefeated top prospect Joseph Lowry. Saturday night in Denver, Smith is looking to make a bigger statement – especially to the members of the UFC’s lightweight division he says turned him down.

Still and always” GIVE ME THAT WORK,CUZ IM FROM CLEVELAND ANYBODY CAN GET THAT WORK” #lookatmenow @ufc pic.twitter.com/5NkBPalktb

— Devonte Smith (@K_O_E_KINGKAGE) November 8, 2018

“A lot of ranked people turned me down,” Smith said. “This would be a great opportunity to make that fear a reality.”

“Maybe they didn’t want to be that test dummy or guinea pig. Maybe they wanted to see what I could actually do. Maybe they were scared of how I did on Contender Series and didn’t want to risk it. Maybe they’ll be actually watching this fight seeing if I’m everything they thought I was. I’m going to be showing them everything plus more.”

While he’s keeping his options open, Smith believes the fight will be over sooner rather than later. The 25-year-old claims the secret to his high finishing rate as of late has been, well, not trying to finish at all.

“My style hasn’t changed, it’s improved,” Smith said. It’s not like I go for the finish. It just happens. If he goes out in the first round, great. If it goes to the second round, it is what it is. Third round? Whatever. At the end of the day, my hand will be raised.”