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Evan Dunham on Sean Sherk: He’s had what I want

Las Vegas-based lightweight looks to take another step closer to title contention

UFC 115

Jenelle Schneider / Vancouver Sun

Evan Dunham takes the back of Tyson Griffin during their lightweight fight at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dunham won by split decision.

Following a decision win over Tyson Griffin in June, UFC lightweight Evan Dunham had planned on spending the rest of the summer relaxing with his fiancé in their recently purchased Las Vegas home.

The UFC had other plans for one of its hottest prospects.

Dunham (11-0) will look to keep his perfect record intact this weekend when he meets former champion Sean Sherk (32-4-1) on the main card of UFC 119 in Indianapolis.

The Xtreme Couture fighter admits he wasn't thrilled to hear from matchmaker Joe Silva so soon after defeating Griffin at UFC 115, but quickly agreed to the fight once he heard the opponent.

"It was a little sooner than I was expecting, but when I heard it was Sherk I jumped on it," Dunham said. "I decided to get right back into camp."

"He's had what I eventually want, and getting through him will put me one step closer to hopefully getting that opportunity one day."

At 28 years old and just three years into his professional mixed-martial-arts career, Dunham's shot at a title might come sooner rather than later.

Although he trusts the UFC to sort through the talented division, Dunham says he believes a win over Sherk should put him one fight away from title contention.

It's been three years since Sherk held the UFC title and 14 months since he even stepped into the octagon, but in the eyes of Dunham that doesn't diminish what Sherk's accomplished.

"He's the hardest fight for me to date," Dunham said. "I think a win over another up-and-comer is great, but a win over somebody who has been there is even better.

"There's at least four of us in the lightweight division pretty much on the same level — trying to get big wins. I think Sherk is one of the bigger names and a win over him puts me in great position to get a top contender fight."

Somewhat overlooked to this point, Dunham is receiving more and more attention as his wins in the octagon continue to pile up.

After putting a stop to Efrain Escudero's unbeaten streak in January, Dunham solidified himself as an elite 155-pounder with the decision win over Griffin.

While it might appear Dunham has risen to the top very early in his career, Saturday's fight will mark nearly his 20th fight when counting his amateur record.

"I've been around a little bit longer than some people think," Dunham said. "It's all moving fast, but I like the pace it's going and I'm comfortable with who the UFC is giving me. I feel like my skills are ready for the level I'm at and I'm happy with it."

In his last fight against Griffin, Dunham chose to give up his training schedule at Xtreme Couture, where the two have practiced together for more than year.

Now that he's not fighting a teammate, Dunham says he's been back at his normal gym to prepare for this fight and even got some advice from Griffin, who lost a unanimous decision to Sherk in 2008.

"Our relationship is exactly the same," said Dunham about Griffin and Xtreme Couture. "Right after our fight he took a short-notice fight against Takanori Gomi and I was there trying to help him out.

"He's fought Sherk before, and he was able to give me a couple pointers. Nothing too specific; he just told me to not buy too much into this whole 'Sherk is an unstoppable wrestler thing.'"

While Dunham looks forward to the possibility of a No. 1 contender fight in his near future, another one of his teammates is preparing to fight the belt right now.

Fellow Xtreme Couture member Gray Maynard recently earned a shot at defending champion Frankie Edgar with a decision win over Kenny Florian at UFC 118 in August.

In addition to training with one another, the two fought once before while still in their amateur careers. Maynard won by majority decision.

If the two undefeated lightweights continue performing as well as they have, it's possible that Dunham will have to face another one of his teammates to get the belt he wants.

Although the two have grown closer since their first meeting, Dunham says that likely wouldn't stop them from going at it if the time came.

"We're a ways off before there is even a chance of that," Dunham said. "Gray has helped me a lot since I started at Randy's, so it would be a little different than fighting Tyson, but it's definitely not out of the question by any means."

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting

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