Sherdog: Hi Mark. You're fighting Jorge Rivera tomorrow night. How do you feel about that?
Mark: Well he's a tough guy. He's a skilled guy.
Sherdog: How are you going to fight him?
Mark: I think the key wil be to stick to my strengths, feel him out, feel his timing, his adjustment.
Sherdog: Any preference as to where the fight goes?
Mark: Not really. I'll start by standing and trading with him and then just follow his lead, feel him out, see what his plan is and beat him.
Sherdog: You want to react to him?
Mark: Yes, I'm fast enough to do that. I'll be able to pick my shots, pick him off.
Sherdog: You told me before that you feel no pressure going into this fight. Why is that?
Mark: I've had a good name in this sport for a while now, and when that happens you have to learn to defuse the pressure. I just remember why it was that I got into martial arts in the first place. I love competition - that's what I do, and I'm happiest when I'm competing. That's why I'm still in this game. I just want to have fun - go in there, see what my opponent's plan is, see if I have what it takes to beat them.
Sherdog: Have you been working on anything special in preparation for this fight?
Mark: Nope - my training is always the same. I've been training my stand up with Chuck Liddel so I know it'll be good enough. I've been training my groundwork too, to keep safe there. The main thing for me will be to get out there and see what he's got.
Sherdog: So you don't see this fight as a route back into the UFC? Is that still an ambition?
Mark: The UFC is still interested. But I've changed my attitude to them recently. Previously, when I'd hear that the UFC was interested, I'd stop fighting, so that I wouldn't have a commitment that clashed with their show. Now I've realised that if they want me, they'll come to me and the best thing I can do is just to stay busy. I like to stay busy, I like to fight every six weeks or so.
Sherdog: Okay, Mark, thanks a lot. Best of luck.