Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Nick Klein’s heart, grit, and determination secured him his UFC contract
Image credit: ClutchPoints

Nick Klein’s journey to the UFC is a testament to perseverance and unwavering dedication. In a recent interview with RG, the rising star opened up about his path to the Octagon, his impressive debut, and his aspirations for the future.

Despite his recent success on Dana White’s Contender Series, Klein remains remarkably grounded. When asked if his life has changed since his big win, he simply replied, “No, not really. Just back to my day job, going to practice. Just the same things that got me there.” This humble attitude underscores Klein’s commitment to the work ethic that propelled him to this point.

Klein’s approach to fight preparation is equally no-nonsense. He explained that when it’s time for fight camp, he “takes off work and focuses on the fight.” This laser-like focus was evident in his Contender Series performance, where he wasted no time in securing a victory. “There was no feeling out process whatsoever,” Klein recalled. “It was just like, you go in and get that done.” This mentality resulted in a record-breaking performance that caught the attention of UFC brass and fans alike.

The fighter’s now-viral “Jon Jones” moment wasn’t a spontaneous outburst but a calculated move. Klein revealed, “I planned on saying it. But only had I done something kind of impressive.” This strategic approach to self-promotion demonstrates Klein’s understanding of the importance of making a memorable impression in the competitive world of MMA.

Looking ahead, Klein has a clear vision for his UFC career. “There’s a number of names at the bottom, you know, bottom of the roster, which is where I’m gonna start,” he stated. His goals are straightforward: stay healthy, win impressively, and ultimately transition to fighting full-time. This pragmatic approach speaks volumes about Klein’s maturity and long-term planning.

While Klein boasts a formidable wrestling background, his fighting style prioritizes efficiency over unnecessary brawls. “I’m just not interested in getting into wars like that,” he explained. “I got to keep a healthy head on my shoulders. You know, I got kids and stuff at home.” This measured approach to combat sports sets Klein apart in a field often dominated by brash personalities and reckless aggression.

Klein’s journey to the UFC is marked by relentless dedication and calculated risk-taking. He isn’t a loudmouth self-promoter but a fighter focused on proving himself through his skills in the Octagon. With his commitment to improvement and intelligent fighting style, Klein is poised to make a significant impact in the UFC in the coming years.

For fans eager to follow Klein’s progress, he offered a simple invitation: “Just give me a follow on Instagram, man, at Combat Klein. And, yeah, keep an ear out, keep an eye open, and hopefully in January or February or March, you know, I’ll be in there.” As the MMA world watches, Nick Klein stands ready to prove that hard work, dedication, and strategic thinking can lead to success at the highest levels of the sport.

This article first appeared on UFC on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Yankees’ planned fire sale after Aaron Judge injury epitomizes roster weakness
MLB

Yankees’ planned fire sale after Aaron Judge injury epitomizes roster weakness

Would the New York Yankees still be a heavyweight contender without Aaron Judge? Most fans would doubt it. What comes as a shock is that Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, appears to agree. According to MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY, Cashman had explored the option of selling ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline (6 p.m. EST) if Judge’s flexor strain had turned out to be something worse. Martino wrote this: “[On Saturday], we relayed that the Yankees were floating some of their free-agent-to-be relievers in preliminary trade talks. We have since learned through league sources that last week the Yanks brought up Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt in talks with at least one other club.” It would be strange to see a team with a record well above .500 shop core hitters at the deadline. Both Bellinger and Goldschmidt — hitting .281/.333/.507 with 19 home runs and .283/.341/.419 with eight home runs respectively entering Tuesday — have been valuable producers for the Yankees this year. Goldschmidt signed a one-year deal with the Bronx Bombers over the offseason while Bellinger was acquired via trade with the Cubs. He is signed through 2026 but has a player option at the end of the year. Either player would bring a nice haul back to the Yankees. Of course, the reigning AL MVP’s injury doesn’t seem to be a season-altering, ‘abandon ship’ type of event. Optimistically, Judge should be back soon. But this does serve to illustrate how the team’s success is dependent on one player. Beyond Judge, the Yankees’ batting order doesn’t feature a star-caliber player, or at least a player the lineup can be built around. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, New York lacks enough solid hitters to be considered a worthy contender without Judge. The Yankees’ three bottom-of-the-order hitters — Austin Wells (.214), Anthony Volpe (.213) and newest acquisition Ryan McMahon (.223) — all own batting averages below .230 entering Tuesday. And this doesn’t include J.C. Escarra (.205), Oswald Peraza (.152) or even Ben Rice (.229). If Judge was lost for the season, selling wouldn’t have been a bad idea. He is insoluble glue holding the battered Yankees’ roster together, especially with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt gone for the year. No one on the trade market could replace him, but with Judge coming back, the Yankees might have enough firepower to at least limp to the finish line.

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
NFL

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice

Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.

Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals Reportedly Discussing Blockbuster Trade
MLB

Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals Reportedly Discussing Blockbuster Trade

The St. Louis Cardinals were working on sending Nolan Arenado to the Houston Astros last December, until the All-Star third baseman stepped in and invoked his no-trade clause. Seven months later, the exchange could be back on the table. According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Arenado's name has come up in trade talks between the Astros and Cardinals. However, there is "no momentum toward a deal" as of Tuesday morning. The Astros found their Alex Bregman replacement in Isaac Paredes shortly after Arenado turned them down, getting him back from the Chicago Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade. Paredes just suffered a hamstring injury, though, reopening the hole at third base. Arenado, 34, would still have to approve any trade to Houston. But with the Astros leading the AL West and the Cardinals running fifth in the NL Wild Card race, he has a more clear picture to work off of this time around. Through 94 games this season, Arenado is batting .235 with 10 home runs, 15 doubles, 43 RBIs, 43 runs, a .664 OPS and a 1.2 WAR. And while he hasn't won a Gold Glove since 2022, Arenado still boasts six defensive runs saved this year. The eight-time All-Star carries a $32 million salary for 2025, although $5 million is being paid off by the Colorado Rockies. The same goes for his $27 million salary in 2026, which leads into his $15 million salary for 2027. The trade deadline is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Top Prospect Could Force Canadiens Hand at Training Camp
NHL

Top Prospect Could Force Canadiens Hand at Training Camp

David Reinbacher impressed Montreal Canadiens management enough for general manager Kent Hughes to deal fellow right defense prospect Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for sophomore forward Zachary Bolduc. Because of his ability to shut down the rush, cut off checkers at the blueline and then spring a pass or use his feet to skate his way out of trouble consistently, the six-foot-four Austrian defender (despite limited experience on North American ice) has many believers. The idea that Reinbacher and Ivan Demidov could play out their Calder seasons together in 2025-26 doesn't seem so far-fetched, because Reinbacher emerged as the Laval Rocket's top dog on defense, during his first taste of American Hockey League playoff hockey. For the fans that enjoy Kaiden Guhle's responsible style of hockey, and ability to scan and react, breaking potential oddman rushes, thanks to great anticipation, foot speed and defensive details, Reinbacher displays many of those tools. You could argue that Reinbacher has a much higher offensive upside, but in any world where both are playing in your top four defense, as a head coach, you would feel incredibly spoiled with riches. The pair are 23 and 20 years old respectively, so there is significant development leash ahead. There is a very good argument to be made that while Reinbacher looked like an NHL player during the AHL playoffs, he has played just 21 games of North American regular-season professional hockey under his belt, so further seasoning isn't going to overcook the prospect, but ensure he is ready when he makes the jump. However, there are exceptions, and if Reinbacher can follow up his brilliant playoff debut with the Rocket, where he registered six points in 13 games, and emerged as an all-situations defenseman, that head coach Pascal Vincent leaned on for big and important minutes, with a great training camp in the fall, he could put himself on the fast track to the big league. Reinbacher has tremendous upside, and is still learning to use his big frame to punish opponents along the boards and in front of the net, but once he integrates some added physicality and some daring offensive sequences into his game with more regularity, he could put himself and the Canadiens blueline in a great spot to accelerate their rebuild exponentially in 2025-26. The playoffs are the standard for the Canadiens now, regardless of what the media might say, and it wouldn't be wise to suggest to any of the players that the team will regress and achieve anything less than another playoff berth next season. Montreal's 2023 fifth overall selection is hoping to earn his stripes and help push the team beyond the first round, and perhaps further in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!