Schiavo wants to 'take a bite out of' Ecklund at UFC 89

Samy "The Dog" Schiavo is itching for a win. There's no denying he's game to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship stage and show what he's made of when talks of his time after his loss at UFC Fight Night 13 in April.

"I started training one week after the (Clay) Guida fight," he said. "I was so disappointed that I was hungry to train."

And aside from a temporary move in gym facilities, that is what Schiavo has done non-stop, training and preparing to make his return to the promotion this Saturday in Birmingham, England.

"I consider the UFC a new challenge," he stated. "I forgot all the wins I had before (and) only focus about winning in the UFC.

"In MMA you can win one day and lose the next -- especially in the lightweight division of the UFC -- so for the moment I'm only thinking about winning my next fight."

At UFC 89, Schiavo is tasked with facing Per Ecklund, a fighter also eager to rebound after losing his UFC debut in January.

"I think Per did not show all his capacity in his first fight," said Schiavo of Ecklund. "And it's the same for me.

"Clay had a game plan where he was not able to stand with me (and) I was very frustrated by that. I hope Per will do more standing up (in our fight)."

There's no denying Schiavo loves to scrap, as he commented, "I want a fight of true men -- of blood, heart and courage.

"My first UFC experience was in Midwest USA versus a big star, and the crowd was against me. Now the UFC is in my home, so it's like my playground -- The Dog playground -- and I will bite very hard!"

At 33 years old, Schiavo knows that now is the time if he wants to make a statement, which he plans on continuing to make sooner than later.

"I can't wait too long before fighting (again)," he said. "I have three fights on my contract (including this Saturday's), if I do well I will maybe fight three or four months later."

In the stacked 155-pound division, it's going to be tough for anyone to maintain consistent winning due to the depth of the weight class, as he well knows.

"What such big talented fighters there are," stated Schiavo of the UFC's lightweight division. "The caliber is so high (and) all the guys are good."

Having said that, he looks at such a challenge both this weekend and in the long run with a decidedly philosophical slant few others might.

"For me, winning or losing is not so important, because I know the game," he said. "Like Rudyard Kipling wrote, 'If you can meet with triumph and disaster; and treat those two impostors just the same; you'll be a man, my son!'"