NICK KLEIN IS GETTING EVERYTHING HE HOPED
Nick Klein, a graduate from season eight of Dana White’s Contender Series about to make his UFC debut on Saturday against Mansur Abdul-Malik, wants to make it clear that he is no overnight success.
“Honestly, man, it only took me eight years,” laughs Klein, who nonetheless has embraced the grind that has led him to Seattle, hence the nickname “Blue Collar.”
“It came about just because of the way I live my regular life,” said the Wisconsin native. “I do a lot of construction work, a lot of concrete stuff, I live kind of rural and I’m just the fix-it man around the house, doing gardening and raising animals. So ‘Blue Collar’ kind of got stuck to me from my peers and you can’t give yourself a nickname. So once they picked it, that’s what I was rolling with.”
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I do make it clear that I prefer his old moniker, “The Amish Hammer,” a shave and a haircut – and the reality that he’s not Amish – killed that one off. So “Blue Collar” it is, and that work ethic means putting in the time when no one else wants to, and being the first in the gym and the last one to leave. It’s not glamorous, but often, that hard work leads to opportunities, which was the case when his teammate, Wes Schultz, got injured and was unable to compete on the season finale of the Contender Series last October.
“We had our Saturday sparring practice and I was supposed to fight the Saturday before that Tuesday of Contender’s,” Klein recalls. “Wesley had that fight scheduled, and in our rounds, he popped a rib and it wasn’t looking good at all.”
Well, it was starting to look good for Klein, who shares a manager – Jason House – with Schultz. There was already a teammate in the Pura Vida gym in Milwaukee who was ready to fill in for Klein’s fight. As far as Klein, he was more than prepared to make the trip to Las Vegas to fight Heraldo Souza.
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“I told my coaches, let’s give Jason House a call,” he said. “If Wes ain’t taking this fight, this is my opportunity. I’m in prime shape against an opponent that I think I could do well against. They ended up sticking me in and I’m like, ‘This is my moment. It’s time to show the whole world that I deserve to be here.’”
It only took Klein 37 seconds to make his point, as he submitted Souza via rear naked choke and picked up a UFC contract. Did it come sooner than he expected? Absolutely, but the way he sees it, he was closing in on a roster spot.
“I figured, if anything, by the next season (of DWCS) I would’ve had another win or two and they would’ve put me on,” said Klein, 6-1 as a pro with a reported 7-1 amateur slate. “I was hopeful, and I made a promise to myself and my girl and my kids that if I didn’t see a major promotion by the end of 2025 that I would hang it up and just kind of go back to doing regular life and be there for my family and stuff way more. But luckily the call came when it did and I took advantage of every second.”
That he did. And yes, he did buy Schultz dinner.
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“Yeah, he’s gotten a couple perks,” laughs Klein. “So I’m throwing some gear and stuff his way and obviously speaking very highly of him as I start to make my climb here. I’ve told it to him outright and thanked him, too, not thanking him for getting hurt, but I’ve made it known to him that I know that I wouldn’t be where I’m at without him.”
Ironically, Schultz was getting a second shot on season eight of DWCS after losing on episode one to none other than Abdul-Malik. Now it’s Klein facing off against the highly touted Las Vegan, who scored a first-round stoppage of Dusko Todorovic in his UFC debut last November.
“I never actually watched Wesley’s fight against him,” admits Klein. “When I found out I was booked to fight him, I watched the first round and that was it. I heard the tide started to turn a little bit in the second round. Wesley had some success, but I didn’t want to see that part of it. I wanted to see Mansur where he was his best and most dangerous, and I cut the fight off after that. All I’ve seen of him on film is Wesley’s first five minutes against him.”
The 29-year-old hasn’t even watched anything before or after that five minutes, opting to let his coaches do that part of the preparation while he takes everything in from those coaches and Schultz.
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“My coaches obviously got to see the whole fight and they watched his UFC debut,” said Klein. “He’s a tough, strong, explosive guy. He can wrestle well, he can strike even better, and I’m expecting a good, hard, tough opponent. But I’ve got tips here from Wesley in our rounds. He kind of cues me in on things that he was doing, some tendencies that he might have. Obviously, he’s getting better and better over there at Xtreme Couture. I’ve trained there with those guys and I’ve got an immense amount of respect for that gym and everybody in it. So I know he’s improving every day, as am I.”
He’s ready. Having less than 10 fights on his record might be a red flag, but eight years chasing this dream proves that the future is now. You can hear it in his voice, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t tough times. Luckily, his lady Davita, the mother of their three kids, has kept him focused when he started to think that maybe it was time to step away from the sport.
“We first found out we were pregnant with our first child, our six-year-old, when I was 1-0 as an amateur,” Klein recalls. “And when I found out, I just looked at her and I said, ‘Well, I guess I’m going to have to just put this (fighting) on the back burner. And she stopped me. She said, ‘Stop right there. I know you can do this, and I know your mindset and I know your heart. I know you’re going to chase whatever you want to do and that you’ll be successful at it. As far as you stopping your love and your passion, that’s not going to happen. I believe in you and I know you can do it.’ She said that when she found out she was pregnant with our child and I brought up not doing it, she pushed me to stay, to keep it up and the first thing she said was, you’re not giving up on your dreams. I know you’re going to make it. So yeah, she’s a rock to me.”
That’s plenty to fight for, and Klein plans on doing just that on Saturday night. As for the emotions before the most important walk of his career, he won’t know until he gets there, but he has an idea what it will look like, at least.
“I’ll be honest with you, I keep envisioning walking into that locker room and seeing the fight kit with my name on the shorts,” he said. “That’s been the biggest thing on my mind, walking into that locker room and finally seeing that fight kit with my name. That was my dream, being in the UFC and seeing that fight kit with my name on it. That’s going to be a tough moment itself, and then it’s going to be kind of crazy. I got to go out and fight not long after seeing that kit, but it’s going to be a surreal experience, especially knowing that we’re fighting in an arena right away. I’ve spent a long time working for this and it hasn’t come easy. Every training session that I’ve put in, every practice has played into what’s going to happen on February 22nd, and there’s definitely going to be a rollercoaster of emotions before that night and leading up to it. Like I said, I know it’s going to be a crazy moment when I get to walk in and finally see those shorts with my name printed on them, and it’s going to be everything that I’ve ever hoped for.”
Don’t miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs Song, live from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington on February 22, 2025. Prelims start at 6pm ET/3pm PT, while the main card kicks off live on ESPN+ at 9pm ET/6pm PT.
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(WFRV) – The 29-year-old Wisconsin man nicknamed ‘Blue Collar’ who earned a UFC contract in October while competing in season eight of Dana White’s Contender Series is set to make his official debut on Saturday night.
Nick ‘Blue Collar’ Klein is a former Random Lake wrestler and native of Plymouth. Klein’s career fighting record is 6-1-0, with the latest fight according to his profile being the win that earned him a contract.
Oregon sends game to OT with deep 3, pulls out 77-73 win vs. No. 11 Wisconsin
Klein is set to take on 7-0-0 Mansur Abdul-Malik in a middleweight bout as part of the preliminary card for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Seattle.
The fight can be viewed on ESPN+ with the preliminary fights starting at 5 p.m.
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Uncrowned has UFC Seattle results, live round-by-round updates, start time and highlights for the Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong fight card on Saturday at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Former two-division champion Cejudo continues his pursuit of his first post-comeback win when he takes on Chinese contender Yadong in the night’s five-round bantamweight main event.
Cejudo (16-4) has lost back-to-back bouts since returning in 2023 from a three-year retirement, dropping a split decision to then-champ Aljamain Sterling in a failed shot to reclaim the UFC bantamweight belt then losing a unanimous decision to now-champ Merab Dvalishvili. A 38-year-old Olympic gold medalist wrestler, Cejudo announced his surprise retirement in 2020 following a successful bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz. He is also a former UFC flyweight champion.
He admitted to Uncrowned this week that a factor in his return to MMA was financial.
“If I had the money, I probably would never have come back,” Cejudo said. “Quite honestly, if I had Khabib [Nurmagomedov] money, s***, I’d retire too.”
Song (21-8-1, 1 NC) competes in his fifth UFC Fight Night main event in search of a win after falling short in a unanimous decision against former champion Petr Yan this past March. A 27-year-old product of Team Alpha Male, Song owns notable UFC victories over Marlon “Chito” Vera, Marlon Moraes, Ricky Simón and Chris Gutiérrez.
Ahead of UFC Seattle, he told Uncrowned that he fully intends to retire Cejudo for good.
In the night’s co-main event, middleweight dark horses Brendan Allen and Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez compete in a rematch of a 2018 bout, which took place on MMA’s regional scene and was won by Hernandez via unanimous decision.
UFC Seattle’s preliminary card starts at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, while the main card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.
Follow along with Uncrowned’s live UFC Seattle results and live blog for Saturday’s main card below.
Bantamweight: Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong
Middleweight: Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
140-pound catchweight: Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto
Featherweight: Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
Light heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker
Light heavyweight: Ion Cutelaba vs. Ibo Aslan
Featherweight: Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili via first-round submission (guillotine) at 4:30 | Watch finish
Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Nick Klein via second-round TKO (punches) at 3:24 | Watch finish
Bantamweight: Ricky Simon def. Javid Basharat via first-round knockout (punch) at 3:15 | Watch finish
175-pound catchweight: Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov via second-round TKO (punches) at 4:13 | Watch finish
Middleweight: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico via second-round TKO (punches) at 0:33 | Watch finish
Light heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas def. Raffael Cerqueira via first-round knockout (punches) at 2:12 | Watch finish
Talk about a roundabout way for Alonzo Menifield to arrive on this card. Seattle and London have somewhat similar weather, so maybe it was all meant to be after Oumar Sy dropped out of Menifield’s original March 22 matchup at UFC London, and Julius Walker was instead given a shot to make an impact in his promotion debut on Saturday.
Will the gamble pay off for Walker? It’s a green 25-year-old vs. a seasoned 37-year-old. If Menifield is on his game, he should having no issue putting the newcomer in his place after suffering recent losses to light heavyweight up-and-comers Carlos Ulberg and Azamat Murzakanov — two men with whom Walker shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath, at least not right now.
Walker is going to look for the kill early, and if he doesn’t find it, he’s done for. This fight is simply a case of not doubting the veteran, who also had a whole camp for the bout unlike his rookie counterpart.
Pick: Menifield
Deciding bonuses isn’t going to be easy come the night’s end. UFC Seattle stays at light heavyweight for the opening fight when Alonzo Menified welcomes Julius Walker to the Octagon.
Light heavyweight: Ion Cutelaba def. Ibo Aslan via first-round submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:51.
Well, the prelims were perfect. What night of action it’s been so far.
Ion Cutelaba submits Ibo Aslan, his first sub in the UFC! #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/E0bceUZYSG
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) February 23, 2025
The light heavyweight gets back-to-back features with the next two bouts. First, we should get another fast and furious affair between Ion Cutelaba and Ibo Aslan.
Cutelaba vs Aslan is LIVE NEXT on @ESPNPlus! #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/4wemruw4az
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 23, 2025
Melquizael Costa submits Andre Fili in round 1 #UFCSeattle #UFCMax pic.twitter.com/XYIk0dRcw8
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) February 23, 2025
Featherweight: Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili via first-round submission (guillotine) at 4:30
And now a submission! It’s something in the rain, I’m tellin’ ya.
Up next the always-entertaining veteran Andre Fili will take on Melquizael Costa. May the violence continue.
Fili vs Costa is LIVE NEXT on @ESPNPlus! #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/mP8LRFvtAk
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 23, 2025
Mansur Abdul-Malik is still undefeated! #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/8Pwv2kb6nH
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) February 23, 2025
Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Nick Klein via second-round TKO (punches) at 3:24.
This card is getting out of hand, folks. Every fight is madness.
This spinning elbow from Nick Klein 😮💨 #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/RN1bh3qCjq
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2025
Can the finish streak continue? I sure hope so. The middleweights get after it once again. It’s Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein.
Abdul-Malik vs Klein is LIVE NEXT on @ESPNPlus! #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/RnQIMydk0v
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 23, 2025
Bantamweight: Ricky Simon def. Javid Basharat via first-round knockout (punch) at 3:15
OK, Seattle. CALM DOWN. Good luck to everyone in topping that.
OMGpic.twitter.com/2rIDtrZRYN
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 23, 2025
Another Washington native returns to action, as Ricky Simon collides with Javid Basharat in a bantamweight affair.
Simon vs Basharat is LIVE NEXT on @ESPNPlus! #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/LzJJkbs6dd
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 23, 2025
These things happen in MMA.pic.twitter.com/ljvBB13Jx2
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 23, 2025
Austin Vanderford finishes Nikolay Veretennikov #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/G65bxfqTT5
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) February 23, 2025
Catchweight (175 pounds): Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov via second-round TKO (punches) at 4:13
There was a little bit of extra action after that one. Wild scenes out here.
Don’t miss this one 👀@VeretennikovMMA vs @AustinV170MMA
[ #UFCSeattle is LIVE now on @ESPNPlus 📺 ] pic.twitter.com/D7qY3P5maW
— UFC (@ufc) February 22, 2025
Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Austin Vanderford will be a rare UFC catchweight bout at 175 pounds. The fight will be the UFC debut of Vanderford — the husband of UFC veteran Paige VanZant. He appeared destined for the promotion years ago when on Contender Series, but instead enjoyed a stint with Bellator before this opportunity arose. On the other hand, Veretnnikov seeks a rebound win after falling short in his debut last August.
Veretennikov vs Vanderford is LIVE NEXT on @ESPNPlus! #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/TNmnA7HwTn
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 22, 2025
Nursulton Ruziboev finishes Eric McConico in round 2 #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/pCvI1FfpoS
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) February 22, 2025
Middleweight: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico via second-round TKO (punches) at 0:33
Main Card (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Prediction: Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker
205 pounds: Alonzo Menifield (-250) vs. Julius Walker (+200)
Main card next
Cutelaba def. Aslan
The last prelim
Costa def. Fili
First of two featherweight fights in Seattle
Abduk-Malik def. Klein
Another finish?
Simon def. Basharat
Up next
Vanderford def. Veretennikov
“Mr. VanZant” has arrived
Ruziboev def. McConico
POPOVICH REPORTEDLY NOT EXPECTED TO RETURN TO SPURS THIS SEASON
Check out the best photos from Mansur Abdul-Malik’s second-round TKO win over Nick Klein at UFC Fight Night 252 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photos by Steven Bisig-Imagn Images; via UFC; MMA Junkie)
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