Karl Roberson fights to put Neptune on MMA map at UFC Fight Night (original) (raw)

Karl Roberson is ready to show the world what he can do.

But have no doubt, he also intends to show what his hometown of Neptune can do.

The former Scarlet Flier makes his official Ultimate Fighting Championship debut Saturday at a UFC Fight Night card in Norfolk, Virginia.

"A lot of people from where I'm from don't get chances like this," Roberson said during a phone interview with the Asbury Park Press on Wednesday morning. "I did the hard work to get here, and I want to show everyone what Neptune can do."

He'll get that opportunity when he faces Darren Stewart in a preliminary fight that will stream on UFC Fight Pass, starting at 6:30 p.m. FOX Sports 1 picks up the main card starting at 8 p.m.

The 27-year-old from the Jersey Shore earned this chance with an explosive 15-second knockout of Ryan Spann on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series – a streaming series this summer that allowed fledgling MMA fighters to showcase their talents for the UFC president.

Roberson remembered telling himself: "This is your opportunity. You've got to go farther than you have before. This is it."

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As nerve-wracking as the situation was for a fighter with just four professional MMA bouts under his belt at that time, Roberson remained calm. Out of the clinch, he started dropping elbows and Spann went down fast.

The dominant victory moved Roberson's record to 5-0 and four of those wins have come in the first round. His opponent Saturday – the London-based Stewart -- is 7-1 with one no contest.

While Roberson is a UFC rookie, he is no stranger to the fight game. He has been training in boxing and kickboxing since he was 13, starting out at places like Neptune’s Southpaw Gym and the Asbury Park Police Athletic League. Today, the former baseball player at Neptune High School trains at Killer B Combat Sports Academy in Oakhurst.

He lost the love for baseball, but discovered a new one in fighting.

"It's the purest sport," Roberson said. "It's just you and another person and the one that put in the most work usually comes out with the win."

While Roberson is focused on the task at hand in the Octagon on Saturday, he is allowing himself a few moments to take in the experience of his first fight week with UFC. And he’ll have a support group of family and friends cheering him on in Virginia.

"It's still like a dream, but you know it's real," Roberson said. "You work so hard to get somewhere and then when you get there."

Roberson exhaled before continuing.

"You get a relief. Now it's time for less pressure, more fun."

Steve Feitl: @SteveFeitl; sfeitl@gannettnj.com