Perth – UFC featherweight Jack Jenkins is fighting on home soil when he takes on Don Shainis at UFC 284 on Saturday night.
“The only advice I got from some athletes who have gone through similar things was to try and slow down and take it in a little bit because it goes really quick. My weight’s good. I’m not stressed about that. For me it’s just taking it all in, enjoying the process of being here, and getting to fight day in good shape,” Jenkins told reporters on Wednesday.
Fighting on such a big event on home soil would get into the heads of many young fighters, but Jenkins seems to have gotten a good grasp on being in the moment when it comes to such a big event.
“I think I was pretty lucky in the path that I took to get here. I was the number one guy in Australia for a few years before I got my shot on contenders. Contenders is kind of a halfway house for the big show which is the UFC. So I think I’ve kind of been broken in on my way here. It kind of feels normal to me now,” he said.
“You don’t know when you get out there in that big arena in front of the Perth crowd whether it’s going to turn around, but you don’t know what you don’t know. I’m just taking it as it comes.”
Jenkins takes on Shainis who comes into enemy territory to fight on UFC 284. The travel to a different country is something that fighters have to take as part of the job.
“That’s what he’s doing now flying in from I think he’s from the east coast. I did that trip last time, and I did it on short notice so I know it’s pretty tough,” Jenkins said.
“If I’m honest I want him here in good shape. I want to be able to put on my skill set against someone who’s going to stand there and go.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Jack Jenkins above. Jenkins takes on Don Shainis at UFC 284 on Saturday night.
