TRAINING: Get up, eat and go to training. Eat and rest in the afternoon, back to training in the evening. Sometimes relax on the beach in between training sessions.

When and why did you start training for fighting? After I saw my friend from practice having his first fight, I wanted to fight myself. I was 17 when I had my first fight (it was an amateur shooto tournament) and I won three fights in a night and I was hooked.

What ranks and titles have you held? European WFCA champion, Amateur European Shooto champion. Third in BJJ European championship, three-time Dutch BJJ champion,
three-time Dutch grappling champion

Do you have any heroes? Not really, but I love to watch all the fighters from the Blackzilians

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? This is my big chance; it's the most important fight of my career so far.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I didn't finish college because I followed my dream as a fighter. I went to college to become an electrician.

What was your job before you started fighting? Along with my fighting, I always gave MMA class and did private classes.

Favorite grappling technique: Kimura

Favorite striking technique: All the boxing

• Pro since 2005

• Nine wins by KO, eight by submission

• 15 first round finishes