There's little question Jon Madsen's UFC career has been a trial by fire.
The UFC heavyweight had three professional fights under his belt and an amateur wrestling victory over Brock Lesnar when he joined the cast of "The Ultimate Fighter 10."
Madsen (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) picked up some new skills on the reality show, but when it came time to fight under the bright lights, he understandably went back to his wrestling roots.
That style didn't exactly endear him to fans. Sure, he won his first three fights in the octagon, but he played it safe and didn't go for the finish.
Going into his fight this past Saturday against Gilbert Yvel (36-16-1 MMA, 0-3 UFC) at UFC 121, Madsen kicked that mindset to the curb and threw caution to the wind.
"I had that in my head going into the fight," the undefeated Madsen today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "I knew either I was going to get knocked out or I was knocking this guy out. That's the only way I was going to leave that cage."
It didn't look that way this past Saturday, at least at first. Madsen and Yvel circled each other for a minute-plus and stared. But the second Yvel planted his feet, Madsen shot across the canvas and slammed the Dutch fighter to the mat.
Three quarters of a minute later, the South Dakotan had his hand raised after issuing Yvel a ground-and-pound beatdown. Finally, some job security (Yvel, on the other hand, is likely out of a job inside the octagon).
"Every fight I've had I've felt like one-and-done, so there's really no pressure as far as that stuff goes," Madsen said. "But I needed to show the UFC that I can finish."
And Madsen, a former football and track star in high school, said his new attitude is here to stay.
"It comes down to having big balls and a little aggression," he said.
Sadly, there was no added bonus at the end of the night for his impressive TKO. Cain Velasquez smashed Brock Lesnar in the evening's headliner and sent the crowd into orbit in the night's only other knockout finish. But that's just the way it goes, Madsen said.
"Anything can happen at any time," Madsen said. "You never have anything on lockdown. I'll have another opportunity, and hopefully I'll get one of those bonuses."
Per the usual, Madsen said he'll fight whomever the UFC puts in front of him. But with some prodding by MMAjunkie.com, he welcomed the idea of a rematch with Brendan Schaub, who stopped him in the quarterfinals of "TUF 10" and was also victorious this past Saturday in a meeting with former contender Gabriel Gonzaga.
"Absolutely I'd like a rematch with Schaub," he said. "He looked good in the fight. I'd love that opportunity."
Whatever the UFC has in store, though, he'll do his best to avoid snoozers from here on out.
"I'm still learning and evolving as a fighter, and I'm doing it on the biggest stage in the world," Madsen said. "That adds a little more excitement to it. With my wrestling background, thankfully if I get into a close situations that's where I want to be. I've just go to get in there and be prepared (for) every fight."
For complete coverage of UFC 121, check out the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.com.
MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
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