Stocky and cocky kickboxer Pat Barry, aside from being a fan favorite, is also one of the most dangerous strikers competing today under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner.

So how do you explain his current two-fight losing streak and 3-4 record as a Zuffa employee?

Well, French miracles not withstanding, "HD" entered mixed martial arts (MMA) with nothing but a penchant for knocking dudes out. The ground game? Virtually non-existent, which is why he was submitted by Mirko Filipovic at UFC 115 with one of the ugliest chokes in the history of cage fighting.

The good news is that Barry has tried to repair the gaping hole in his defense by climbing the beanstalk and getting his feet wet in the land of DeathClutch giants out in Minnesota. And as "Get Hype" tells MMA Weekly, it's exactly what he needed.

"Everybody knows it, it's not a secret. Wrestling and jiu-jitsu and strength are my weakness when it comes to fighting. Punching and kicking can always get better, but it's the wrestling and grappling and what not, that's my Achilles heel. [DeathClutch] is a gym that's filled with gigantic wrestlers who all grapple, Comprido is the jiu-jitsu coach. They're all stronger than I am, they're all taller than I am, which is everyone I fight. I'm the smallest guy in the room. This is what I need to be surrounded by. The world doesn't know it yet, but [I've gained] a tremendous amount of growth in my wrestling and my jiu-jitsu and my poise while being on my back. Strength, just all around confidence, tremendous amounts. The only problem is that with all that growth and with all that gain, you now have to actually do it live. You can mimic it in practice all you want, but until you start actually doing it live, that's where the real experience comes from."

Hear more from Barry, including his thoughts on division number one contender and fellow striker extraordinaire, Alistair Overeem, after the jump.

Barry will get a chance to put his money where his mouth is against Christian Morecraft tomorrow night (Jan. 20) on the main card of the UFC on FX event, emanating from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Anyone expecting "HD" 2.0? Or just the same-old, same-old?

More on their heavyweight tilt by clicking here.