UFC on FX 8: Chris Camozzi has ‘nothing to lose and everything to gain’ against ‘Jacare’ Souza

Flying under the radar in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight division is Chris Camozzi, who has reeled of four consecutive victories inside the Octagon including wins over Luiz Cane and most recently, Nick Ring at UFC 158.

Thanks to the unfortunate injury suffered by Constantinos Philippou, Camozzi will step up to face what will undoubtedly be the stiffest test of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career as he prepares to do battle against former Strikeforce 185-pound champion Ronaldo Souza at UFC on FX 8 on May 18, 2013, in Santa Catarina, Brazil.

And while facing a fighter as skilled and dangerous as "Jacare" is a test in itself, stepping up to the plate against the Brazilian submission wizard on just two week's notice will only add to the pressure.

Or will it?

According to Chris, the pressure is now completely off because most people expect him to lose. And that's just fine by him, because he'll head to Brazil knowing he has everything to gain and nothing to lose against the favored Souza.

His words from his recent appearance on "The MMA Hour:"

"How do I beat him? I take the fight to him. I can't give him too much respect as far as fighting. I have a lot of respect for him as a fighter, but, in the cage, I can't give him an inch or he'll take a mile. I think I need to get in his face, take the fight to him, push the pressure and show him that I am there to fight. I don't know if he has it in his head that he thinks it will be a walkthrough or not. As far as I'm concerned, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight. So, I think that is a more dangerous opponent. I never like to fight people who have nothing to lose. I feel like all the pressure has been taken off me because of the opponent switch."

Camozzi was originally set to take on Rafael Natal in the promotion's return to Brazil, but thanks to his new co-headlining duties, "Sapo" now fights UFC newcomer Joao Zeferino.

Souza, on the other hand, looks to make a splash in his much-anticipated Octagon debut as he puts his three-fight winning streak on the line against a red-hot Camozzi, who says he will be in 'Jacare's' face all night long.

Anyone predicting an upset?

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