UFC 181: Travis Browne is finally learning how to fight by training with Edmond Tarverdyan

During his six-year career as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Travis Browne has solidified himself as a legit threat in the heavyweight division, racking up an impressive 16-2-1 record, 7-2-1 inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Octagon.

He even got close to a title shot, but ultimately fell short in his No. 1 contender's fight against Fabricio Werdum at UFC on FOX 11 last April.

But would you believe me if I told you "Hapa" has obtained all of that success without knowing how to fight? If not, then maybe you'll believe the comments he offered up to FOX Sports.

Check it out:

"I learned as a fighter I know how to go out there and mess somebody. I know how to go out there and 'F' stuff up, but I don't know how to fight. That's one of the things that I'm learning right now. As a fighter, you kind of don't want to admit that but at the same time I'm not looking to sit here comfortably in the three-spot or four-spot -- I'm going for the championship. So any time I have a fight, I have to go back and dissect everything."

He continues:

"I did kind of the same thing after Bigfoot (Silva). For me then it was more of a lifestyle change. It was coming to a realization that I'm only going to have this for a short amount of time so I better take advantage of it and do everything I can do. This time I went into that having that mindset, but this time it's more based off of my skill and what I really need to do to take that next step to go fight for the title, win the title and defend it."

Spending the majority of his early MMA career training down at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico -- which is perhaps the most well-known and successful camp in all of MMA -- Browne announced that he'd be switching it up for his next bout against Brendan Schaub.

Though he didn't downplay or sling dirt toward his former team, he didn't acknowledge them, either.

"I'm going to do what I need to do to win fights. Right now working with Edmond, it's been an eye opener. I've been learning the ins and outs of the fight game and a little more of the technical side. I'm still a raw athlete and I'm ranked fourth. Now I'm going to learn how to fight and there's going to be some people in trouble. I'm learning how to fight. Just figuring out what I need to do to further myself."

Schaub recently stated that since Browne decided to switch from Jackson's over to Edmond's gym, it would benefit his own chances in the fight greatly, seeing as how "Big Brown" knows just what kind of training goes on down there.

Apparently, he must have been seeing the wrong things because "Hapa" is very happy with the new tricks he's learning. And when the two big men face off at UFC 181 on Dec. 6, 2014 inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Travis intends to "punish" Brendan for his comments.

And now that the former basketball star knows how to actually fight, it may not end well for "Big Brown."