Long before Tyrell Fortune found himself climbing the UFC heavyweight ranks, he had already built a reputation on the wrestling mat. A two-time NCAA junior champion, NCAA Division II national champion, Wrestler of the Year, Team USA representative and later a student assistant wrestling coach at Grand Canyon University, Fortune spent years pursuing excellence in a sport that offered prestige but little financial security.Mixed martial arts came later. So did Bellator, the PFL and eventually the UFC.Ahead of his second UFC outing against Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, Fortune believes the foundations laid in those years still give him an edge over anyone in the cage.“I think I’m still able to outplay everyone with my fight,” Fortune told TimesofIndia.com ahead of their UFC Fight Night bout. “Wrestling is where I started and it is my dominant martial art. But I think I’m stronger, faster and better than him in every position.”Fortune has previously acknowledged that the decision to move into mixed martial arts was driven by practicality as much as ambition. The financial opportunities simply were not there in the amateur fight.Bellator signed him while still pursuing international wrestling, and by 2016 he had fully committed himself to MMA, embarking on a professional career that would take him through Bellator and the PFL before finally landing a UFC contract.His arrival in the UFC was under far from ideal circumstances.Fortune accepted the opportunity with a 12-day notice against Marcin Tybura in March this year. He won, though the night was briefly overshadowed by a rare gaffe by famed UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, who mistakenly announced Tybura the winner initially. The result, however, left him with little doubt that he belongs among the elite heavyweights of the sport.“He told me that I can fight a difficult situation and make the best of the 12 days I had to prepare for my UFC debut.“It made me more confident and reassured me that I was in the right place and that I could hang with these guys.”This time, the preparation was completely different. Instead of a rushed field, Fortuna enjoyed a full rise, something he believes made all the difference.“I feel very prepared and ready. I had a full training camp, and after already being in the UFC, I made sure to stay in shape and keep training at a good pace. I feel like I did a lot of work during this camp, so I feel very prepared.“I could just say stay in good shape, focus on cardio, and push my cardio. It really is. I’ve focused on myself to be well-rounded and prepared for anything that can happen.”Opposite him will be Kuniev, a bigger heavyweight who enjoys advantages in height and reach on the card. The Russian body is 1-1 in the UFC, and like Fortune will try to assert itself in the division. But Fortune is undeterred by the challenge.“No challenge. I don’t think there’s anything difficult about it. Most guys are at least an inch or two taller than me because I’m about 6’2″ or 6’3″. So I’m used to guys who are at least an inch or two taller than me. One of my main training partners is 6’7″, so I’m used to dealing with heights.”Nor does he believe there is a particular area where his opponent holds the upper hand. Asked where Kuniev is most vulnerable if the fight unfolds on Fortune’s terms, his answer was blunt.“Everywhere. I’m better than him everywhere.”Trust is not without context. Fortune rebuilt the momentum before earning his UFC opportunity, stringing together back-to-back stoppage wins after his PFL stint and carrying that form into the Octagon. A win over Kuniev, who currently sits one spot above him in the rankings, would bring him another step closer to the division’s top contenders.“I’m number nine now, and he’s number eight. So I think I’ll move one place in the ranking. My next opportunity, I think, will be even higher in the ranking. As long as I keep moving in the ranking and reach the belt, that’s what I want.”For all the milestones that have marked his sports career — from national wrestling titles to Bellator main events and now the UFC — Fortune insists that very little has changed in the way he approaches competition.“Nothing. Nothing changes. Same job, same mission, same goals as always. Just go out there, dominate, win the fight and keep going.”(Watch UFC Fight Night – Ankalaev vs Rountree Jr. on July 25, from 9:30 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD and Sony LIV.)