UFC Winnipeg Julien Leblanc on “dream come true” debut, calls for fireworks vs. Robert Valentin

Julien Leblanc will make his octagon debut at UFC Winnipeg and does so against Robert Valentin on April 18th. When touching base on how the veteran of several Canadian regional MMA circuits feels preparing to make his first walk into the UFC cage on Saturday, Leblanc said [via MMA Canada],

“Yeah, I’m on cloud nine. It’s the right words. Feeling super pumped, feeling amazing. Like I said, feeling also grateful. Thankful to the UFC that they gave me my shot at 34 years old, but I’m planning on showing them that they made the right decision on giving me my shot and signing me.”

Responding to the notion that the UFC is seemingly amending their arbitrary age considerations for signing talent, in the event that the fighter brings an exciting style to live competition, Leblanc stated [via MMA Canada],

“Yeah, I think you’re right. One of my friends, Mandel Nallo, he fought on Contenders Series this summer and he’s really; since we’re young like we see him like beating up like high, high level UFC fighters in the gym and I always knew like this guy really had the potential to do good in the UFC and be in the UFC.”

“So he had his chance at 36 years old this summer. Got signed and knocked out the guy first round, I think, and got signed. So right off the bat that was one big motivation for me when I saw this this summer and here I am right now.”

“So I think it shows that when you’re a fighter, you don’t always choose how your path’s going to go, right. There’s a lot of things that can happen but the most important thing is to believe in yourself and not give up. You can always make the UFC give you your shot if, like you said, you’re exciting and you bring something to the table. But at the end of the day, it’s my job and our job to show them, like I said, that they did the right thing.”

At UFC Winnipeg, Julien Leblanc will be conflicted with Mike Malott vs. Gilbert Burns main event

The opponent for his UFC debut was a finalist on the Ultimate Fighter and he has had a few fights in the Octagon so far at this juncture. When asked for his thoughts on Robert Valentin and what he brings to the table in this Manitoba matchup, Leblanc quipped [via MMA Canada],

“Oh, I think he’s honestly a very tough opponent. Very good too. Very aggressive. Like he’s not scared. He’s a guy who goes in for the kill. Like people don’t know that, but I was almost made it on the Ultimate Fighter, same season as him. I was cut like right before flying out to Vegas. They took my good friend Tommy Theo [Tom Theocharis] and I was super happy for him.”

“So I’ve watched the show and I like Rob. Like he was the star of the show if I can say. I like his energies, like the way he was talking and everything. So I’ve watched his fight. I was a little bit like a fan almost, you know what I mean of him. I’ve watched his first UFC fights. So I’ve watched him a lot. Never thought I would fight him but here we go.”

“I’m going to fight him and I know it’s a good matchup for me. He’s not scared to go in the fire and I’m not scared too. I think the both of us will do; I think it’s going to create a matchup that really makes fireworks. So, I’m looking forward to it, man. Honestly, it’s going to be good and I know he’s going to be ready, but I’m going to be ready too, man.”

When responding to the notion that on these cards in the Great Fight North, there is a collective uplifting factor with Canadians carving out noticeable winning records. Touching on the perception that the Canadians are seemingly motivating each other on these cards with a partisan surge seemingly running through these kinds of contests, Leblanc said [via MMA Canada],

“Yeah, honestly like, I know Mike [Malott] always says defend the north. So we’re going to try to defend the north, for sure, April 18. Like you know, at the end of the day, you’re right. It’s like the Canadians, we go together and we lift ourselves up. You’re often in the same dressing room and you just like cheer yourself with other people. We all know each other a little bit. So it’s like; I think it’s good. It’s going to be a little bit like; I mean both guys are amazing and I wish them both the best.”

“But Mike is fighting Gilbert. Gilbert, I train with him at Kill Cliff. I know him really well too. So, I will probably be like more with; like I mean, I’ll do my own thing there. But for sure like, I’ll be also with the Kill Cliff team because they’re also my team. But I mean, like I said, at this stage and I know both guys are super respectful. I just wish them all the best to Mike and Gilbert in their fight.”

“But no, for sure like the Canadians, we’re gonna lift ourselves. Like lift ourselves up and try to defend the north and do the best as we can. But, like I mean it’s so cool that UFC has started back to come to Canada. We have very good talent here and you see it with Georges St. Pierre back then. I think like there’s even more Canadians that will come up in the next years and it’s really fun to be part of it, man.”

“Honestly like to say that I’m a UFC fighter. Like when I’m going to make that walk for the first time and I have my shorts with my name on it, it’s going to be like; I have goosebumps, man, just thinking about it. It’s what I’ve trained for and worked for all my life. Now to be there and be able to compete on… my first fight being on a Canadian card, it’s a dream come true. It’s incredible.”