Sicilia: 'I don't know how I'm an underdog to' Choi

Sam Sicilia isn't impressed with the hype surrounding Doo Ho Choi.

Set to sling fists with "The Korean Superboy" at UFC Fight Night 79 on Saturday, Sicilia thinks Choi's impressive 12-1 resume is merely smoke and mirrors, the result of fighting low-tiered opponents on smaller shows.

"I don't (know) how I'm an underdog to a guy that's beat up his local circuit and a chump and all this stuff," Sicilia told MMAjunkie.com. "Obviously they’re pumping up their Koreans down here because it's in Korea. Go pump up your guy. When I shut him off, the stadium is going to be quiet, and I'll collect my check and go home."

As far as Sicilia's concerned, Choi's a good athlete, but isn't necessarily a fighter.

"I see an athlete that was taught how to punch," Sicilia said. "He's athletic. That's what we're here dealing with. I'm more geared toward a fight, and a fighter. I've been hit. I guarantee he hasn’t punched anybody outside the Octagon, for a real fight.

"That's what I bring to the table, is I'm the fighter. We're training for an athlete. I'm looking to do damage and shut him off. That day he's my enemy. I don't do the tap-gloves and bow-to-the-mats bullsh-t."

After nearly two years of alternating wins and losses, the 29-year-old Washingtonian is enjoying the first winning streak of his UFC career, stringing together consecutive victories over Akira Corassani, and Yaotzin Meza.

"I set goals now and really focus on how I'm going to achieve them," Sicilia said. "I want to be 3-0 (this year), and I want this to be a finish. Next year my goal is to headline a show. And I've built a case to be undefeated in 2015 is a pretty good case. Give me a big fight. I want big fights. I expect big fights, but I want to headline a show next year."