I ended up just grabbing him around the throat, like Homer Simpson choking Bart. The next day, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my mom and siblings and had to explain to them why I had a black eye.

FiveKnuckles.com: This event is in Sacramento, CA and your last in Austin, TX. You've traveled the world fighting but where is your dream location?

Dave Jansen: I've never been to Hawaii, and I'd love to fight there. My favorite trips have been to Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan. I had a good time exploring Washington D.C. the morning after my fight. In order to see all the monuments before my flight home, my corner man and I had to go on a morning run with our cameras. I'm always down with being paid to travel. Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind fighting in Greece as well.

FiveKnuckles.com: Kamal Shalorus "might" be the only Iranian fighter in the WEC, if not he is definitely one of the few. Do you like to see other countries getting into MMA and producing emerging prospects?

Dave Jansen: Sure, MMA is gaining traction worldwide, and I'm sure we'll be seeing more representatives of different countries as the sport gains more acceptance. I'm all for it. I'd love to see MMA in the Olympics someday.

FiveKnuckles.com: Who is the WEC's best lightweight right now?

Dave Jansen: I'm the best fighter in the WEC's lightweight division. I might not be the most technical or naturally gifted fighter, but I'll be sure to outwork my opponents both before the fight and during the fight.

FiveKnuckles.com: Are you 100% focused on staying in the lightweight division or have you thought about dropping to featherweight where the big names and competition also exists.

Dave Jansen: I don't think the idea of cutting to 145 lbs is realistic one for me. I fought at a catch weight of 150 lbs once, and that cut seemed like a near death experience that I'd rather not repeat. I'm 100% focused at capturing the WEC lightweight belt.

FiveKnuckles.com: Where does this win put you in the WEC's stacked lightweight division?

Dave Jansen: This win will certainly put me closer towards a title shot, but I imagine I'm still a ways off. I think there are a couple guys with a bit more leverage than me at this point.

FiveKnuckles.com: Any shoutouts or thanks you'd like to send out?

Dave Jensen: Yeah. Thanks Ma Jansen! Thanks Jon Salami of Elite Athletics World for the world class training! Thanks Clayton Hires for teaching me how to box! Thanks Robert Follis for choking the living daylights out of me 1,000,000 times until I learned how to defend against that funk! I'm not sure who my sponsors are for this fight, so I guess that will have to wait for the post fight interview.Thanks to all the MMA fans out there for helping me live my dream.