At the very beginning of the year, Eric Wisely was an unknown fighter to most people. But, on Jan. 9, when reports that Hermes Franca had retired started circulating, people wondered who knocked him into retirement.

Meet Eric Wisely - a 25-year-old fighter from Clinton, Iowa. On Jan. 8, he stepped into the ring against Franca, and came out with a first-round victory - and the Max Fights DM interim lightweight title. Were fans shocked that the athletic relative-unknown was able to beat the former WEC lightweight champion? Yes. Even Wisely was.

Although he has not been signed by a big promotion yet, he's patiently waiting to get the call from the organization he wants most. Currently, he is training with Spencer Fisher, and has spent time with the Miletich Fighting Systems camp, training in his strengths - stand up and jiu-jitsu - and his weakness - wrestling.

Fresh off of his recent victory, FiveKnuckles.com had a chance to catch up with Wisely to talk about his wins, his future, and his nickname.

FiveKnuckles.com: It must've been a great start to 2010 with a big win over former lightweight contender Hermes Franca.

Eric Wisely: Yes! And at the end of 2009, I just beat Scott McAfee, who was a WEC vet and who was supposedly being scouted by the UFC. So that's two back-to-back matches with good wins.

FiveKnuckles.com: Great work. And what was it like to beat Franca?

Eric Wisely: I think everybody was... not underestimating me, but surprised at how it went. I was ready for a war. I'm kinda surprised, myself, how it went, too. I didn't expect to win in the first round... the first half of the round.

FiveKnuckles.com: And so after those big wins, where are you looking to go from here?

Eric Wisely: Hopefully, the UFC. The WEC is a little light for me. I mean, I can get to 145 lbs., but I'm comfortable at 155. I've fought some heavier guys. I've fought some 170 guys, some 160 guys. I don't sit at that high. I usually sit about 165 when I'm eating. Then I usually just shed it off. I usually don't cut. The most I've ever cut was four pounds. And that's not a lot in this game. A lot of people cut 20 or 30 pounds. I think that's crazy.

FiveKnuckles.com: So going to the UFC - that's your main goal for 2010, then?

Eric Wisely: Yes - it's a big goal! Yeah, definitely. With the two last people I've beaten...

FiveKnuckles.com: And do you have a next opponent or a next fight scheduled? Or a tentative one?

Eric Wisely: Right now, I know I have one in April (late April or early May). That's assuming I don't get signed (to the UFC). That's for the title for Pinnacle Combat against John Strawn. We haven't signed anything. Waiting until we found out what was going to happen after this one. Actually, I just talked to the producer of Pinnacle, and he asked if I was going to be around for it! In a way, I hope so; and in a way, I hope not.

FiveKnuckles.com: Because if you get the call from the UFC, you're going to go, right?

Eric Wisely: Yeah. Oh, yeah.

FiveKnuckles.com: So what are you...