If it felt like something was missing from UFC’s Ottawa card in June, it might be because after appearing in Saskatoon, Montreal, Halifax and Quebec City, Chad Larpise was not one of the fighters competing on the card.

It was the first Canadian based card that Laprise missed since joining the UFC.

At UFC Vancouver that situation will be rectified when the Chatham-born, Montreal-based fighter returns to the Octagon to face Thibault Gouti in the featured bout of the Fight Pass prelims.

Despite not having a fight on the card, Laprise attended the event in Ottawa and even took part in a few of the activities such as a skills class that was put on for Special Olympic athletes.

At the time he said he was itching for a spot on the just announced Vancouver card.

“It was fun to be there but it killed me not be fighting," said Laprise. "If I could have every one of my fights in Canada I would do that.”

The 30-year-old's last bout was a world away from his Canadian fan base as he took on Ross Pearson at the UFC Brisbane card headlined by Mark Hunt and Frank Mir in March of this year.

Laprise accepted the fight on a week's notice after Pearson's initial opponent was forced off the card with Visa issues. He dropped a split decision in Australia, his second consecutive defeat after winning his first 10 fights.

While the Canadian would like another shot at Pearson, he's happy with his Vancouver match-up and not interested in trying to angle the UFC for specific opponents.

Interestingly, Laprise's team at Tristar has a very recent history with Gouti, as fellow Montreal-based fighter Olivier Aubin-Mercier defeated him with a third-round rear-naked choke on the Ottawa card.

For Laprise, allowing his coaches to focus on the opponent while he works on his own skills is a key part of his plan heading into this fight.

“My coaches know him a little bit, but I didn’t focus on him at all that’s the mistake I made in my last two fights," said Laprise. "Trying to know my opponents too well and not focusing on myself.”

Though he isn't going into the fight totally blind, he knows that his opponent can cause trouble with his fists and with the French fighter also entering on a two-fight losing streak, Laprise is expecting his best.

“I know he’s a puncher with good technical skills but he’ll have to adjust to me in the octagon," said Laprise. "I’m going to pressure him all fight. We’ve both got something to prove so we’re going to go out there and fight hard.”