Be ready for anything.

That’s the lesson Cole Smith learned during his time in Thailand and that’s the attitude that he’ll bring to Fight Night Ottawa, where he has a short notice fight against Mitch Gagnon.

The Squamish, BC native is the Battlefield Fight League’s bantamweight champion and will be making his UFC debut when he replaces injured Brian Kelleher on Saturday.

Gagnon has not been in the Octagon since December of 2016 when he lost a unanimous decision to Matthew Lopez at UFC 206, coming off a two-year layoff. He enters on a two-fight losing streak having also lost to former UFC champion Renan Barao in December of 2014.

Smith dismisses his opponents inactivity and believes he’ll see a top quality effort at the Canadian Tire Centre.

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TSN MMA Show - Episode 88

Aaron discusses the reaction to Rory MacDonald's post-fight speech, Jacare's inability to secure a title shot and a preview of UFC Fight Night in Ottawa with guests Walt Harris and Cole Smith.

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“He’s a professional, he’s been in the game for a long time, he’s had more UFC fights than I’ve had professional fights,” Smith told the TSN MMA Show. “I’m not taking him lightly, he’s going to come in ready, he’s going to come in good shape. I’m expecting the best Mitch Gagnon.”

The 30-year-old was confident taking the fight on short notice because he was anticipating the call and when the top promotion asks, you don’t hesitate.

“It was a short notice, but not really, I was on top of my training and on top of my diet and I was being prepared,” said Smith. “Then the guy got injured and Jason House phoned my brother Kasey, I was on my way to the gym and he told me to step it up because I’m going to be fighting in about three weeks.”

“If the UFC bangs on your door, you better answer because you only get one chance, so if you want it you better take it. Doesn’t matter if it’s short notice or not, you better take it.”

Smith spent time training in Thailand thanks to a connection with former UFC fighter Jeremy Kennedy and it was during his time there that he honed the skill of being prepared to fight, no matter who was across the ring or cage.

“I took a lot of Muay Thai fights out there, as many fights as I could and the interesting thing about that is you don’t know who you’re fighting,” said Smith. “I would ask my coach or my trainers to get me a Muay Thai fight and they would say ‘no problem, you’re fighting next Wednesday,’ who am I fighting? ‘We have no idea.’”

“You have no idea how many fights he has, he could have 100 fights and he could have none, so it was always super interesting and it was a great experience.”

Smith does not just plan to win in the UFC, he also plans to entertain.

“I bring a little bit more charisma to the bantamweight division,” said Smith. “Most of those guys are a little bit boring, they’re not exciting on the mic, they’re not exciting to listen to, I think people are going to be stoked when I’m behind the mic and talking a little bit.”