Meet TUF finalist Ryan Loder

Ryan Loder

Age: 33
Record: 6-1
Nickname: Man of Steel
Division: Middleweight
Opponent: Rob Valentin (10-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Submission of Tom Theocharis in the first round, point victory over Omran Chaaban

About the road to the UFC

Ryan Loder

“I usually sit on this side and watch my teammates (during interviews), so to be on this side now is a dream come true. I've seen this over and over again, I've played it out in my head and I've put myself in this position many times. Being here on this side feels natural. It feels like I'm meant to be here.”

About his TUF experience

“It was tough, that's for sure. It was great. It took me out of my element and put me in a place where I can grow a lot. I think discomfort makes you grow a lot more, and I feel like I was there. (Coach) Valentina (Shevchenko) showed that she would do a fight camp like a real training camp, and I grew a lot from that. Most of my stuff comes more from wrestling, and she had a lot of Muay Thai style. I got out of my element, trained with guys that I might fight later, and then became friends with them and learned a lot from them afterward.”

About opponent Rob Valentin

Rob Valentine

“I'm looking forward to it. Yes, I feel great for the fight. They didn't show that either. I told Dana White (after my first win) when they said, 'OK, who do you want to fight (in the second round)?' And I said Omran (Chaaban) for the first fight, but all three are bad opponents for me (so it doesn't matter). They're all strikers and I'm a wrestler. I have to dictate where the fight (against Valentin) goes.”

On Shevchenko’s lack of water at “TUF”

Valentina Shevchenko

“I don't usually drink water when I train. It's not a big deal for me. I usually drink a lot of water before training anyway. There was only one time (Shevchenko) said that. If people wanted water, they could get it. She never said, 'Oh no – you can't get water.' Most people just listened. I didn't get water – it just made you a little bit stronger mentally.”

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.