Davis looking for return to big time at HFC 10

MERRILLVILLE | As LC Davis paced around the L.A. Boxing gym Friday night, his frustration level steadily built.

His opponent, Christian Uflacker, was still en route to the official weigh-in event for Hoosier Fight Club 10, which the two headline tonight in Valparaiso. And after Uflacker arrived and stepped off the scale, Davis' frustration level went up one more notch when Uflacker failed to make weight for their featherweight bout and needed extra time to cut a half-pound.

"Yeah, it definitely frustrated me and I plan to take it out on him tomorrow," Davis told The Times. "I'm a little angry about that."

It's not exactly a smooth start to Davis' return to action after a layoff of about 15 months. Davis was cut by World Extreme Cagefighting after back-to-back losses in 2010, just a month before the WEC merged into its big brother UFC.

Davis (16-4) said a perfect storm of health, life and career met in the middle and has kept him on the sidelines since November 2010, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Raphael Assuncao at WEC 52.

"It's injury related, I had a baby, I opened a gym -- a lot of things happened at once," Davis said. "I've been out for a while, but I'm really excited to get back in there. I've been staying in shape and staying active -- I haven't just been laying on the couch for a year or so."

Davis isn't the only one coming back from a long layoff. Uflacker (3-0) has been out since a November 2009 win over Jonatas Novaes for Strikeforce. And for that reason, Davis said he shouldn't have to worry too much about the infamous "cage rust" that fighters sometimes experience after being out for prolonged periods.

"We'll have to see -- I've never had a layoff this long, so I really don't know," Davis said. "But I think I'll be fine. My opponent's had a longer layoff than me. It just lets me know I don't have to worry about cage rust because he should have it, too. If I do, then both of us have to worry about it -- so it's an even playing field."

Davis also gets a big advantage in experience - 20 fights to three for Uflacker.

"He decided to take this fight -- I think he looked out for me and wanted to fight a bigger-name opponent, I guess," Davis said. "He thinks he's ready for this, and I'm here to prove him wrong."

It's all part of Davis' plan to start working his way back to the UFC. While in the Zuffa-owned WEC, Davis went 3-2 -- picking up three straight wins to start his career there before the back-to-back losses led to his pink slip.

With experience in the WEC, the now-defunct International Fight League and Affliction, and a fight for the Japanase promotion Sengoku, Davis has plenty of tastes of the big time and wants back.

"I have no plans to finish my career on the regional circuit," Davis said. "I want to get a couple wins and get back in (the UFC). That's where I want to be, and I feel like that's where I belong. I still have a winning record with Zuffa. Hopefully it doesn't take too long. Maybe I can get in after this win."

HFC 10 is sold out and takes place at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. The co-main event features Nick Wayne vs. Larry Digiulio, and Jake Rosenbaum and Dexter Wright will meet in a highly anticipated flyweight bout.