Refocused at 170 pounds, Phil Baroni seeks return to UFC

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Never one to shy away from putting on a show, the always-entertaining Phil Baroni (13-10 MMA, 3-5 UFC) is seeking a return to the biggest stage in MMA.

"I'm hoping (to return to) the UFC," Baroni recently told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "That's where I'd like to fight. That's the biggest show right now. That's where you want to be if you're fighting in America right now. That's where I want to fight."

And while "The New York Bad Ass" left the UFC in 2005 on a four-fight losing streak, the 32-year-old believes this time would be a different story.

"In training, I've seen [my improved conditioning] a lot," Baroni said. "Sparring with guys like (Josh) Koscheck and (Jon) Fitch and (Mike) Swick at AKA, I used to get tired by the third five-minute round. And now I'm doing five, five-minute rounds with those guys. My shape is better."

Baroni credits his improved performance and outlook on a decision to drop from middleweight to 170 pounds.

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