DaytonDailyNews.com

In the world of mixed-martial arts, fighters sometimes have months to study and prepare for a specific opponent.

However, when UFC welterweight Dustin Hazelett (9-3) enters the octagon tonight at UFC Fight Night 11, he'll have had all of 14 days to prepare for his opponent, Jonathan Goulet (19-8).

So goes the lives of up-and-coming fighters, where opportunity can knock at literally any moment.

The 21-year-old Hazelett, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, grew up in West Virginia but moved to the Dayton area a few years ago to train at Jorge Gurgel's renowned MMA training center. Hazelett's career flourished, and before he was old enough to purchase a celebratory bottle of champagne, he was signed to a contract with the UFC, the world's most prominent MMA organization.

"It's my dream," said Hazelett, a former Marshall University student. "It really is."

Less than two weeks ago, Hazelett got a call from the UFC asking him if he'd be available to fill in for an injured fighter. Hazelett had remained hopeful that the organization could find him a spot on the Oct. 20 UFC 77 card in Cincinnati, but the UFC needed him sooner than that.

So with just a couple weeks' notice, Hazelett stepped up and accepted a bout at UFC Fight Night 11, which takes place tonight at The Palms Las Vegas.

However, taking fights on short notice is nothing new for Hazelett. In fact, his manager once called him and offered a fight — with just six hours' notice.

"It was early in my career, and I asked my manager if he thought I could beat the guy, and he said I probably could," said Hazelett. "When I found it was paying three or four times what I usually made per fight, it didn't really matter."

Still soaked from a morning workout session, Hazelett showered, hopped in his car, and made the six-hour trek to Akron.

"I was running late, and they did everything they could to stall the event," Hazelett said. "I made it, though."

And the outcome?

"One of my quickest victories ever," he said. "I went for a flying triangle but missed and hit the mat. But I transitioned into a bunch of submissions, throwing everything I had at him, and finally caught him with a triangle choke in about two minutes."

Although tonight's fight with Goulet won't air live on TV, a quick finish could mean it'll be shown on tape delay.

UFC Fight Night 11's televised card, which features a main event between Din Thomas and Kenny Florian, airs at 9 p.m. on Spike TV.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, a content partner site of Yahoo! Sports. Check out

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