Joe Ferraro

Tim Hague gave Pat Barry quite a thrashing in his UFC debut last May.

Canadian Tim (The Thrashing Machine) Hague has some choice words for heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar.

As Edmonton's Tim (The Thrashing Machine) Hague prepares to take on Brock Lesnar training partner Chris Tuchscherer at UFC 109, the Canadian heavyweight is disappointed with Lesnar's recent statements about the Canadian Health Care System.

"I'm a fan of Brock's, but after what he's said recently about Canada, I'm starting to lose a little respect for him," Hague said. "But to each his own."

While Hague's goal is to climb the UFC's heavyweight ladder in hopes to one day face Lesnar, his immediate concern is Tuchscherer, a two-time NCAA Division II All-American wrestler, who presents a similar style as the champ, and one he sees right through.

"It doesn't concern me one bit. They are both wrestlers, they both fight the same type of style. Brock's a little more athletic but I know what they bring to the table. They go for the takedown right away and if they don't feel confident standing, they try to muscle their opponents on the ground."

As the Feb. 6 bout approaches, Hague's confidence is at an all-time high courtesy of a stellar training camp designed to combat his American opponent's obvious strength.

"I've brought in a former collegiate wrestler named Ed Macress who's 275 pounds. At this point in my training camp, I have him and a few other big guys just cycling in on me trying to take me down against the cage, doing a bit of dirty boxing and stuff. I feel very confident with where I'm at. They're having a hell of a time trying to take me down so I feel great."

After being on the wrong end of a record-setting, seven-second knockout at the hands of Todd Dufee at UFC 102, Hague, in just two octagon appearances, has now experienced the highs -- and lows -- of being a UFC fighter.

"It was definitely a big disappointment. I wanted to come out and show everyone that I was for real and that I could contend with the best of them. Todd Duffee hit me with the perfect punch when I came in. I got really sloppy with my boxing, trying to go for that "Knockout of the night bonus" right off the bat, and Duffee just planted me. When I looked up, I just said a choice word or two, and he finished me off right away -- there was nothing I could do."

Nearly six months since the disappointment in Portland, one of the key lessons Hague (10-2) has learned from the experience is to pay little attention to all the armchair and keyboard critics.

"I don't know if I have anything to prove. There are a lot of inexperienced fans who would say, 'Oh, Tim Hague sucks now,' but I didn't get to show anything, I barely got to show anything in my first fight."

Come Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Hague will be carrying the weight of the Canadian MMA world on his shoulders. Perhaps a victory over Tuchsherer (17-2-0, 1 NC) will serve notice to one of his cornermen that there is a price to pay when you talk trash about "The Great White North."