LAS VEGAS – Dana White wasn’t completely sold on Luis Felipe Dias, but the Brazilian hopes to make the most of his opportunity to fight in the UFC.

After not competing for two years, Dias (16-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) returned to action at Dana White’s Contender Series 85 for a chance to earn a shot in the UFC. Dias submitted Donavon Hedrick in the second round and was awarded a contract, even though White was hesitant.

“Dana, thank you for the opportunity,” Dias said through an interpreter at a post-fight news conference. “I know you’re on the fence about this, but at the end of the day, thank you for the opportunity. You’ve got a guy that’s gonna fight, and I’m ready to go.”

Dias, 30, joins the UFC’s middleweight division on a two-fight winning streak. Despite having a lengthy layoff ahead of his DWCS fight, he hopes to keep a regular level of activity going forward. Just getting to compete at this stage was a victory in itself, but now that he has accomplished the goal of entering the UFC, Dias intends to make the most of it.

“I came with the mindset today, just even if I was to not have gotten a contract, it would have been a win,” Dias said. “The sacrifice that I put in, the work that I put in – I left a family back home. … I’m very happy, because everyone who’s a fighter, anyone who’s been a fighter, it’s a big dream of having a contract here. So, I’m going to do everything I can and work with all of the strength that I have to do my best in this organization and continue to live out this dream.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Luis Felipe Dias thankful for UFC chance, wants debut ASAP