Steve Garcia is ready to make a statement and prove he is a top-ranked featherweight at UFC Nashville.

Garcia was supposed to face Edson Barboza at UFC Seattle in February, but the Brazilian had to pull out. After he withdrew, it was disappointing for Garcia, as it was going to be a big-name opponent he could build his name off of.

“It was super disappointing, the dude is a legend,” Garcia said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “He probably wouldn’t have done much for the rankings as he was 15. But to have a win over Barboza is a feather in the cap. I’m sad I missed the opportunity, but the world keeps revolving and we will keep on moving.”

Once the fight was off, Garcia was hoping to return soon. However, he didn’t get a fight offer until UFC Nashville in July against Calvin Kattar, which is a fight he’s excited about.

Although Kattar is on a four-fight losing streak, Garcia believes that will make him dangerous at UFC Nashville as it’s likely do-or-die for him.

“He’s fought the best guys in the division,” Garcia said. “The Zalal fight was, was a hard one. I tuned in to watch UFC to watch the best fighters in the world, and that wasn’t a fight. You had someone just move around and outpoint someone… This fight with me is do-or-die for me. He is on a skid, and he’s going to come out as strong as he’s been, as he has a point to prove. If he loses again, I don’t know where his career goes, and this is where people get desperate, and that is what makes them dangerous.”