Kiwi UFC flyweight Kai Kara-France laughed, as he recalled his last encounter with old mate and current king of his division Henry Cejudo.
The pair sat next to each other Octagon-side at October's historic UFC 243, where Kara-France's teammate Israel Adesanya stole the record-breaking show in Melbourne.
"I was actually giving him a bit of shit," Kara-France told Newshub. "Saying I'd never been taller than anyone before."
The 1.63m (5 ft 4in) former Olympic wrestling champion swiftly bit back.
"He said, 'Mate, you're a bit taller when you put a gold medal just under your heel'."
The two go way back. Cejudo was Kara-France's coach during his time on The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show - the Kiwi's first and short-lived taste of the UFC.
Now, with Kara-France knocking on the title door, they may soon be forced to put those pleasantries aside and a win for 'Don't Blink' over Brandon Moreno at UFC 245 in Las Vegas on Sunday would put him in pole position.
Both have come a long way since that season aired in 2016. Kara-France bounced back from the disappointment of not securing a deal with the promotion after the show - despite some impressive displays - to earn a multi-fight deal, then reel off a three straight wins.
Meanwhile, Cejudo secured legend status by becoming one of just four dual-division champions in UFC history.
The two were placed next to each other at Marvel Stadium by chance. The UFC knows its has a potential contender on its hands in Kara-France, and the City Kickboxing product is ready and willing to put pleasantries aside, should that time come.
In fact, Cejudo actually encouraged his former pupil to draw a target on his back.
"He pretty much said, 'Come after me... I don't want you to think, just because I'm the champ, we're not going to fight each other, because I want to fight you'. That would be my dream matchup."
But Kara-France may not need to overcome Cejudo to clinch that hallowed strap of gold.
The Mexican-American appears to have his sights set on lucrative bantamweight match-ups that now include Jose Aldo, Aljamain Sterling and even comeback kid Urijah Faber.
Not to mention, the increasingly draining demands of shedding the extra weight to make the 56kg (125lb) limit. Cejudo may very well vacate the flyweight belt.
"From what I can gather, he didn't want to cut weight anymore," said Kara-France. "He said he's getting old and he can't keep doing these big weight cuts, and the bigger fights for him are at bantamweight."
If Cejudo does give up his title, Kara-France realises he's only one - perhaps two - wins away from a title shot and he's not particularly fussed about who stands in his way.
"I know there are a few guys in front of me, but they're not on an eight-fight win streak - or nine, once I beat Brandon."
Funnily enough, Mexican Moreno was a fellow competitor from that fateful season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter.
"I think he was the youngest in the house. I was pretty young back then, but he was about three years younger than me.
"He's a good fighter, but I'm not really concerned - it's just another person to me."
Curiously nicknamed 'The Assassin Baby', Moreno has just one win in his past four fights, although he sits one spot above the sixth-ranked New Zealander in the official division standings. His most recent bout against Askar Askarov ended in a draw.
On paper, th ematch-up is a classic grappler v striker affair. but Kara-France knows better than to pigeon-hole any opponent.
"I know he's going to try to put the pace on me and try to put his hands on me. I'm not going to rush anything, I'm just going to be patient, stick to what I've been doing, use my footwork, be elusive and set everything up.
"I want to mix up my arsenal, as well with my kicks, as well as my punches. If I see a takedown, I might even go for that as well.
"We're just going to keep him guessing and set a pace that he can't keep up with. He's one of these guys who - if he feels like he's getting hurt - will resort to swinging.
"We're going to use that and feed off that."
If ever there was a time to stamp his champion credentials, UFC 245 would be it. With three title fights on the billing in Vegas' fight HQ - the T-Mobile Arena - it's likely to sell as well as any pay-per-view this year.
One of those title bouts involves teammate and honorary Kiwi Alexander Volkanovski, whose clash with Max Holloway features in the co-main event.
Kara-France will be making his US debut and he realises the magnitude of that opportunity.
"I want to make a statement in this fight, give the American fans a show. Being on The Ultimate Fighter, you get a taste for it, but it's not the real thing.
"Being in front of 30,0000 people at the T-Mobile Arena, that's the fight to make the statement.
"It shows that the UFC want to get behind me. They see potential in me and they're rewarding me by putting me on big cards like this."
He's been locked in the lab at his Auckland training base, putting in long hours alongside Volkanovski and hoping to write one last memorable chapter in what has been a milestone year.
"Using all that momentum coming off UFC 243, with Izzy [Adesanya] winning the title and Brad [Riddell] and Dan [Hooker] winning, there's just been a massive buzz at the gym right now.
"We've used that and harnessed that to push us even harder. We're as fit as we've ever been and I just can't wait until I get in there."
While Moreno has his full attention, Kara-France can't help but peek ahead to February 2020, when the UFC makes its long-awaited return to Aotearoa.
"Sign me up now," said the proud Aucklander. "I've always wanted to fight in my hometown.
"That's been the reason why I'm in the UFC. It's a 10-week turnaround, but I've done quicker."
The 26-year-old was in the stands last time the UFC held an event in New Zealand, when Mark Hunt knocked out Derrick Lewis in the headline act in 2017.
"I was campaigning to get on that card. I think I fought three times in seven weeks, just to try and get on that card, but it was a bit too late.
"But it was probably a blessing in disguise, because it made me mature outside the UFC and learn those hard lessons. Now, here we are on big cards and the UFC is coming back to Auckland."
The stars seem to be aligning for Kara-France and depending how the chips fall, he could be looking down the barrel of a contest for the division's No.1 contender on home soil.
Or even better, a hometown bid for a belt.
"You never know. I'm on an eight-fight win streak and when I get past Brandon, that's No.9. It'd be hard to deny me a title shot."
Join us on Sunday for live updates of UFC 245, including Kai Kara-France v Brandon Moreno
