darren yourk From Friday's Globe and Mail Published Thursday, Mar. 01, 2012 8:23PM EST Last updated Thursday, Mar. 01, 2012 8:25PM EST

Nick Denis can tell you what it feels like to knock a man out cold while thousands of fans roar their approval. He can also talk at length about proteomics the study of proteins and what it takes to finish a master degree in biochemistry.

Not a lot attention is paid to what goes on between the cauliflower ears of mixed martial arts fighters, but Denis, who walked away from the research lab one year short of getting his PhD from the University of Ottawa to focus on the octagon, is proof theres a lot more to the sport than power and toughness.

To be able to out-think an opponent is a huge advantage in a fight, Denis said. You have to understand how to react to situations and be analytical. It looks like just brute force in there, but theres actually technique and skill.

The Ottawa native roared into the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in January, knocking out Joseph Sandoval with a series of elbow strikes just 22 seconds into the first round of his debut bout in Nashville an effort that earned him a $45,000 bonus cheque for knockout of the night. Hes now aiming to cement his status as an emerging talent when he returns to the octagon to face Johnny Bedford May 5 in East Rutherford, N.J.

After studying karate and tae kwon do in his youth, it was boredom with weightlifting workouts that got Denis started down the path to the UFC. He enrolled in a jiu-jitsu class with a friend as a new way to stay in shape and was hooked immediately. It wasnt long before he decided to train toward competing as an MMA fighter.

At the same time, Denis enrolled at the University of Ottawa, balancing a busy academic schedule in the world of analytical biochemistry with morning and evening training sessions.

Jeffrey Smith, a professor in the chemistry department at Carleton University who shared an office with Denis for almost three years at the University of Ottawa, calls him a gifted scientist.

He is really good with his hands, which is a big skill in the lab, Smith said. A lot of people have book smarts, but at the end of the day you have to have the manual dexterity to use the equipment and do things accurately. He was good at it, but Im not sure he enjoyed it all that much. MMA is really what hes passionate about.

While Denis showed up to the lab some days with a lumpy face and black eyes from training, Smith said it was his big personality that really made him stand out.

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Nick Denis trades in laboratory for the octagon