THE CANADIAN PRESS

UFC bantamweight Nick Denis credits an episode of "Star Trek" for his career path. Not fighting, but biochemistry.

He started at the University of Ottawa as a math and physics student. But hooked on "Star Trek," he saw an episode where a disease hype-accelerated some on board the Enterprise and Dr. McCoy had to figure it out.

"After that episode, I was like 'Screw physics. I want to do biochemistry. It's cool,"' Denis said with a laugh.

"I based that decision purely on an episode of TV."

Denis went on to get a bachelor's and master's degrees in biochemistry, electing at the start of 2011 to focus on fighting rather than continue with his PhD studies.

On Saturday night, the Montreal-based fighter steps into the Octagon for a second time when he takes on Ronald Delorme in all-Canadian bantamweight battle on a televised UFC card in East Rutherford, N.J.

The main event at the IZOD Center features lightweights Jim Miller (21-3) and Nate Diaz (15-7).

Denis' diving into biochemistry illustrates his penchant for setting a goal and accomplishing it.

Denis got into MMA at 20, just looking for something different than lifting weights. He joined a gym and got to meet some fighters. "One thing led to another."

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Denis drops biochemistry for the octagon