Before Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader take center stage at The Forum in Los Angeles, featherweight contenders Henry Corrales and Aaron Pico have the chance to steal the show in the co-main event of Bellator 214.

The two top-tier 145-pounders are riding four-fight win streaks in Bellator MMA, knocking off a plethora of contenders en route to their Saturday night showdown.

The more seasoned competitor, Corrales, couldn’t be more enthusiastic to compete in front of his hometown crowd for the third straight year. The 32-year-old MMA Lab product made a point to ask for the opportunity to fight on the card following his win at Bellator 208 in October. Bellator brass heard his request and granted him the slot.

“This is exactly what I wanted,” Corrales said in an interview with FloCombat. “Bellator hooked it up once again, for the third year in a row. I’m going to go out there and do my job.”

Like many who have seen his opponent fight, when Corrales thinks of Pico, one word comes to mind.

“Excitement,” Corrales said. “He’s a big name which means a bigger stage. That’s what it’s all about for me, man. I want the toughest fights.

“He’s smashing people and he’s got serious credentials. I think the [hype] is definitely justifiable and is nothing to be overlooked. That’s been the feeling throughout this whole camp.”

From a technical standpoint, Corrales sees Pico presenting a number of challenges, but nothing he hasn’t seen before.

“He’s a straight-up technical dude,” Corrales said. “Just meat and potatoes. He brings the heat with technical boxing and great wrestling. It’s not like he’s a long, tricky southpaw or a really dynamic southpaw.”

With a victory, Corrales believes he’ll stamp his ticket to a featherweight title shot against longtime Bellator MMA staple, and current 145-pound king, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire.

“This should put me there,” Corrales said. “I feel like I’m already there actually. With four straight victories, this should definitely do it.”