(Thanks to the always amazing Brian C. Olsen of Flash Fill Fotography for the photos. Check out more of Brian's work at www.flashfillfoto.com)

When Lance Harding first walked through the doors at Ambition, he didn't say much. In fact, trainer Mike Reilly said it took months before he ever heard the shy and quiet Harding say a word.

That first meeting came back in December of 2008, shortly after Harding had seen his friend Pat Schilling fight for the first time.

But a great deal has changed in the last year and a half. Harding has gone from a shy introvert to someone Reilly calls a team leader.

Harding, who has acquired the nickname "Handsome," is still a young buck at just 20 years old, and he's still quiet. But now he walks with his head held high, and his overall confidence has improved, too.

Harding (3-0 as an amateur) will need that confidence this coming week when he takes on Mankato's Dan Moret on Thursday for the Brutaal Genesis 155-pound title.

Minnesota MMA News caught up with Handsome Lance, who attended Hastings High School, to find out his thoughts on his first-ever title fight.

Lance, what's your sports background?

HARDING: I wrestled at Hastings. I didn't start until

10th grade though. That's about it.

What got you started with MMA?

HARDING: Pat Schilling really. I just saw him fight, and he was a friend, so I knew I wanted to do it too.

What do you know about Dan Moret, who is the current Brutaal Genesis champion?

HARDING: I know he's pretty good. I know he's undefeated, he's really athletic and big and strong. He's more of a ground guy, just like I am. That's probably really all I know about him right now. We got one video of him, against Evan Johnson.

Do you see any weaknesses in Moret's game, anything you can exploit?

HARDING: Yeah, we see some stuff. There are a few things we feel like we can capitalize on. We are working on some specific areas, but I don't want to go into too many details.

Have you changed the way you train at all to specifically prepare for Moret?

HARDING: Not really. I'm just doing the same kind of stuff, just working a little bit harder at everything. We're doing more drilling and putting in more time. I've been working with Joey Clark a lot on my wrestling and takedown defense.

You're working on wrestling and takedown defense; does that mean you'd like to keep the fight standing?

HARDING: I'd like to get out there and stand a little more in this fight. I think my hands have improved a lot. I feel like I hit harder now. So yeah, I wouldn't mind keeping this on the feet.

Is there a weak part to your game that you need to improve upon the most?

HARDING: Yeah, there are plenty of things I need to work on. I still think I need to work on confidence in my standup. I feel good about it right now, but I can still get better. That's probably my weakest part, but I see it improving a lot.

You're at Ambition. What do you like about that gym?

HARDING: It's a really nice place to train. They have a lot of equipment, and the owners and all the people in there are really, really nice. Joey and Mark and Terry, they're all great. It's great because there are days that I don't feel like training, and then I think about who will be in the gym if I go, and that usually gets me back in the gym. They're all nice people. The other great thing is there are people there who can help you with anything. There are great wrestlers and great boxers. There's always someone there who can help you no matter what you want to work on. Joey Clark can do it all.

You mentioned Pat Schilling earlier. Is he your main training partner?

HARDING: He's usually my main sparring partner. I mean, we're the same size, so it makes sense. But I also work a lot with Jeremy (Hamilton). We've done a lot together the last two weeks to help me get ready for this fight. We just switch it up a lot. I don't work with the same person (exclusively), we keep changing it up, and I think that's a good thing.

What's your best win so far?

HARDING: Probably against Chris Hassing. I know Moret fought him before too. Coming in, he had a lot more fights. I think it was Hassing's like 10th fight, and it was my second. He's a lot bigger than I am. I was kind of worried about it, but my coaches just kept telling me to be confident and keep using my technique.

So it sounds like you get pretty nervous before a fight?

HARDING: Yeah, I get really nervous. I can't hide that. Like the day of the fight, it just keeps building and building. It finally goes away when I walk out there, and I'm standing in front of my coach. He kind of slaps me up, and after that, I calm down. That usually makes all the nerves go away for me, and after that, I'm totally fine.

What would the Brutaal Genesis title mean to you?

HARDING: It's a pretty big fight. I've never wrestled for a championship and I've never fought for a championship. So it means a lot. I've been training very hard for this. Joey has been working me a lot. Joey and Mike will be in my corner.

You're fighting at 155. Is that a tough cut for you?

HARDING: No, not at all. I've been eating a lot better, and this isn't going to be bad at all. I'll only have to maybe cut a few pounds, if that.

So is 155 your permanent home or will you drop to 145?

HARDING: I've heard some people say I should go to 145. And I've thought about it, but I decided I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying at 155.

If you win this belt, do you plan to defend it? Or do you plan to turn pro soon?

HARDING: I think, if I do win, I think Mike is going to have me fight maybe two more amateur fights before I go pro. We're just taking it slow. I'm doing what he wants; my career is in his hands. Whatever he wants me to do, I'll do it.

Are you in school or working?

HARDING: Yeah, I'm working. I work at Treasure Island, on the custodial staff.

Whoa, so will it be cool to fight for a title where you work?

HARDING: Yeah, it's actually really great. It takes some of the pressure off because I'm still kind of in my comfort zone out there. It's really cool.

Who would you like to thank?

HARDING: First, I'd like to thank everyone at Ambition. Everybody there works with me, and they're all such good people. I'd like to thank Jeremy (Hamilton) and Pat (Schilling). Those two give me so much shit that I have no choice but to toughen up. I'd like to thank Mike (Reilly) and Cody Pasquale. I'd also like to give a special thanks to Joey Clark. When I first got this fight, I wasn't that confident. But every single day he tells me I'm going to do great. So a big thanks to Joey for helping me build my confidence and pushing me in conditioning. And finally, I'd like to thank Brandy. That's about it.