By Damon Martin

Scott Heckman is ready to be known as something other than the best kept secret from the East Coast.

The 34-year-old veteran with an impressive 27-8 record that includes wins over the likes of UFC bantamweight Brian Kelleher has been anxiously awaiting a call to appear on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series—but his phone hasn't been ringing.

Beyond his resume, Heckman was forged from the same fires that produced UFC stalwarts like Jim and Dan Miller as well as retired welterweight contender Charlie Brenneman.

Heckman grew up in Pennsylvania, where he wrestled in high school while amassing a 146-19 record that earned him a scholarship to Bloomsburg University. Heckman eventually transferred to East Stroudsburg State, another Pennsylvania college, and his wrestling career was decorated by some epic battles.

Among the opponents Heckman faced during his college career was future UFC champion Frankie Edgar, who wrestled at nearby Clarion University. With college about to wrap up, Heckman decided he wasn't done competing yet, and that's what ultimately led him to mixed martial arts. 

"As I began to wind down my senior year, I just wasn't ready to give up my athletic career or enter the work force, and Matt Rizzo, [the] former 'Ultimate Fighter' contestant, was my teammate at East Stroudsburg University after I transferred from Bloomsburg," Heckman told FloCombat. "One of my coaches at East Stroudsburg was Charlie Brenneman. He was an incredible mentor to me and his motivational speeches and work ethic really set fire to me. I looked at everything he was doing and that's what I wanted."

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Before long, Heckman was training alongside Brenneman and learning MMA from the ground up. He fell in love with the sport and began his pursuit of a career in fighting.

As the wins kept multiplying, Heckman figured out he was rather good at this sport, and he wanted to take it to the next level. That meant earning a spot on The Ultimate Fighter, which was a route so many athletes have taken to get a shot at the UFC.

Unfortunately, Heckman tried out for the reality show on two separate occasions and didn't make the final casting list. Perhaps the most heartbreaking occasion was being a potential choice for the show's live season, Season 15, but then being cut because Heckman is a natural featherweight and he was just too small to compete with the lightweights on the show.

Still, that didn't slow him down from pursuing his dream. Heckman kept competing while facing some of the toughest competition the East Coast could provide him.

Now with more than 30 professional fights on his record, Heckman is confident he can hang with the best in the world, and he's just hoping to get that opportunity in the UFC.

"I don't know if it's not having proper management or what it may be, but I'll fight anybody," Heckman said. "Dana White, Sean Shelby, whoever could throw anybody in front of me and I'll fight them. I always make weight, short notice, whatever. I have 18 stoppages out of my 27 wins, and a lot of these guys are tough. I'm not taking weaker guys or chumps.

"I just don't understand why I can't seem to make the next move or get the next opportunity."

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The way Heckman sees it, he's ready for UFC-caliber competition, but he's also happy to prove himself if that's what it takes to show he's ready for the Octagon.

That's why Heckman hopes he gets a shot at UFC President Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series.

"That's all I ask for," Heckman said. "The Contender Series for me after 35 fights really is the best avenue for me.

"I just want the chance to prove myself. Let me prove what I can do and go out there and put on a show, because every fight that I've had win, lose, or draw, I come in great condition, I'm always ready to go and it's always exciting."