AJ Robb is in training for his first professional fight, yet his patience is already showing he can think like a veteran.

Robb will fight for the first time as a pro July 8 at Sparta Combat League’s Duality MMA at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

The fight will air live on Altitude.

Robb, a Widefield High graduate, suffered a back injury in January that delayed his debut. He had hoped to make it earlier this year. But back spasms had him take several weeks off from training in order to rest.

He understood he needed to listen to his body rather than fight just to fight.

“It was definitely hard, but when it comes to being professional, you don’t want to rush anything,” said Robb, 23. “You want to make sure you’re ready, your team is ready, your mind is ready. It’s kind of a blessing in disguise.”

Robb is scheduled for a bantamweight fight (135 pounds) with Jorge Dominguez (2-1), who might be looking for some revenge. Robb defeated Dominguez’s brother Tony via rear choke at SCL 53 in October. In Robb’s final amateur bout he landed his first victory by submission.

“He’ll probably want to avenge his brother, for sure,” said Robb, who was 8-1 as an amateur.

The pro game allows for certain attacks that aren’t allowed in amateurs, and Robb sees that to his advantage.

“I get to elbow and knee these people in the face now,” Robb said. “I love to throw some elbows, in my ground and pound, in the close clinch. I like to mimic a lot of Jon Jones’ elbows usage, the way he spins and hits elbows from any position and anywhere in the cage.”

In less than two months, Robb will get the opportunity to do what Jones does and do it, like Jones, on television.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It makes me excited for the future. It makes me know I’m doing all this training and it’s not for nothing, it’s not to be an amateur forever. I’m making moves in the right direction.”