LAS VEGAS — As the Buffalo Bills prepare for their preseason opener Saturday night at home against the Indianapolis Colts, there’s already an up-and-coming hopeful from the organization who’s made some noise this week.

Nate Burnard, a member of the Bills’ security team, scored a third-round technical knockout at Power Slap 4 on Wednesday with a win over veteran striker Duane Crespo.

And as Burnard sat down with The Sporting Tribune to discuss his second win since signing with Power Slap, someone briefly excused himself with an interruption to deliver a message.

“Dalton Kincaid and Josh Allen hit me up about you,” Power Slap owner Dana White said.

The Bills’ tight end and quarterback, respectively, were part of a watch party in Orchard Park tuned into the Power Slap 4 broadcast.

“What an honor,” Burnard said under his breath, as White walked away.

Burnard – who looks like he could still take his place on a defensive line, where he starred for Southwestern Oklahoma State – improved to 2-0 with the win, just three months after learning about the league from all people, his parents.

His mother and father both filled him in on Power Slap in late April and encouraged him to audition.

“My father has always been really good on intuition,” Burnard said. “He’s always been good on his wisdom and his guidance in my life. I respect my mom and my father equally, so…”

So, here he is, with White saying Burnard has certainly opened some eyes as someone who could eventually strike for the heavyweight belt at an upcoming event.

“It’s humbling,” Burnard said. “I didn’t expect to be here so soon after my first one. And to be able to be ranked where I am at right now, I didn’t expect that whatsoever. But it’s humbling and it shows that people see my talents and see what I’m doing and then see what I’m gonna continue to do.”

Burnard said when he’s not at the Bills’ facility keeping tabs on the AFC hopefuls, and holding things down in his security guard capacity, he’s treating his Power Slap career like he did football in high school and college.

That means lifting weights, sometimes twice a day, watching footage of strikers, eating right, and most importantly – taking slaps from his friends.

When he learned he’d be facing Crespo at Power Slap 4, Burnard called friends Jared and Ryan, met in one of their basements, and told them to “crack” him over and over, as hard as they could.

“They both hit the hell out of me and I knew I was psyched about it,” Burnard said. “And to be honest, that’s the best way you can train, is to know what it’s like.

“I study things religiously like I would football film. I don’t know everyone’s techniques yet, but I know people by name. I know how to study. I know what aspects to look out for. And that’s just what I’ve learned over the years in football.”

Another thing he’s learned is humility, not just from athletics and respecting an opponent, but during a two-year stint in Africa, seeing another side of life where people have a fraction in their lives than Burnard has enjoyed growing up.

Of all his accomplishments, that remains his most special.

“My biggest joy came from being in Africa,” Burnard said. “I did like a little mission trip over there and being able to help them build irrigation systems and schools, being able to share the good word, doing that selflessness for two years – that’s definitely a humbling thing. And that experience itself has shaped who I am today. So that’s why I say I’m so joyful. I feel that joy now.”

More joy could be on its way when the new rankings come out.

Until then, Burnard is still listed as an impressive No. 4. He should see that improve after scoring a TKO over Crespo, the No. 1 contender before their match.

Damien Dibbell holds the heavyweight belt, and a matchup in October between him and Burnard would certainly pit a pair of athletic bodies on the Power Slap podium at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“I’d say any matchup is a good matchup for me,” Burnard said. “I wouldn’t count myself out. People were counting me out in this one. Saying that ‘he ain’t test my chin yet.’ And then you see what happened tonight. My chin was tested, my lip is a little busted and a little fat and everything. It doesn’t matter who I’m going against. I signed up for this to get slapped and to slap. And I know exactly what it’s about.”