Phil ”Mr. Wonderful” Davis lämnade tidigare i år UFC och skrev sedan på ett kontrakt för Bellator MMA. Davis befann sig i UFC under nästan 5 års tid och gick 13 matcher. Man kunde sedan inte komma fram till några bra villkor för ett nytt kontrakt och han beslutade sig då att lämna UFC efter matchen mot Ryan Bader, under UFC on FOX 14.
Han blev sedan utbränd men har nu fått nytt intresse för sporten i Bellator.
Det här berättar Davis, via ”MMAJunkie”:
It was a really weird fight for me (against Bader); obviously I want to win every competition, but in my head it was just kind of a weird fight. Now, fighting for Bellator, I feel like just my preparation reignited my love and passion for the sport. I’m very thankful – not that it was necessarily a bad opportunity before, but I think it’s a better opportunity where I’m at now.
I’ve fought professional for five different organizations, and I’m thankful for each one of them for giving me the opportunity to fight and advance my career. Looking back, I can’t look back at anybody and say this or that. All of them took a chance on me when I was young in the sport and helped me make a name for myself and gave me what I needed to get into the position where I’m at now. I’m thankful.
Davis debut kommer att bli annorlunda än i UFC, då han kommer att få delta i en turnerning där han vid vinst kan få gå två matcher på en kväll. Han möter då först Emanuel Newton i den första matchen medan Muhammad Lawal möter Linton Vassell.
Davis har känt till turneringen under några månaders tid, men det var nyligen som man slumpmässigt valde ut motståndare.
Det här berättar Davis om detta:
Not much has changed preparing for this tournament because the most important thing is getting through the first guy; it doesn’t really become a tournament until after I beat Emanuel Newton. More than anything you need to be mentally prepared. Right around an hour after I get done fighting, I want an ibuprofen and a beer. Right around an hour after my first fight I’m going to be up to fight again.
Mentally, the biggest thing is not allowing your mind to drift into relaxation time. You’ve got to fight, win and stay focused on the next fight. That’s the biggest thing is just knowing and keeping yourself focused in the back.
The winner of this tournament gets a title shot, and I want that title shot; I want that title. I plan to go out and win then be up next for the title. I really want to see what these guys are made of how they fight.
Bellator 142 äger rum i Kalifornien den 19 september.
