Many analysts, fans and fighters complain about the lack of meritocracy in mixed martial arts. All too often, a worthy contender is passed over in favor of a brat or former champion with long-term star power. Because it's a price war. That's why the Bellator World Grand Prix is so refreshing as Raufeon Stotts and Patchy Mix square off in the Lightweight finals at Bellator 295 on Saturday.
Eight contenders face off—that's right, they compete to determine who is the best. The winner will receive the world championship (or intermediate level) and a prize of 1 million dollars. These are price wars in the purest sense. Intrusive, pushy marketing and "what have you done for me lately" matches be damned.
Action in this environment speaks louder than preconceived notions. Between Bellator and Rizin, former three-time lightweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi was one of the favorites for the tournament. His first-round opponent, Meeks, retired two years ago after an unsuccessful lightweight title challenge against Juan Archuleta. Outlasts Horiguchi in key points to earn a competitive decision over five rounds.
"I was just nervous, really nervous going in," Meeks told CBS Sports of the loss to Archuleta. “I didn't know if I was ready to go all five rounds at this point... If I wasn't done with him, I didn't feel ready to go five rounds. So I felt that nervous energy and I felt it sitting on his back for the first few rounds it took to finish him off.
“If you look at my fight with Hariguchi, I was able to get a knockdown in the first 10 seconds of the 5th round because I worked harder in the gym. I have completely changed my training habits and lifestyle... Now is my time. This time I was fully grown. I am three years older. I come not for one name, but for many. This is my first step. This is my step towards fame. I will win the Grand Prix title. I'll rip the time belt out of Raufeon Stott's hand and get $1 million from him. I will stop it. He will give me that million dollars on Saturday."
Stotts entered the Grand Prix as the de facto defending champion after lightweight champion Sergio Pettis was forced out of the tournament with an injury, making Stotts' fight with Archuleta an interim title fight. Stotts is now the benchmark, but he definitely has something to prove after his split decision win over Danny Sabatello. The fight was almost stopped due to a terrible scorecard , but Stotts emerged as the rightful winner. Like Mix, Stotts takes a more mature approach to the finale.
"I take a little bit of the blame because I didn't care or respect Danny Sabatello as a fighter," Stotts told CBS Sports. "I said, 'Well, I'll be fine if he takes the position.' It won't last and it really can't hurt me." "So I disrespected him and it was my fault. I didn't bring a wrestler with me to practice. I just didn't respect him. In retrospect, it was a bad idea."
“The ministry was terrible, but I can only improve what I can improve. I can only look at myself. In this field, I changed this attitude only because of who I was fighting. Because of who I fought, I attracted people who put me in positions where Patchy Mix would be and try to bring me down. I have attracted the best people in the world. I also went to train with [UFC fighters] Corey Sandhagen and Ryan Hall for some duties. Now I'm ready. This is really very important. I have great respect for his martial arts."
If skill and merit aren't enough to whet your appetite for battle, you'll be relieved to know there's some tension between the two sides.
"We can only stop if I want to," Meeks said. "We'll fight or I'll shoot... We'll fight and he'll be strangled. One way to strangle him. He's lucky we didn't train when he and I were in the gym. Because I'd strangle him every day." "Otherwise. He better come with his game next Saturday. Let him hope we don't fall, because I know he'll kick my legs and try to run."
"He probably finds me very annoying because he has things he wants," Stotts said. “I'm not here to be your friend.
“When we are at the end, brother, do not dictate anything. You cannot dictate anything. You will answer what should I do? I feel that there is a difference in our abilities. I feel that I show in the clashes that I am the best striker. He didn't show it in battle. Taken - what's the boy's name? James Gallagher. He was taken by Gallagher.
The winner's bag has become more expensive in the MMA market. Lightweight Survivors was originally intended to unify the titles with Pettis. Bellator has since announced that reigning featherweight champion Patricia Pitbull, the favorite to become the greatest fighter in Bellator history, will fight Pettis for the Third Division title. Suddenly, Stots and Mix also have more than $1 million in cash and a business name. The winner will face the ultimate challenge: he will challenge the greatest fighter in Bellator history, or the last person to defeat him.
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