With Bellator 180 coming to New York and Madison Square Garden in June, an official press conference was held on Tuesday, March 28. In attendence were Chael Sonnen, Fedor Emelianenko, Matt Mitrione, Douglas Lima, Lorenz Larkin, Michael Chandler and Brett Primus. Wanderlei Silva was a no-show and thus took part via technology.
President of marquee events and operations Joel Fisher was the first to elaborate on a highly anticipated PPV return for Bellator and he would expressed his sheer delight at the hosting of the event.
“As you know, the Garden is known as the ‘mecca of boxing’. However, with the surging popularity of mixed martial arts, the Garden is now the mecca of MMA as well”.
This will be Bellator’s New York City debut after the absurd MMA ban in the state was finally lifted last year. Scott Coker and his team have ensured that the card is a stacked with some of the most familiar names in the world of MMA in order to capatilise on such a big event.
Much to the dismay of Sonnen, “The Axe Murderer” stayed in Brazil and missed the press call to stay in training at home and would appear via video link.
“It annoys me because I feel like Wanderlei got his own way” Chael claimed. “It looks like he found a bathroom as a backdrop at the shelter he is staying at in Rio. You act like you just asked him a question, you’re talking to plexiglass.
“We are beaming in him through satellite. We could be using this to predict weather patterns and protect people’s lives, instead we’ve got Wanderlei Silva in a bathroom at a men’s shelter in Brazil”.
Sonnen continued to hurl insults and eventually demanded authority from his counterpart, asking Wanderlei to call him Mr Sonnen, to which Silva replied “Suck my balls”. Wanderlei did make claims that this fight was going to be one of the “biggest events in the history of the sport”.
After this, Sonnen compared Wanderlei Silva to a shoe.
“You wanna speak to Wanderlei, speak to my shoe” Sonnen insisted. “MSG called the king. I’m a genius. This isn’t even Wanderlei, it’s my shoe. See how I did that?”.
In another highly anticipated fight between heavyweights Emelianenko and Mitrione, both opponents had nothing but respect for each other. Fedor claimed how he was in great shape despite the fight delay due to a pull-out whilst Mitrione was grateful of the opportunity that Fedor gave him whilst claiming “Fedor is a badass”.
Michael Chandler insisted that he couldn’t wait to fight at Madison Square Gardens and said that he would happily change weights for the biggest fights possible. However, Brent Primus has plans to stop the lightweight king. “This is the biggest opportunity of my life” Primus stated.
“I’m fighting at MSG alongside legends. Not many people know me, I’m from a troubled past, but I cant wait to show everyone what I’m made of”. Primus is currently undefeated and the Oregon native will be looking to extend his seven fight win streak in front of a packed MSG.
Douglas Lima expressed his fondness of the promotion stating “Bellator treat people right. I have been here for 8 years”. The Phenom takes on Bellator debutant Lorenz Larkin in a title defence and isn’t prepared to underestimate “The Monsoon”. “I’m really looking forward to this fight” Lima explained. “I am against a great opponent”.
