After winning the BAMMA middleweight world championship, Yannick Bahati has called to fight the best 180lb fighters from the past and present.
In the co-main event at BAMMA 29 in Birmingham, Yannick Bahati took on Matt Hallam for the vacant strap on May 12.
Hallam found success early on in the fight at the Genting Arena and looked to evade onslaughts from the “Black Mamba.” With both men landing numerous clean shots to the face and body in the first round, something had to give.
The second round started much like the first – an all out war. Bahati used his well-rounded game to counter one of the attacks from Hallam and take him to the floor.
After dominating for a long period on the ground and landing strikes to the face of Hallam, Bahati finished “Farmer Boy” with a rear-naked choke to collect his second world title.
Also the holder of the EFC Worldwide title belt, it’s evident that Bahati is a force to be reckoned with and will certainly have a lot of eyes of him after now that he is the holder of two major titles.
Opening up about his victory at BAMMA 29, Bahati said: “[It’s] a dream come true. I wanted the belt from when I made my BAMMA. I performed, continued to perform, and I am now world champion.
“I wasn’t really surprised you know. I’ve fought him in the past. He has improved, I have improved,” commented Bahati, beating Hallam for the second time in his career.
Both in the cage and backstage Bahati was quick to reel off names of opponents he would like to face next. “Scott Askham, Michael Bisping, I want them all.
“Matt Hallam is a very good, very skilled opponent but I think I am a higher calibre fighter and I’m ready for the UFC.”
Bahati informed MMA Plus that should he not be called up to the UFC in the immediate future he has plans arranged.
Bahati admitted, the UFC is at the top of the agenda, but if the call does not come to fruition, he has a long list of middleweights from the past and present he’d like to face, as well as a return to South Africa.
“I am the best now. The best middleweight in the United Kingdom now so I want to fight the best,” he said. “Alex Reid, Tom Watson, Scott Askham, even Luke Barnatt. I want to go the UFC next but if there is no UFC If I don’t get the UFC call-up, I will defend my EFC belt.
“I’m looking to defend my belt around summertime then I will be back here at BAMMA to defend and hopefully [they] will give me Reid, Watson, Askham or Barnatt.”
