Bellator MMA's Featherweight champion Pat Curran said in a recent interview that he is ready to fight any opponent, though his sights are set specifically on Patricio "Pitbull" Freire and Daniel Strauss.
Curran, who holds a 20-5 record, said he is looking forward to facing Strauss for a fourth time if he wins his fight against Freire at Bellator 123, which will be held Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., according to MMAjunkie. Nine of Curran's wins were achieved in Bellator, as were two of his losses.
"A fourth fight usually doesn't happen much in this sport, but that's just where we're at," Curran said. "Bellator is going to bring in a lot of new talent, but as of right now, my thought is 'Pitbull' and Strauss. You're definitely going to see a lot of rematches with those two.
"We have a lot of good guys and a lot of good up-and-comers, but right now I see them as the two kingpins."
Strauss took the Featherweight title from Curran last November in their second fight, Yahoo Eurosport UK reported. Curran said he lost because he didn't have a good training camp and because of issues that kept him from being focused mentally. However, Curran beat Strauss in their third fight in March, taking his title back. He won by submission just 14 second before the end of the last round.
"Daniel had one of the best performances of his life (in December), and he's an animal and a great fighter, but I was able to get a rematch and take it," Curran said.
The champion attributed his victory to having a great training camp and being mentally focused at the time, Yahoo Eurosport UK reported.
"If anything, I was motivated to get my belt back," Curran said. "Your mental state is pretty much half the fight if not all of your fight. And you've got to be prepared when you're fighting at this level."
Curran has fought Freire before, earning a victory via submission at Bellator 83, MMAjunkie reported. Freire currently holds a 21-2 record.
The Featherweight champion plans to use his fight on Friday as an opportunity to show off his new skills. Curran also praised Bellator's new approach in setting up bouts, saying it helps the company put on the best fights.
Curran is setting out to stay champion while also continuing to improve and grow as a mixed martial artist, Yahoo Eurosport UK reported.
"At this point in my career I just want to be the best fighter I can be," he said. "Just keep climbing the ladder and improving. You can always keep growing and learning. That's my end goal - to be the best fighter I can be- and in every fight I have, you're going to see a better Pat Curran."
