The Bellator Europe series kicks off with its inaugural event on Saturday 9th February 2019 from the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. Many of the recently signed domestic talent will be on display on the card which is filled with intriguing bouts and storylines from top to bottom. One of the most anticipated fights on the card sees a battle between England and Scotland as former two weight BAMMA world champion, Terry Brazier, faces off against hard-nosed Scot, Chris Bungard, in a lightweight contest. The pair have verbally sparred back and forth for the last few weeks which has left fans eager to see them both finally settle their differences inside the cage.
Last year, it came as a shock to many when it was announced that Brazier (10-1) would be dropping down from welterweight to try and add the BAMMA lightweight title to his mantle. Fans questioned whether he could even make the weight, let alone put in a performance that could best showcase his skills and see off Rhys McKee.
“That fight was all about testing the waters at 155,” said Brazier. “The gameplan was the same as the fight with Alex Lohore – if I needed to strike I would, which I did. I got off some good exchanges and then I went to what I know I’m good at which is my wrestling. I did expect a finish but he ended up being a hell of a lot tougher than I originally thought to be honest. I never rush the finish and the opportunity never really presented itself.” This could well indicate that the recent proposal from Bungard (13-4) will do nothing to affect the way Brazier approaches the upcoming fight.
After that performance, it was time to sit down and assess whether or not he could see himself competing in the lightweight division going forward.
“I felt great at 155. I felt a lot more mobile, a lot more flexible and just as strong as I had at 170 – it’s definitely my weight now.” Brazier went on to explain that due to fighting in the lighter division, he no longer lifts weights as his body puts on muscle mass really easily. This could well affect his weight cut and subsequent performance so his training is now more geared towards being explosive and dynamic.
Brazier signed a one fight deal to face McKee in that champion v champion clash but prior to signing his name on the contract, he had many promotions that were interested in his services.
“There were about 4 or 5 offers from different promotions on the table before the McKee fight. Also, a manager contacted me asking if I wanted to fight in the UFC but the money was s**t. It wasn’t a direct message from the UFC but this manager seemed to think he’d certainly be able to get me the contract,” Brazier said. “If I’d signed with Cage Warriors, all I’d have had to do was fight for the title and then I’d have been offered a contract with the UFC anyway. However, that wasn’t the route that I wanted to go down. I knew that Bellator were doing big things and then they put an offer on the table that was irresistible. They are paying really good money. I’m happy to make a home with Bellator and I want that title!”
His opponent for Newcastle, Chris Bungard, did an interview with Mike Morgan of WHOA TV earlier this week which got fans even more invested in this fight. Bungard claimed that Brazier thought it was going to be an easy fight and he was totally overlooking the Scot as a serious challenge. He then went on to make the bold statement that he would retire from MMA if he was finished by Brazier, alluding to the fact that he doesn’t think much of the Englishman’s ability to finish a fight. Brazier was eager to fire back a response.
“I’m not overlooking Bumgard, but I am looking past him. I believe in myself, my skills and where I’m going so I definitely see myself winning against Bumgard. If you ask me, he’s already decided that he’s going to retire because he says it like I’m an easy opponent. The reality is that he knows I’m going to beat him and he knows that I’m the toughest opponent he’s ever fought – in fact, I’ll be the toughest opponent that he’ll ever fight as he’s going to retire after it so happy retirement! He’s not exactly going to retire with a f*****g great legacy is he? He’s fought a load of bums. Going into a fight even considering retirement after shows that his heart isn’t in it.”
With Bungard’s deal out in the open, Brazier was then asked if he wanted to place his own bet for the fight.
“I am a betting man but I also don’t want to put pressure on myself so I’ll just go for a straight win. I can see myself finishing him but I’m going to have fun with it and I’m going to try and take something from the fight,” said Brazier. He went on to mention that he really wants to learn from this fight so that he can look back on it as another stepping stone in order to achieve his final goal. “If I go in there and knock him out straight away it’s happy days! However, I’ve had seven months off so it would be nice to acquire new knowledge from the fight. You can learn what you want in the gym but the reality is that you can only see if its sunk in or if it works in a fight so hopefully I’ll get to try some of my new stuff out.”
He went on to set out some of his longer term goals. “I’m looking at 2 or 3 more opponents and then I see myself fighting for the title in around 18 months time.”
The former military member is currently out in Thailand where he undergoes all of his training camps due to the psychological and mental benefits he gets from being there. Brazier explained that it takes him out of his day to day life so he can focus solely on training. For the last two years, he has trained under coach Eric Uresk who Brazier credits a lot of his improvements to. He prefers it to fight camps back home because everyone is there for the same goal and everyone is focused. Brazier claims that in the UK it is hard to get everyone together in a fight camp at the same stages in their preparation so you can’t always guarantee being pushed to your limits every day.
When discussing if he was still open to taking fights at welterweight, Brazier stated that his main focus was on the lightweight division for now before mentioning someone else who has been trying to get his attention by calling him out.
“With that being said, f*****g chopsticks… what’s his name… from Ireland… Kiely… Kylie Minogue! If he f*****g keeps chopsing off it’s easy money for me. I’d be more than happy to fight him or any other replacement at welterweight if I feel that they haven’t got a massive size advantage over me but that’s up to Bellator,” Brazier said.
He didn’t hold back when talking about Richard Kiely and made a plea to Bellator staff to let him get his hands on the Irishman at the earliest opportunity.
“I hate even mentioning his name because he is a complete dick. Richard Kiely has only ever called me out trying to make a name for himself. That’s all he does – call people out to make a name for himself. He’s got a s**t amateur record and he’s got a s**t pro record. He called out Alex Lohore and got beat. They both looked s**t in that fight but he still got beat and I beat Alex Lohore. It beats me why he keeps calling me out. He’s an old turd and I would more than happily fight him two weeks after Newcastle,” Brazier said. “Scott Coker, Jude Samuel and Mike Kogan – please sign me off to fight in Dublin! Do you know what? I’d even drop my win bonus and fight just for my purse if I could fight him in Dublin after Newcastle.”
Kiely does already have an opponent set for the card on Saturday 23rd February in Ireland so a lot would have to happen for them to end up locked inside a cage together in the foreseeable future.
Brazier won’t let that fester in his mind though and won’t be distracted from the task at hand. With a victory in Newcastle, he will establish himself as a fighter to watch in the Bellator lightweight division and in the process, could send a Scotsman back home looking for a new career.