Ben Saunders ser varje motståndare som en målarduk och han älskar att se vad han åstakommit när han går ur buren.
– I will admit I really do look at my opponents face and body as a canvas, säger Saunders till MMAjunkie.com Radio efter att han skapat ett svart blått mästerverk av Raul Amaya i Bellator säsong sex welterviktturing, en match som han vann. Not out of disrespect, I love to see my work. I would love a picture of a swollen eye the day after, when it’s probably at its worse. I go for the finish. I go for the kill. But I’m not looking to go anything past what the fight needs to take. But while we’re in there … you signed those papers. You’re trying to do the same to me. I’m just trying to do it to you first.
Saunders (13-4-2 MMA, 4-1 BFC) fick inte det slutet han ville mot Amaya men får en ny chans att visa upp sina Jeet Kune Do-och thaiboxnings-talanger den 4 maj när han möter Bryan Baker på Bellator 67.
– I know he’s a veteran of the sport. He’s been around a while, taken out some tough veterans. But I ain’t going to change my style up. It doesn’t matter to me what his style is, who I’m fighting against, taller, shorter, or what not. I’m coming in, coming in your face, and trying to win by whatever means necessary.
Tackar sina träningskamrater för att han kommit rätt
Den kaxiga attityden gjorde at Saunders hade mycket support när han tog en match mot Jon Fitch ganska sent innan matchen, men det kan också ha varit den attityden som gjorde att han förlorade mot Douglas Lima i Bellators säsong fem titelturnering. Lima blev då den första fightern som lyckats stoppa Saunders.
– I’m really amped to get back in there and get one more. The biggest thing I took out of that was to realize what I’m doing in my camp, I’m doing right. And what I did in the fights, I’m doing correct – understanding one’s body, to be able to get through a tournament and realizing your mental strength.
Saunders kommenterar också att tiden i TUF 6 var viktig för honom och förberedde honom på utmaningar i det formatet. Han tackar också sina tränare och träningskamrater på American Top Team Orlando för att de fått honom på rätt väg.
– Because I was on the reality show, I kind of already had a bit of an idea what it was like to be in the tournament. Fighting four days later and four weeks later is a big difference, though. I said in interviews before, this was just a more professional version of that. You know when you’re fighting and who you’re fighting, as opposed to just having a day notice [while] they’re going to choose you, you have to cut your weight and what not.
– It’s hard to stay peaking for potentially three months. To have good training partners and good coaches be able to see how you’re doing, how you’re feeling, and really not have teammates use you as a punching bag – that’s awesome.
