Bellator 226 “Bader vs. Kongo” emanates from SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Sat., Sept. 7, 2019. Heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (27-5) defends that belt for the first time against experienced veteran Cheick Kongo (30-10-2), currently on an eight fight winning streak.
This show also features opening round bouts for the Featherweight Grand Prix. One of those bouts will see “The Kid” Adam Borics (13-0) facing another long time veteran and two time Featherweight champion in Pat Curran (23-8).
Despite being a divisional legend who could easily pick and choose his opponents, Curran has not shied away from tough fights. He faced another undefeated fighter in “Mercenary” A.J. McKee at Bellator 221 and took the L by unanimous decision.
Borics will be facing a man not only looking to erase the sting of that loss but eager to advance to the second round on a quest to become champion for the third time. How will the young phenom handle the knowledge and experience Curran brings to the table?
Today MMA Mania talks to Adam Borics about facing one of Bellator’s most seasoned Featherweights and how he got into this tournament against Pat Curran to begin with.
“You know, I think I’m the most hard worker in this tournament. So I am working so hard every day, so you know, nothing special. {*chuckling*}”
He can say it’s “nothing special” all he wants but his performances against world class athletes like Aaron Pico say otherwise.
I asked Borics if he was surprised at how well the fight went given the hype that was on Pico joining Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque at the time.
“Eh, you know. First of all, Pico is a great fighter. He has a lot of potential and he was a wrestling world champion, so not too many people can say that — but I was ready for this. I knew I could finish him because I am the most hard worker.”
He’ll need to work even harder to defeat someone like Pat Curran. Curran is the most experienced and most decorated fighter that Borics has ever come up against.
“You know (For Curran) I train always like the same. I train like crazy, but you know he has a lot of experience so I have to fight smart. It’s a great opportunity to fight a former champion, so I just train smart and I will fight smart.”
Does Borics feel any additional pressure dealing with such a big name in the first round of the tournament?
“I fight against a tough guy, and it’s a big big fight for me. I really like this match-up because he’s good everywhere, and he’s a technical guy, so it’s a good match-up for me. I don’t care if it’s the opening round, you know, I’m going to fight against a tough guy who became a world champion and I think this is the right way (for me).”
Dating back to Borics’ teenage years in Hungary he knew fighting would be his destiny.
“I was 16 years old when I tried my first martial art — karate. And after the first training (session) I was like ‘Damn, I want to do this! I want to be a fighter.’ At that time everybody was talking about me in my city (like) ‘Oh this guy’s going to be a good fighter.’ I dreamed it and my dream was always to live like a professional fighter.”
To achieve that dream he had to move to the United States to get to the next level.
“I live in Florida now (for) like two years. It was my dream you know, fighting in a big organization, so I’m just living my dream now and I really love to fight everywhere around the world. I’ve never been to California and I really really want to go there.”
As much as Borics would have liked to live that dream at home, he quickly realized that his options where he grew up were fairly limited.
“In Hungary, you can’t train a professional fighter because there aren’t enough training partners and (MMA) is not that popular you know. They don’t have a professional gym or something like this. When I moved here I was so happy. I can improve every day. I think this is just the beginning.”
Despite being in two completely different weight classes, there was one “ice cold” fighter that Borics always looked up to stylistically and wanted to emulate.
“My favorite fighter was Chuck Liddell, definitely. One time I saw Chuck Liddell on the YouTube and I was like ‘Damn! I want to fight like him!’ {*chuckling*} So yeah, he was one of my favorite fighters, yeah yeah.”
Despite that Borics actually has more submissions (six) than knockouts (three), but he still says he’d prefer to get the latter any time he’s got the chance.
“Yeah I prefer the knockouts you know. Everybody wants to see a knockout. It always depends on the opportunity. If I see a submission opportunity I will take it, or if I see a knockout opportunity, I will do that. It depends on the fight you know.”
Above all Borics just wants to stay focused on the opportunity in front of him with Curran and not look too far ahead at what’s next. A “Kid” can dream though.
“I’m not thinking too much about the final. I (stay) focused on my next round but of course sometimes I am thinking about it (as) the Featherweight tournament final is gonna be Adam Borics vs A.J. McKee.”
That would be one heck of a tournament final considering both opponents would be coming in undefeated. Don’t miss Bellator 226 “Bader vs. Kongo” to see if Borics can take the next step toward his dream.
Complete audio of our interview is embedded above, and complete coverage of Bellator 226: “Bader vs. Kongo” resides here at MMA Mania all week long.
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