Press Release – Newkirk, OK – (May 5, 2011) —Bellator Fighting Championships will head back to the First Council Casino for Bellator 43 airing LIVE on MTV2 this Saturday. Bellator 43 features a Bellator Welterweight Finals matchup between Jay Hieron and Rick Hawn, along with special feature fights featuring Bryan Baker, Joe Riggs, Chase Beebe, Jose Vega, Ron Sparks, and Vince Lucero. Below you will find quotes from each fighter.
Jay Hieron
I feel like I’m just way too experienced for Rick Hawn, and I’m just a better fighter. I just have to go out there and do what I do every day in the gym. I’m going to bring my A-game to this fight. I’m healthy, I’m ready and I’m focused. I’m just counting down the days right now.
I feel like everything happens for a reason. At the end of the day when I look at my situation – this is exactly what I wanted to do. I felt like I wanted to catch-up. Coming off that long layoff, this was the best way for me to get back in the mix. Taking all these fights in such a short amount of time was what I wanted, and I just thank God that I’ve been able to remain healthy.
I still don’t feel like I’ve been able to show the best Jay Hieron. This is the final fight where I get to use all of my weapons, and I’m ready for it. My body’s ready, my mind is ready, I’m focused, and that’s all I can be right now. I feel great. I’m in a great state of mind and I just really can’t wait to get out there.
I want to send a statement with every fight I’m in. I train just as hard, if not harder than anybody in the world, and that’s what I try to go out there and show. I still feel like I haven’t been able to show all that I’m capable of, and that’s fine. It’s cool. Everyone can just watch. There will be a day and a time for everything.
I’m not worried at all about Rick Hawn’s Olympic Judo. This is a fight, it’s not judo. I have a great wrestling background too, but it’s not wrestling either, it’s a fight.
I’m not looking past anybody. I’m not looking past Rick Hawn. I train like I’m fighting for a world title every time. This is my world title fight, right now. This is my final fight in the tournament, and I’m not looking past it. It’s time for me to go out there and take it.
Rick Hawn
I’m very motivated heading into this fight with Jay Hieron. It’s just one last fight and then I’ll be able to take a little break. I’m just looking forward to getting this fight over with, getting out of there with a win, and then enjoying some time off after I earn my title shot.
I figured heading into this tournament that I would be fighting someone like Jay [Hieron] or Lyman [Good] in the finals. I knew I would end fighting someone at a really high level with a lot of experience. So fighting Jay Hieron in the finals is no surprise at all to me.
I think Lyman [Good] was the toughest guy in the division, besides me of course. I’m not looking past Jay [Hieron] at all. He’s a really good athlete and a really good fighter, but honestly I feel like Lyman was a tougher fight for me than Jay’s going to be.
Lyman [Good] is really young, and he was just an animal in there. I don’t really see Jay [Hieron] being as strong or as quick as Lyman was. So I’m definitely not taking Jay lightly, but I feel like I have him covered.
I try to go balls to the wall in every fight, but especially in this one because it’s the finals. There’s going to be elbows and there’s going to be no holding back. I’m going to be going all out because this fight’s a big deal. This is what I’ve been training for, so I’m putting everything into it.
Bryan Baker
I’m in 100% remission from leukemia right now. I feel so good. I want to use this experience to help inspire others that may be going through a difficult time in their life, or an illness like I was going through.
I feel like I have a new beginning in life. Like I have this whole new life that’s just ready to fulfill it’s purpose. The desire I have to get through some of the things that I’ve been through just shows that it’s my destiny to become a champion.
My victory over Jeremy Horn was a testament to myself and what I can get through on my quest to become a world champion. That fight was an introduction to the new Bryan Baker. That fight was kind of a glimpse of what’s to come, and now this fight with Joe Riggs is the start of the next chapter.
I feel like I match up perfect with a guy like Joe Riggs. I think I’m better than him in any area. I’m more athletic than he is. I’m just going to go out there, have some fun and showcase all of my skills. No matter what position this fight ends up in, I’m going to be confident that I’m better in that position. I’m going to be looking to finish the fight.
I know Joe [Riggs] is going to be bringing it in this fight, and that’s great because it helps to bring out my abilities. I want to break down his game plan and make him fight the kind of fight that I want to fight.
I plan on being completely dominant in this fight with Joe Riggs. Even more so than in my previous fight with Jeremy Horn.
Now that I’m in 100% remission I want to go out there and show the world what I know in my heart – that it’s my destiny to become a champion. I want to go out there and finish Joe Riggs and make that statement in this fight.
I feel like, with what I just went through and overcome, my purpose in life is to inspire others. My purpose isn’t just to be a champion just to be a champion. My purpose is to be a champion to be a light to let everyone know to believe in themselves and to achieve their dreams. I feel like that’s why God has given me this stage – along with the desire and ability – to be a light to inspire others. With the path I’m currently on in Bellator, I feel like I’m required to go out there and win this championship to show others that no matter what they’re going through, if they put their heart into it, they can get through it.
Joe Riggs
Bryan Baker is a really tough guy. His wrestling base is really solid, his striking looks like it’s getting better, and he obviously has a ton of heart considering some of the obstacles he’s had to overcome.
The fact that Bryan Baker beat Jeremy Horn in his last fight is even extra motivation for me. Jeremy has been a good friend and training partner of mine for a long time so it’s going to be nice to go out there and get that win back for Jeremy.
For Bryan Baker to think he’s better than me in all areas is crazy. I’ve been fighting since 2000 and for him to think his striking is better than mine is just ridiculous. I don’t know if he’s just trying to hype himself up, but he’s not better than me anywhere.
I plan on going out there, letting my hands go, catching Bryan [Baker], and knocking him out. Standing up I’m far better than he is. Far better. The fight’s going to start out standing up and he’s going to get knocked out. That’s just the bottom line.
I’m coming into this fight with Bryan Baker to win. I didn’t just come here to Bellator to make some money, I came here to win this upcoming middleweight tournament.
Chase Beebe
I know Jose Vega has some good submissions, but he also has heavy hands and I know he’s going to be bringing some knockout power into this fight. I know he’s going to be dangerous on the feet and on the ground, so I just have to be on point in this fight. I’m not too worried about it though. I feel great right now.
I’ve actually been living with Clay Guida in his RV while I’ve been training for this fight. It’s nothing but world class fighters down there at Greg Jackson’s. I’ve been training with all of the different fighters out there, but I spend a lot of my time sparring and grappling with Clay [Guida] and [Donald] Cowboy Cerrone. It’s been a great experience. I feel awesome. I feel like this fight with Jose Vega is going to be the best fight of my life.
This fight with Jose Vega is just an extension of the tournament for me. The way I see it – If I can’t win this fight, then I don’t deserve to be in the upcoming tournament. To me, this fight is the first fight in the tournament. You’re only as good as your last fight in this sport and I want to show all the fans at home what they can expect for me to bring in this upcoming bantamweight tournament. I want to go out there in this fight with Jose and get everyone excited about what they’re going to see in the near future, because I’m pretty excited about it.
Of course you can’t look past anyone at this level of the sport, but in my heart of hearts I definitely feel like I’m the best bantamweight fighter in Bellator right now, and that’s including Joe Warren. I was watching some tape on some of the other Bellator bantamweights with some of the guys at Greg Jackson’s just recently, and we came to the conclusion that I’m significantly better than all those guys [laughs]. It’s one thing to say it before the fight, and it’s another thing to go out there and perform. That’s something I’ve done before. I’ve gone out there and performed on that big stage.
You can never look past anyone in this sport and I won’t be looking past Jose Vega in this fight. I could be whipping his ass for fourteen minutes and fifty seconds, and he still has a chance to knock me out. But I’m definitely going to make a statement in this fight. My ultimate goal is to go out there and strike fear in the hearts of any of the other bantamweights that might have to fight me. I’m going to make all of them realize that I’m the guy they’re going to have to beat.
Jose Vega
I’m ready to get back in there and take out this big name. I plan on going out there and taking Chase Beebe’s spotlight. I want to be in the position where they’re throwing up-and-comers at me, instead of me always having to fight the guy with the big name.
Of course I want to go out there and knock Chase Beebe out as quickly as possible, but I expect this fight to just be three rounds of hard fighting. That’s what I’ve prepared myself for.
I’m going to try to go out there and put Chase Beebe on his ass. I just want to show everyone that I’m here. I just want to keep putting people away so I can get back in that tournament, win the finals, and get a shot at that belt.
I just want to take the fight right to Chase Beebe and just constantly apply pressure. I want the judges watching me. I’m going to keep coming forward. Even if I’m getting tagged on the way in, I’m always going to be applying the pressure.
Ron Sparks
Vince Lucero seems like a big, tough guy. Once I go out there and touch him, we’ll see what happens. I never count anyone out. A guy like him, with nothing to lose, he’s going to be really dangerous.
I’m coming to knock Vince Lucero out. I hit hard. I knocked Greg Maynard out with my left hand, and if my right hand touches you, it’s over.
I’m just trying to have fun when I’m out there. I can throw hard shots from all angles, and I even like taking shots. I love to get hit. Maybe I’m stupid, but I like to touch a guy and get touched, so I know what he’s got. I feel like every time I get hit, my opponent just put a little more in my gas tank. The more I get hit, the more full my gas tank gets until I just want to f****** explode.
When people see me fight I want them to say “That guy’s a bad ass!” I want to be like a 265 pound Wanderlei Silva. I may not be the most technical fighter in the world, but when it’s all said and done, you’re going to know you were in there with a bad motherf*****.
Vince Lucero is out there trying to get my win. He’s trying to take my win from me. I’m not going to let that happen. I’m not going to let him s*** in my yard.
Vince Lucero
Someone is getting knocked out in this fight [laughs] with Ron Sparks. There’s no doubt about that. He has some really heavy hands, but I have a great jaw and I’m going to be swinging right back, so one of us is definitely going to sleep. I just hope it’s not me [laughs].
Ron Sparks is a big boy and it sure looks like hits pretty hard. I know his punches are going to have some sting on them. He’s tough, but I’ve fought some of the best fighters in the world. It should be the best fight of the night. I’m really excited about it.
This fight against Ron Sparks LIVE on MTV2 is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. I’ve been doing this for a long time and I feel better than ever right now. Like in the movie “Rocky”, it was like I lost the eye of the tiger at some point in my career, but now I have it back.
I’m faster and I’m hitting harder than I ever have before. I’m knocking the mitts off of my training partners’ hands in practice. It feels great. I feel revived again. Finally, after all these years.
This is a huge opportunity for me. This is what I fight for. This is my window. This fight with Ron Sparks is my last shot. I’m going to leave everything I have inside of that cage. I have to do it for my family and my children.
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About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
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