Tonight Bellator Fighting Championships features the welterweight finale for it’s fourth season between Jay Hieron and undefeated Rick Hawn (11-0). Both men square off in the main event of Bellator 43 at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma which will air live on MTV2.
Hawn, a former member of the 2004 US Olympic judo team, has won three straight bouts with Bellator to get to the finals. He earned his way into the tournament last October with a knockout win over LeVon Maynard at Bellator 33. Since then he’s gone on to defeat Jim Wallhead in the tournament quarterfinals, and Lyman Good in the semifinals to make it to the finals to earn a shot at a $100,000 payday and a title shot against Ben Askren.
In a recent interview on the MMADieHards Radio Network, Hawn felt his Judo background was superior to Hieron’s wrestling, and that it would be enough to earn him the win Saturday night.
“I think Judo is probably better,” Hawn suggested. “Even though I’m a little biased given my judo career, I actually wrestled a bit in high school. As a base, it’s easy to transition from judo to another martial art. Obviously, wrestling is more strength- and power-based. Judo is more associated with qualities like cardiovascular strength and agility, I guess. Each are different sports and they’re both very good bases to have.”
“Yeah definitely, obviously (on the ground is) where (Hieron)’s kind of shined in his fights, with his ability to take guys down,” Hawn conceded. “But my wrestling defense is pretty good and I don’t think he’s going to be stronger than me. Conditioning-wise, I know I’m better conditioned than him so it’s just about getting myself in the right positions and not leaving myself in a bad one where he would have the opportunity to get a takedown. I just need to keep myself safe, be more aggressive and take the fight where I want it to go.”