Bellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament finalist Eric ‘The American Soldier’ Prindle (9-1) is ready to give it his all tonight when he faces fellow finalist, Thiago Santos in the main event of Bellator 59.
Prindle is a former member of the Army, with an accomplished boxing record while in service to his country, going so far as competing in the world military games.
‘The American Soldier’ trains out of various camps, which can be difficult when it comes to finding fighters your size and skill. One camp in particular stands out in Prindle’s mind as the “best heavyweight camp” available to fighters, and that is the Death Clutch gym. The Death Clutch gym, loacated in Alexandria, Minnesota is the home of former UFC champion Brock Lesnar, and current Bellator heavyweight champ, Cole Konrad.
Prindle tells MMAMania.com what it was like to train there, and his thoughts on possibly facing his former training partner, Konrad, for the Bellator title.
(MMAmania.com): So that Erik Paulson, is that the same Paulson that works at Death Clutch with Brock Lesnar?
Eric Prindle: I train with Brock Lesnar, Cole Konrad. I was in their camp for a while. The last time when he went and fought Cain Velasquez, I actually got called to go back to Iraq so I couldn’t go to their camp but I’ve trained with all the guys from there. I think they’re a bunch of great, awesome guys and if they want me back, I’ll definitely come. I think, in my opinion, that’s the best heavyweight camp you can get. All those guys are walking around 300 pounds and they’re definitely gonna make my wrestling better. That’s basically what I look for, who the training partners are gonna be and who the coaches are gonna be. I think if you do that, you’re gonna be very prepared for your fight.
(MMAmania.com): What are your thoughts on potentially fighting a guy in Cole Konrad that you’ve worked with and trained with? Does it give you any hesitation moving forward?
Eric Prindle: No, I fought Josh Burns and he was a really good friend of mine. For me, it’s not anything mean or anything. I know Cole is one of the best MMA heavyweights in the world so I want to fight him and I want to try to beat him. It doesn’t matter. I want to beat the best Cole Konrad I can and it’s like I would be doing him a dishonor if I didn’t come 100 percent and try to beat him. I think, for me, it’s not anything about aggression or any of that. It’s kinda like a chess match and we’re doing our job and trying to win and make money and keep going forward.