View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlNIlXSZJjM
Former Bellator MMA featherweight champion Daniel Straus isn’t worried about answering critics, naysayers or anyone else who doubts his ability to hold the belt once again. Straus is on a different mission.
“This is a game; you have ups, and you have downs,” Straus told MMAjunkie. “I don’t need to prove anything to anybody – not the fans. I don’t need to prove anything to bosses. Nothing. All I’m working on is proving things to myself.”
Straus earned the featherweight belt in 2013 with a decision win over Pat Curran. However, he surrendered the title in his next fight and suffered a submission defeat in a rematch with Curran.
Straus worked his way back to a title shot earlier this year, but current champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire submitted him in January.
This past Friday at Bellator 138 at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center, Straus (24-6 MMA, 11-3 BMMA)picked up a submission win over Henry Corrales (12-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA). Later in the night, Freire (24-2 MMA, 12-2 BMMA) defended his belt with a knockout victory over Daniel Weichel (35-9 MMA, 4-1 BMMA).
Unfortunately for Straus, he also lost a 2011 bout with Freire. Traditionally in combat sports, when a fighter is 0-2 against a champion, he faces a long road to get back to a third meeting.
That’s just fine with Straus.
“If it takes me 10 fights to get back to that strap, I’m game,” Straus said. “I’m not trying to cut any corners. I’m not asking for any favors. I want that belt.”
Bellator officials have yet to reveal their immediate plans for Straus, and as an elite competitor at 145 pounds, 10 fights seems a bit extreme. Still, Straus said he’s not opposed to any path that leads him back to the belt.
Meanwhile, be prepared for war when he steps into the cage.
“I’m coming in to fight hard, to fight my ass off,” Straus said. “That’s all people can say that they’ve seen from me, was me fighting hard.
“Anybody in the 145(-pound) division can get it. ‘Pitbull,’ he can get it. He has the belt. I want that belt, and that’s what we’re all chasing for, that gold.”
LINK to full story: Daniel Straus done proving things to anyone but self, vows to be champ again | MMAjunkie
