Logan Storley achieved one in all his final objectives at Bellator 281 when he turned the promotion’s interim welterweight champion, however his break up choice win over Michael “Venom” Web page has additionally come together with a mountain of criticism.
The four-time All-American wrestler from the College of Minnesota grounded Web page with a grappling-heavy efficiency to win the interim belt, scoring a number of takedowns within the 25-minute battle. Afterward, Web page slammed Storley’s recreation plan in an look on The MMA Hour, saying the wrestler “didn’t come to inflict harm, he got here to outlive.”
In response, Storley fired again at Web page for his incapability to cease his wrestling, a lot much less stand up from the underside to do a lot harm of his personal on the ft.
“I believe he’s an important dude and he’s a hell of a fighter and I respect the hell out of ‘MVP,’ however on the finish of the day, you couldn’t cease a takedown,” Storley informed MMA Preventing. “You couldn’t cease something I used to be doing on prime. You couldn’t get away from me. Anybody that has an issue with that, I don’t know what to inform you.
“I stood up with you for in all probability 10 or 11 minutes of the battle — why didn’t you drop me? Why didn’t you damage me? I gave you on a regular basis within the fourth spherical, we have been each drained — why didn’t you knock me out? All he mentioned earlier than the battle was, ‘It solely takes one second.’ Why didn’t you do this? That’s my query. Should you’re so good, why didn’t you knock me out in that one second that it took?”
Web page had his greatest efficiency within the fourth spherical, nevertheless he spent the vast majority of the battle keeping off Storley’s wrestling, which was actually the story of the bout.
Storley complimented Web page on his quickness and distance management concerning the moments the motion did keep standing, however the flashy Englishman nonetheless didn’t land something that actually dazzled the judges scoring cageside.
“You may’t sit right here after the battle and provide you with all these excuses,” Storley mentioned. “I stood on the ft with you for eight to 10 minutes and also you couldn’t damage me. Should you’re the world’s greatest striker and also you’re so harmful and it solely takes a break up second, effectively, you didn’t discover it.”
Storley additionally took intention at Web page’s assertion that he solely wanted to repair “one factor” in his recreation and he would turn out to be “probably the most deadly MMA fighter on this planet.”
“I simply assume it’s form of boastful,” Storley mentioned. “I actually respect him, I believe he’s an important dude, however guess what? I don’t have the 20 years of boxing like I do in wrestling, and I perceive that.
“It’s humorous once I hear fighters say, ‘If I repair one factor, I’ll beat this man.’ Effectively, I want you the very best of luck with that.”
Storley additionally confronted criticism from Bellator MMA president Scott Coker, who declared afterwards that he scored the battle for Web page. Coker condemned Storley for a wrestling-heavy recreation plan that he believed didn’t create any actual threats within the battle, however as an alternative amounted to Storley simply “laying on any individual,” and “that’s not MMA.”
Whereas Storley understands that everyone is entitled to their opinion — together with his boss at Bellator — the 29-year-old South Dakota native isn’t going to apologize for taking his very best path to victory.
“I imply, to every his personal,” Storley mentioned. “I believe Scott scored it 48-47 Web page, however which two rounds are you giving me? Should you’re going to present me two rounds, why not give me the opposite two? You’re simply guessing at this level. I respect Scott, me and him have an excellent relationship, however you possibly can’t simply choose and select rounds that, ‘Oh, MVP received this.’ One, two, three, and 5 was clearly me, so which rounds are you giving me?
“I respect Scott and we’ve got an excellent relationship and Bellator’s completed quite a bit for me. I like working for these guys, however I get it. Neiman Gracie, that’s an enormous man of theirs — I beat him up. Then you will have MVP, you’ve acquired the U.Ok. draw — I beat him up. So yeah, if you wish to be mad, be mad. However I don’t care. I’m a world champ, and in the event that they’re not glad, put whoever you will have in entrance of me subsequent.”
Within the grand scheme of issues, Storley acknowledges that he nonetheless has loads of room to enhance, however he additionally received’t specific regrets for beating Web page in the simplest means out there to him.
“I’ve a mind and I understand how to calculate issues and I do know the place persons are good, however I did what I needed to do and I’ve the belt,” Storley mentioned.
“If anybody has an issue with that, I’m sorry. I all the time wish to placed on thrilling fights, however I did what I needed to do to win the battle.”
