As large of a 12 months for his profession that 2022 was, for bantamweight Raufeon Stots, 2023 may very well be even higher.
As a part of Bellator’s million greenback bantamweight match, Stots picked up wins in his first two bouts and now finds himself on the precipice of taking the match title, claiming the prize cash, and establishing himself as the person to beat within the firm’s 135lb division.
“I really feel like these wins have been the beginning of one thing nice,” Stots instructed MMAWeekly.com. “It began out in Hawaii a few 12 months in the past and I completed Juan (Archuleta), who I felt like was one of many hardest within the division for me to face, then I face any individual I didn’t actually look after in (Danny) Sabatello and I used to be in a position to starch him, transfer on and get to the finals.
“I’m proud of my final 12 months. I really feel prefer it was one of many largest years in my MMA profession and now I’m excited for larger and higher.”
Nearly as good as he has been doing up to now in his profession, Stots feels he’s removed from hitting his potential’s ceiling, and will likely be an much more harmful opponent each day trip.
“I really feel like with my expertise and my skillset I’m nonetheless getting higher and am including new instruments to my ever-evolving recreation,” stated Stots. “I simply really feel like I’m a tough puzzle to determine and I’m simply getting tougher to determine. I’m by no means the identical precise fighter each single battle.
“I just about impose no matter I need to do each battle. I simply really feel prefer it’s going to get tougher and tougher for these guys to determine me out. The higher I get the longer I am going on this recreation.”
This Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii, Stots (19-1) will look to attain his largest victory to this point when he faces Patchy Combine (17-1) within the finals of the 145-pound grand prix match at Bellator 295.
“I really feel like that is one of the best bantamweight battle that I can have,” Stots stated. “I really feel it’s the 2 greatest guys within the division, within the match, are preventing within the finals. Patchy goes to be my hardest battle to this point and I’m prepared for it. All through my profession I’ve taken on the hardest challenges.
“I attempted to battle Patchy earlier in my profession, he didn’t need that smoke, and now he has to battle me. I feel what I’ve to do is similar factor that I’ve been doing and expose his weaknesses. I don’t really feel like he’s pretty much as good as me on the toes, however I additionally really feel like I can dictate what we do on the bottom. What I obtained to do is be Raufeon, be me, be assured and go in there and whoop ass.”
Whereas taking the match championship and the cash that comes with it may be a career-defining second for Stots, he places all of that apart and focuses on the battle itself earlier than fascinated about what comes after the ultimate bell has sounded.
“My mindset is that I’ve to be current within the moments I’m in,” stated Stots. “The long run is fairly unsure except I maintain what I have to maintain within the current.
“I’ve a activity to do: I’ve to beat Patchy Combine, I’ve to interrupt his will, win each spherical and end Patchy, after which the remainder of the stuff will come. I see the opposite stuff on the opposite facet however I’ve to be current within the battle and win this battle and that’s what I’ll do.”
