Brandon Halsey: 'I'm expecting the best Alexander Shlemenko'
Brandon Halsey (7-0) gets a shot at the Bellator middleweight title Friday in Phoenix, when he challenges champion Alexander Shlemenko (50-8). The undefeated American wrestler has motivation beyond the gold belt, however - he wants to keep the "0" on his record.
"Yeah it feels good to keep the momentum going and stay undefeated. I want to keep that going," he tells Cagewriter.
Up until he lost a non-title, light heavyweight fight with Tito Ortiz last May, Shlemenko had a great deal of momentum going himself. It had been years, and thirteen fights since the Russian had dropped a fight before getting submitted in the first round of his fight with the former UFC champ.
Shlemenko recently told us that he's a new and more dangerous fighter since that loss. Halsey doesn't doubt it, and expects the champion to have all his confidence back come fight night.
"I have no idea what his mindset is but I know he is capable of overcoming adversity," the challenger says.
"I’m expecting him to bring his best. I’m prepared for the best Alexander Shlemenko."
One of the champion's main strengths is his almost ridiculous amount of fight experience. He estimates that he's competed in fight sports over a thousand times, and his professional MMA record lists nearly sixty fights.
With just seven pro fights in total, Halsey would seem to be at serious disadvantage when it comes to experience and the savvy that comes with it. The Californian says he's more than an MMA newcomer, however - he's a life long combat sports competitor.
"I've been wrestling a long time," he explains.
"I've been on this type of big stage before. Having seventy fights doesn’t mean that you have the experience advantage. I'm looking forward to the spotlight. I'm ready to go."
Halsey's goals don't just include staying undefeated and winning the Bellator title, either. The 28 year-old wants to become the best fighter in the world, pound for pound, by the time he's done.
"[Winning] is going to be a good feeling," he says.
"Everyone looks forward to holding a title. But I'll still have to move forward. I want to be the best fighter in the world, pound for pound, one day."
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