Bellator's Phil Davis, a year after free agency: ‘It was the most indifferent I’ve felt’

Phil Davis is visibly hungry in 2016.

Just 15 months ago, while promoting his final UFC bout, a decision loss to Ryan Bader, Davis (15-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) hardly touched his salmon. Today, the veteran light heavyweight is stuffing his face with everything in sight – pizza, sliders, deviled eggs – while doing media rounds alongside Bellator 154 opponent Muhammad Lawal (19-4 MMA, 8-3 BMMA). They meet on May 14 in a Spike-televised headliner at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

“The first year has been good,” Davis said. “ … I wanted to show up in Bellator and make a big splash. I was able to do that.”

Approaching his first anniversary since signing with Bellator, Davis appears rejuvenated by his successful transition from the UFC’s octagon to the circular cage.

The formidable wrestler, who was occasionally lambasted for his slow and grinding grappling style, finished both of his opponents to win Bellator’s inaugural “Dynamite” tournament at Bellator 142 in September 2015. But looking back on his final days with the UFC, Davis admitted that his pending free agency adversely affected his

“It was an odd feeling,” he said. “It was like doing homework on the last day of school. I wanted to win, there was no time that I didn’t want to win, but it was the most indifferent I’ve felt about one of my performances, and that’s not a good feeling. I was very not like myself. … I didn’t really care.”

Shortly after his loss to Bader, Davis entered into re-negotiation talks with the UFC, but he ultimately chose to sign with Bellator in April 2015.

One year later, his path through free agency has paved the way for a smattering of others, and with that trailblazing experience comes a unique perspective.

“It’s tempting to say I want everything to be like it was in the past, like at my old job … fighting this many times,” Davis said. “The truth of the matter is, have fun with it, man. I expected it to be different. I expected some changes, and now I have some changes. The more I embrace it, the more awesome it is.”

Coming off his tournament win, Davis will now, for the first time, headline a Bellator card, one of the Viacom-backed promotion’s “tentpole events” on Spike And making matters more interesting, Davis’ first headlining gig at Bellator come on May 14, the very same night his old employers at the UFC are promoting their 198th pay-per-view card, a sold-out event in Brazil featuring Anderson Silva, Cristiane “Justino” Cyborg and heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum.

Davis brushed off any awareness of the scheduling battle, and at the same time admitted no pressure from Bellator or the television folks, who are banking on Davis, Lawal and co-headliners Michael Chandler and Josh Thompson, (another free-agent acquisition) to attract a sizable audience.

At the moment, Davis is solely focused on his training and “King Mo,” who was forced from their previous pairing in the “Dynamite” tournament final after doctors declared Lawal medically unable to continue due to a rib injury. And like every training camp before, Davis is spending his days at San Diego’s Alliance MMA, under the guidance of head coach Eric Del Fierro.

“My passion for the sport and his passion for the sport, they connect and … we’re able to make a better product,” Davis said. “[But] my coach can’t love fighting more than me. … I love fighting more than anybody else.”

There is no indifference there, on the part of Davis, who sits within earshot of his upcoming opponent. There is no hesitation or reluctance either. It’s a complete turnaround from the year before, when Davis was reserved, and almost timid, ahead of the Bader fight. It’s that tone of voice, that eager ring and pitch, and attentiveness that Davis now projects. He was missing that a year ago.

And while Davis doesn’t go so far as to credit Bellator for renewing his approach to the fight game, his demeanor suggest otherwise. The transition has added urgency and desire to his mannerisms, expressions, and, mostly, his words.

“If you don’t want to get out there and win more than anybody else … you’re going to lose,” he said.

For more on Bellator 154, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Dan Shapiro has covered MMA for Fightland, the Huffington Post and other outlets. Follow him on Twitter at @dannyshap.