Champ Liam McGeary vows to be first to finish 'sad, sad little man' Phil Davis at Bellator 163

Bellator champion Liam McGeary isn’t a fan of the Phil Davis schtick as the pair approaches an upcoming title fight at Bellator 163 next month.

During Monday’s media conference call to promote the event, Davis (16-3 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) did what he does, making jokes and poking fun at McGeary (11-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) while sprinkling in a bit of serious trash talk.

McGeary has been out of action for more than a year due to a knee injury, and Davis said he’s always known he would be the one to welcome the 205-pound titleholder back to action. One of Davis’ comments about how he’s been spending his time didn’t sit particularly well with McGeary.

“I’ve been beating people up while I’ve been waiting to beat up you,” Davis said. “You’re picture has been on a bag in my gym and I just beat the picture off the bag.”

McGeary wasn’t fond of that imagery.

“You’re a sad, sad little man,” McGeary replied. “If I say I’m going to knock him out, I’m going to knock him out. If I say I’m going to submit him, I’ll submit him. You? I just want to beat your (expletive) face off. I haven’t had a fight for a year. You’re in trouble, man. And I’m healthy.”

Bellator 163 takes place Nov. 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The McGeary vs. Davis title fight headlines the Spike-televised main card following prelims on MMAjunkie.

McGeary hasn’t seen action since Bellator 142 in September 2015 when he picked up the most notable win of his career thus far with a first-round submission of former UFC champion Tito Ortiz. Davis, however, is still in the thick of his prime and has beat former UFC champs and title challengers such as Lyoto Machida, Glover Teixeira and Alexander Gustafsson.

That doesn’t intimidate McGeary at all, he said. Because while people have repeatedly underappreciated what he’s capable of during his career, the British fighter continues to find ways to thrive. He said his goal for his next fight is to be the first to stop Davis inside the distance.

“There’s never been an English champion before, Tito (Ortiz) had never been submitted before, either,” McGeary said. “So there’s always a chance these ‘nevers’ get broken, and I’m going to be the man to do it.”

Although McGeary can admit that he has no hard feelings toward Davis outside of the fact “Mr. Wonderful” wants his belt, he said the amount of pent up aggression that’s flowing through his system after such a long break from competition causes him to look at the fight with a more tenacious attitude.

Moreover, Davis continues to poke away with verbal jabs, something McGeary isn’t a fan of, but said he would remember fondly when he’s locked in the cage on fight night.

“Talking is over – I’ve done all the talking,” McGeary said. “I see the videos he puts up and all I’m thinking is, ‘How’s he got all the time to do these videos? He should be in the gym training.’ I’ve done all the talking I need to do.

“We’ve been laughing and joking around back then (when the fight was announced), but that was back then. Now it’s time to get serious. I’ve got a belt to defend and I will be defending it. I’m not going to let that squeak-voiced guy take it off me.”

For more on Bellator 163, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.