Bellator champion Phil Davis: My respect is on the line in Ryan Bader title rematch

NEW YORK – Phil Davis has different motivations from opponent Ryan Bader heading into Saturday’s Bellator light heavyweight title rematch.

Bader (22-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who is making his promotional debut at Bellator 180, which takes place at Madison Square Garden and airs on Spike prior to Bellator NYC on pay-per-view, has said the fact his fight purse is guaranteed will allow him to be more free with his fighting style and, as a result, he can be less worried about the consequences of an underwhelming or losing performance.

Davis (17-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) said he’s not fully understanding of that mentality. “Mr. Wonderful” believes that no matter the avenue, winning is always the most important final destination.

“I have the same thing to lose every fight, and it’s not money. It’s respect,” Davis told reporters at Bellator 180 media day. “It’s not even the fans’ respect. I have this thing in my head that I want to put forward to my fans, to myself. I want to perform, and that’s what I have to lose every time. Sure, you lose money. Sure, you might lose some fans. But that is not what I think about. I try to go in there and perform for myself and my coaches and my team.”

For this fight in particular, Davis, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings, feels there’s a lot on the line. Not only is his title belt up for grabs, but he wants to avenge a January 2015 split-decision loss to No. 4-ranked Bader at UFC on FOX 14.

The first fight was close over the course of three rounds, but Bader was awarded the decision. Davis knows he could have won, as one judge believed he did, but he’s not willing to make excuses. He understands he made some poor judgements and said he intends on avoiding a repeat of the same mistakes.

“I never like to say, ‘Ah, it was so close it could have gone the other way,'” Davis said. “I look at that fight, and there was so much I did wrong that I just won’t allow to happen again. … I look at all my losses, and they’re all losses I really want to get back.”

Although it was a close fight, Bader’s win over Davis was also relatively underwhelming and light on action. Both men have high strikes defense statistics, which, paired with wrestling bases, can make for a stalemate affair.

Davis thinks both he and Bader have come a long way in the more than two years since their original meeting, though. And with five rounds at play, Davis doesn’t see a repeat, even if Bader is coming in with some momentum.

“I think he’s all around just better,” Davis said. “More than anything, fighting is about confidence, and he’s on a roll right now. So confidence is up for him. That’s what I see as being the biggest difference.”

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