Carrington Banks' unique Bellator 197 view: He's trained with Chandler, and now trains with Girtz

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Carrington Banks will have a unique perspective heading into tonight’s Bellator 197 main event.

Banks (7-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), an unbeaten Bellator lightweight, spent a couple years training in South Florida with former lightweight champion Michael Chandler. Recently, though, Banks relocated to Denver – where he now trains with Brandon Girtz.

Chandler (17-4 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) and Girtz (15-7 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) fight tonight in the Bellator 197 headliner at The Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo., near St. Louis. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Banks told MMAjunkie one of the refreshing things about his position is there’s no real animosity there between Chandler or Girtz, and therefore no reason for him to be caught in the middle of an old training partner and a new one. Chandler vs. Girtz is not exactly a trash-talking type of fight.

Brandon Girtz and Michael Chandler

“It’s an exciting fight, man,” Banks said. “The way these two guys fight – they’re both explosive, they’re both aggressive and violent. I don’t see it not being a violent fight. There’s going to be some grappling and finessing, but ultimately they both look for the kill and look for the finish.

“Knowing both of them personally, you can’t change that about them. That’s what they do, and that’s what they’re going to do.”

Check out the video above to hear Banks break down the Chandler-Girtz fight.

And for more on Bellator 197, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.