James Krause undecided on 155 or 170 pounds, will go where fun fights await

LAS VEGAS – Semifinalist James Krause may not have gotten that fat $290,000 check but, the way he sees it, he’s not walking away from “The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption” empty-handed.

In a season of “TUF” alumni looking for new chances at a UFC careers Krause stood out as the only cast member who still had an active UFC contract. Krause had a solid run until Jesse Taylor – who went on to become the season winner – took him out of the running with a guillotine choke in the third round of their semifinal-round bout.

Krause (24-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) wound up hospitalized with a bad staph infection after the show, but he still had enough time to recover before the finale on Friday – and earn a unanimous-decision win over fellow semifinalist Tom Gallicchio (19-10 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

Sure, Krause didn’t take the “TUF” crown. But that wasn’t the only thing he had in mind when he took on a challenge that, both career-wise and financially, he didn’t really have to take.

“I know the best fighter doesn’t always win that show; it’s been proven time and time again,” Krause told reporters after the FS1-televised preliminary-card welterweight scrap at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “And the No. 1 pick, all that (expletive), that all goes out the window. None of it matters there. That show is a different beast.

“I went in that show with goals and aspirations, regardless if I won or lost. I’m definitely taking advantage of those. I’m getting a lot of opportunities, I’m getting a lot of exposure. I mean, look at you (reporters) right here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a line like this, ever, outside of any of my other wins. So my goal is accomplished.”

Moving forward, Krause is not yet sure where his octagon road will take him – or even in which division it might take place. A habitual 155-pounder, he competed both in the house and at The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale as a welterweight. And, even with the pounds his hospital stint helped shed, he still had some cutting to do.

That’s not to say he’s done with making the lightweight limit. It’s all going to depend on the type of competition made available. And by that, he doesn’t mean well-ranked or title-ready types. Krause just wants risk-takers who are as invested in finishing him as he is in finishing them.

“(Lightweight) is difficult and (welterweight) is not hard, but it’s not easy either, so I don’t really know,” Krause said. “I think we’re going to try one at 170. I talked to Sean, and I said ‘Hey man, give me some fun matchups. Don’t give me some bull(expletive)-ass wrestler that’s going to try to lay on me. Give me fun. I’m an entertainer.’

“I don’t give a (expletive) about rankings, titles. You guys can criticize me all you want. I don’t care about that (expletive). I want to make money, and I want to entertain. If that means me climbing up the ladder on the way, then let’s do it. I want to be on fun fights.”

As for who could give him those scraps, Krause won’t point out specific names (“Man, that’s your guys’ job,” he said). He just wants to entertain. So much so that the jiu-jitsu black belt has adjusted his style to fit what he sees as the casual fans’ preference for striking battles.

Which, he clarifies, doesn’t mean ground fighters can’t put on exciting displays. He’s sure the right opponents are out there. Either way, Krause just wants to showcase some “crazy (expletive).”

“Anybody that likes to strike, anybody that’s exciting to watch,” Krause said. “Those are the guys I want to fight.”

And what happens should he get his wish – but ends up getting his current three-fight winning streak snapped in the process?

“I don’t give a (expletive),” Krause said. “I’ve been beat up in front of millions of people for. I don’t give a (expletive), bro. That’s the thing, that’s what makes me dangerous – I don’t care if I win or lose. I don’t need this (expletive). My paycheck’s coming in regardless, bro.”

To hear Krause’s full scrum, check out the video above.

And for more on The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, check out the UFC Events section of the site.