Brennan Ward might not want Bellator title shot if he beats Logan Storley

Each fighter close to the highest of his or her division clambers for a championship alternative.

Properly, virtually each fighter.

See, Brennan Ward has obtained Logan Storley, Bellator’s top-ranked contender at 170 kilos, in his sights for the Bellator 298 predominant occasion Friday (10 p.m. ET, Showtime) in Sioux Falls, S.D., and a victory over the previous interim champion would appear to clear the way in which for a shot at welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov.

Ward simply isn’t certain that’s actually what he desires.

“I’m gonna be sincere with you, dude: I didn’t even need to combat, I nonetheless don’t possibly need to combat for the title,” Ward advised The Put up throughout a latest Zoom interview. “I’m simply taking fights, dude. I’m out for a paycheck.”

That’s not the form of candor one tends to listen to from a fighter in Ward’s place.

However the 35-year-old, who returned to MMA competitors for the primary time in 5 years final February, additional explains his trepidation with accepting the chance with an acknowledgment of all of the added “strain” that comes with elevated visibility.

“Plenty of strain comes together with wanting that belt,” Ward says after a breath to collect his ideas. “All of the strain is what will get to me, dude; all of the social media s–t and all this and that. Like, dude, I simply need to get a paycheck combat. That’s it. That’s what I’m attempting to do.

“I hate having to f–king attempt to, like, blow up on social media and all that. Core combat followers know who I’m, they usually know what’s up. So, will I combat for a title, I don’t even know. I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Combating to help Ward’s rising household — his girlfriend and two younger daughters together with a child born in March — is the clear high precedence over proving his supremacy at 170 kilos.

So, whereas expressing doubts over whether or not Ward (17-6, 16 finishes) desires to take care of all of the noise that comes with combating for a belt, the potential for elevated monetary compensation may twist his arm.

“If the cash was proper, I’d do it. I’ll do something if the cash’s proper,” mentioned Ward after contemplating whether or not he would possibly flip down a title shot if supplied. “… I don’t even know if Bellator would need me to be their champ. 

“We’ll see what occurs ’trigger I’m gonna beat Logan. Who is aware of? They could need me to combat another person. I can’t see one other one in between this and a title [fight]. I can’t see one other one. He’s ranked No. 1.”

Ward is 3-0 throughout his second run in MMA, which comes after he spent years battling habit that overlapped even a few of his greatest success within the sport.

Saying he’s been sober now “for some time,” Ward has reminded these “core” followers he spoke of why the Waterford, Conn., native was such a must-see attraction for Bellator since his arrival as a prospect in 2012. 

His final three victories got here through second-round TKO, with the latest began by a head kick and completed with punishing punches to cease Sabah Homasi to kick off the televised portion of Bellator 290 within the promotion’s debut on CBS — the primary time the community aired reside blended martial arts since a 2010 Strikeforce occasion.

Ought to Ward get via the 30-year-old Storley (14-2, eight finishes), a four-time All-American wrestler at Minnesota who has earned a end in simply two of his final 10 fights — and accomplish that by the knockout he so typically achieves and believes he’ll get right here — a combat towards champion Amasov certain does make a number of sense, offered he desires it.

Ward suggests “that’d be a great one” to observe if he have been to face off towards Amasov, the 29-year-old Ukrainian whom Ward says he likes to observe combat.

“He’s actual good; tremendous calm, tremendous collected,” Ward says of the champion. “He’s a sportsman, for certain.”

That’s to not say Ward is wanting previous or isn’t cautious of what Storley brings to the desk, whilst a fighter with some newbie wrestling in his background.

However Ward is assured within the hazard his model of combating poses to any man who stands throughout from him in a cage.

Given Ward hasn’t gone the gap since his third professional combat, it’s simple to see the place that confidence originates. 

“I’m virtually constructive this combat’s gonna finish with me knocking him out, and I believe he even is aware of that. I believe even his individuals know that,” Ward mentioned of Friday’s opponent, who will compete in his residence state. “On the identical time, he poses the specter of that takedown. 

“… If he will get me down, there’s a chance he may maintain me down for a spherical. However I don’t see him having the ability to try this for 5 rounds.”