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Phil Davis Has to Get Past King Mo First, but His Eyes are on the Bellator Belt
Coming off his UFC release in early 2015, light heavyweight Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis joined Bellator and has revitalized his career with two straight wins in the promotion.
As part of the eight-man light-heavyweight tournament, Davis dispatched former Bellator champion Emanuel Newton and then Francis Carmont in the finals, proving himself someone to be reckoned with within the company.
“I definitely wanted to get into Bellator and make a big statement, and I feel like I was able to do that,” Davis told MMAWeekly.com. “I’m also so glad to have the support of Bellator, Spike TV, and Viacom behind me.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a fresh start, but with all my momentum and experience I’m going to go right in to where I’m at right now and keep that train moving.”
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While picking up wins over formal champion Newton and a tough veteran in Carmont were good for Davis’ career, to him they’re no more important wins than any he’s had before.
“It doesn’t do anything for me,” said Davis. “I don’t look at another guy’s accomplishments and think what would happen if I beat that guy.
“Honestly, the toughest battles is getting to the cage and being healthy, because if I’m not healthy and at my best, a guy who's not the best can beat me. They’re super-tough guys and I’m glad to have beaten them, but at the same time, I want that belt.”
In order to get his shot at the Bellator light heavyweight title, Davis (15-3) first has to go through former title contender “King” Mo Lawal (19-4) in a 205-pound main event on Saturday in San Jose, Calif.
“I wish this fight would have happened Sept. 19. (Defeating Lawal) would have made an awesome end to that night, but I have to fight him now, and it’s going to be another great night for me,” Davis said. “He does a lot of things well, but I just feel like I do a lot of things better.”
Though he’s finally getting his chance to face Lawal, Davis also has his mind set on challenging Liam McGeary for the Bellator light heavyweight title in the near future.
“After this, it’s off to maybe not so much bigger and better things, but a much taller guy in Liam McGeary, and I have plans to whoop on him as well,” said Davis.
“I’m not going to ever say the championship fight is not where I’m at. Liam’s kind of always in this conversation, even though I’m fighting Mo. But at the same time Mo is the guy we’re going to fight next, and after we’re done fighting Mo, hopefully ol’ Slim Jim (McGeary) is ready to fight.”
