https://youtu.be/xqO38AThRGA
Josh Thomson could be setting himself up for an exciting match.
Bellator’s 147 weigh ins went down yesterday (Dec 3rd, 2015) at the San Jose State University Event Center in San Jose California, and except for one fighter not making weight everything went down without a hitch. The Card is headlined by UFC and Strikeforce veteran Josh Thomson (21-8 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) vs. Pablo Villaseca (10-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in the lightweight bout. Thompson is a heavy favorite in the fight and it seems that he and the Bellator fans are already looking ahead. After watching his 3rd round stoppage of Mike Bronzolius in his debut for the organization, fans were hitting him up on social media about who he should fight next, but in a surprising turn of events it wasn’t the current 155 champion Will Brooks.
“I’m not targeting anybody,” Thomson told MMA Fighting. “What really it is, is that I’ve already been a world champion, so fighting for titles, yeah sure it’s exciting. There’s a lot of eyeballs on it. But nobody really wants to see me fight Will Brooks. I haven’t had anybody on my social media ask me to fight Will. Everybody is asking me to fight Chandler. Chandler, to me, is the name right now. Chandler is the man right now in Bellator as far as the hype around him. I respect him a lot and I think that’s a huge fight.”
Chandler is Striking menace that puts it on the line in every round. Don’t believe me? Go back and watch his fight – actually war is more accurate – against UFC’s Eddie Alvarez back in Bellator 106. It’s up with the likes of Rory, Lawler. You know what, I’ll just put it in for you guys below, it’s Friday, I’m feeling generous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ywFCVf1D8 Now if I was Josh Thompson I would secure the title first against Brooks and then set my eyes on Chandler. But unfortunately, I’m not him, and at 37 years old the All American kickboxer and former Strike Force champion fights for different reasons.
“I haven’t really seen enough of Will Brooks and I’m not trying to slight him or disrespect him at all,” Thomson said. “But I’ve already been a world champion, I’ve already done what I’ve needed to do in the sport. I’m looking to do the things that fans want to see. Fans want to see me and Chandler. All I saw after that St. Louis card on my social media, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: ‘Man, I can’t wait to see Josh Thomson and Michael Chandler.’ Maybe only one or two people said Will Brooks. It’s nothing against him. I’m just speaking about what the fans have said.”
Well it looks like the tribe has spoken. The fans want to see it, Thompson want’s to do it, so if he wins his next fight I say “let them eat cake.” While I still think it’s a smarter move to secure the title, it’s undeniable that this fight would be fireworks, possibly fight of the year. Another classic case of the head and the heart. What do you guys think, Chandler or Brooks? Chime in at our comment section below.
