New Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen may have been counted out by everyone but those in the know. He was certain he would defeat Gegard Mousasi in Bellator 282..
Eblen was a solid betting underdog heading into Friday’s event and didn’t get much attention going up against the two-time champion, who carried more than four times his professional experience in the cage.
But when they clashed at Mohegan Sun Arena Eblen was the leader of the conversation for 25minutes, scoring an 50-45 shutout from all judges’ cards.
” I hurt him and I f ****** won the grappling, winning every round of the five-round bout,” Eblen said to reporters following the fight. It just silences all the hate. It shuts up everybody. It’s clear that I am the greatest middleweight in the entire world .”
If nothing else, Eblen has seriously shaken up the rankings in the middleweight division and pound-for-pound lists. Mousasi was No. 3 in the former and tied for No. 15 in the latter in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
But when he was asked about his victory over a multi-promotion champion, who many, including him, considered a legend in the fight, he said that despite his success, he didn’t feel shaken.
“Expected,” he said when asked about his new title. It sounds exactly like it is supposed to. During this whole week, I knew this was going to happen. Although I did have moments of doubt, I persevered like every other man, hardworking and dedicated, to become the champion .”
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A product of American Top Team. Eblen might not have had much experience in 11-0 but he was armed with a lot of experience. On Friday, he was joined by former UFC interim champion Dustin Poirier and Mike Brown (who turned into a coach for Mike Brown), and Muhammad Lawal, a former Strikeforce champ and Rizin champ who beat Mousasi in order to win the former belt. Whatever level Mousasi brought to the table, he said it had been matched at his gym.
“This is how I spar,” Eblen stated. “It was a normal Thursday sparring session. That’s the reason I brought Dustin [Poirier], because he watches my rounds, and he keeps me grooving and moving, feeling good, and it was just another Thursday sparring session.”
Eblen stated that he must heal from the long camp and the shin injury sustained during his fight. Then he’ll evaluate what’s next in his career. Already, former UFC contender and Bellator signee Yoel Romero has targeted the new champ, and others will be chomping at the bit.
But, for the moment Eblen enjoys his I-told you-so moment.
” I know that there are a lot haters, and many doubters about me. He said that he thought he was going to finish me in three. But, I knew he was wrong. He even believed he would finish me in three minutes, but I knew that he was wrong .”
