After sharing 25 minutes with his rival, Raufeon Stots was not impressed with Danny Sabatello’s skill set.
Stots defeated Sabatello via split decision in the main event of Bellator 289, which included a high controversial 50-45 scorecard in Sabatello’s favor from Douglas Crosby, to retain his interim bantamweight title and move on the finals of the Bellator bantamweight grand prix.
Sabatello used his high-level grappling, but could not land any significant positions in those positions. Stots wasn’t a fan.
“He fought to the best of his ability, but I think it’s a coward way to fight,” Stots said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t necessarily think wrestling is a coward’s way to fight, I just think he tries to use his wrestling to impose a lackluster fight. That was his attempt to force a fight. I think it’s an abo **** approach.
” I think he should move up, improve — submissions or ground-and-pound. He don’t fight to dominate, he fights to just out-position you, and I feel like that’s kind of a b**** way to go.”
Regardless of Stots’ feelings about Sabatello’s strategy, it was close-fought, and Stots’ ability to accumulate damage proved to be the difference.
When asked about Stots’ injuries or if he was in danger during the contest’s five rounds, “Supa” said that he didn’t.
“He did not hurt me at any point, Stots stated. Stots stated that even if he did land it, that was probably the most pain or threat I have ever felt. In terms of damage, I [didn’t feel] never felt [any] threatened at any point.
” I think that I won two or three. It can also be said that I won four. But, I definitely won two, three and five .”
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Stots will now meet Patchy Mix in the tournament finale for $1 million at a yet to be announced date, with the winner going on to meet the injured Sergio Pettis to unify the titles.
After fighting, Stots stated that he met Sabatello at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville (Conn). There was no shaking of hands or any real pleasantries exchanged.
“I had seen him after coming down the escalator,” Stots explained. “I don’t like the dude, I’ll never like the dude, but he said something like, ‘Yeah, I’ll see you again,’ or something like that. And I was like, ‘Better luck next time, motherf*****, and f*** you, go about your merry way.’
“I’ll never bury the hatchet, not in the foreseeable future. I just don’t like him. I don’t like the way he carries himself. He represents a lot of stuff I don’t f*** with, and he proved it to me when he walked out [of the cage] pissed off because it didn’t go his way like a little b****.
” I think his classification as a b **** differs from mine because I believe he was the one who got a lot in life. Although I agree that he did a lot of work, I don’t think he would be happy if it didn’t go his direction. And that’s something I don’t f*** with.”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/12/18/23509620/raufeon-stots-on-danny-sabatellos-game-plan-in-rivalry-fight-at-bellator-289-coward-way-to-fight?rand=96749
