LAS VEGAS – David Michaud is one step away from the coveted prize.
At last Friday’s PFL Playoffs 1, Michaud notched two wins to punch his ticket to the finals. He defeated fellow UFC veterans John Howard and Glaico Franca, and now has an opportunity to win the $1 million dollars.
But he insists it’s not about the money. Michaud (18-5 MMA, 3-1 PFL) is out to prove he’s one of the best fighters in the world.
“I didn’t start fighting to be rich,” Michaud said at the post-fight press conference. “I started fighting to be the best in the world, and I know, I believe that I’m one of the best fighters in the world, and whenever I get this belt, everyone else is going to know it, too.”
Michaud engaged in two hard-fought battles and will have to make a relatively quick turnaround against Ray Cooper III in the finals on Dec. 31. Michaud admits he was hoping to come out unscathed, but instead found himself battling adversity in his second fight vs. Franca.
“I was hoping to get two quick finishes, bounce out of there, be healthy but had two wars,” Michaud said.
He entered the third round vs. Franca, knowing he needed to win the round in order to win the fight. An accidental low blow by Franca led Michaud to duck under in pain, which was followed by a perfectly timed knee, splitting him open.
That was the turning point for Michaud, who knew he had to pour it on.
“Going into the third round before the cut, it was like (expletive), it’s 1-1,” Michaud said. “It’s tied up. I knew I was on my back for a while. One of the judges ended up giving him a 10-8. I was kind of thinking, that might be it. I just couldn’t get up. I just couldn’t get up. He was tough on top. I was trying to move a little bit, and he’s good. He’s good at what he’s good at, so going into the third I knew I had to win then I got that low blow. And as I was squatted over, I got hit in the head, and it was bleeding, and I’m like, ‘God, well time to turn it up,’ and it ended up working out. I guess.”
Starting out his PFL tenure with a 17-second knockout loss to Sadibou Sy, Michaud had no doubt he would turn things around. That’s the beauty of the tournament format, where Michaud was able to quickly forget about that loss and focus on the next task at hand.
And now he’s one fight away from winning it all.
“In my mind, I never doubted I was going to be in the finals,” Michaud said. “I knew where I was. I knew going into that fight, I was the lowest of the low. I was 12th seed going into my second fight because I had the quickest knockout loss, but I knew going in, get a win, make the playoffs. Like I said, in the playoffs, everyone’s tough. We had eight world class fighters here tonight, and I’m one of the last two left standing.”
David Michaud: Winning PFL tournament will prove 'I'm one of the best fighters in the world'