Ed Ruth wants to fight fire with fire.
The American Kickboxing Academy product wants to beat Yaroslav Amosov at his own game when they meet on Feb. 21 in the main event of Bellator 239. Amosov, who’s unbeaten with 22 wins, has climbed up the ranks in Bellator’s welterweight division, dominating opponents with his strong wrestling base.
Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA), who’s a three-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion, wants to see who excels better in the grappling department.
“I know most fighters want to stay away from where the guy is strongest, but me as a fighter myself, I always take it to where the guy is strongest because I feel like I have to dominate that part,” Ruth told MMA Junkie. “It’s not always the best strategy, but in this case, I feel like my wrestling trumps his.”
With that approach in mind, Ruth expects his fight with Amosov to be mainly a wrestling match.
“I definitely see it with me somewhere in the middle of the ring, but both of us are not really going to give up, not going to want to give up too much ground,” Ruth said. “But I do see this being on the feet only for like the first couple of minutes. I think we’re going to be on ground mostly. I think it’s going to be pretty much wrestling match.”
Bellator 239 marks the first time Ruth headlines a Bellator event. The 29-year-old is taking the opportunity just like any other and doesn’t plan to make much of his biggest spotlight.
“You’re stepping in the cage and you know you’re going to be locked in there with somebody and you’re just going to fight,” Ruth said. “For me psychologically, I just have to look at it as the same event as always. That’s just the way I take it.”
Ed Ruth out to test Yaroslav Amosov's wrestling in Bellator 239 main event