Bellator 259 winner Grant Neal concerned with leaving a long-lasting legacy, not rankings

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Grant Neal is solely focused on improving his craft, not the number next to his name.

Neal (6-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) remained unbeaten when he made quick work of Tyree Fortune with a first-round submission at Bellator 259 on Friday, giving Fortune the first loss of his pro career.

The Elevation Fight Team prospect entered the bout ranked No. 7, but he doesn’t put too much emphasis on the pecking order at light heavyweight unless it’s propelling him forward.

“I don’t really look at the rankings like that,” Neal said at the post-fight news conference. “Rankings and everything, it’s just a number. The number doesn’t mean anything unless you beat the person in front of you. So my ultimate goal is to beat the person in front of me, and the number doesn’t matter at all to me. As long as I’m beating the person in front of me and winning the last fight, I’m going to be where I want to be. I’m going to leave a long-lasting legacy.”

With a big win over Fortune, Neal is not too far off from the upper echelon of the division, which includes an array of established veterans and former champions. He wants to wait and see how the 205-pound grand prix plays out, then weigh his options.

“Right now, the tournament is going on. So I am confident in what I have to offer, and I’m just ready to go whenever – whatever falls on my lap,” Neal said. “I kind of want to see what shakes out in the tournament and see what my options are, as well, and I just want to continue to get better.

“My ultimate goal is not to just be here – is to make noise and go for the title. So whatever fight gets me one step closer, one step closer and one step closer. That’s what I want, and you’ve got to beat the person in front of you. So I don’t really believe in all that mumbo-jumbo hype stuff. I’m going to do my job. That’s what I get paid to do.”