PHOENIX – Brent Primus is looking forward to the challenge of facing Benson Henderson, but that isn’t the only thing on his mind this week.
Primus (10-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) will be looking to rebound from a tough split decision loss to Islam Mamedov at Bellator 263. Ahead of their upcoming fight, he had a lot of praise for the former welterweight and lightweight title challenger Henderson (28-10 MMA, 5-5 BMMA). The fight takes place on the main card of Bellator 268 at the Footprint Center in Phoneix.
“I love the guy, he’s cool,” Primus told MMA Junkie. “It’s going to be fun fighting him, but at the same time, no respect when I get in that cage, I’m gonna try to knock his head off – not going to try, I’m going to.”
While Henderson is Primus’ main focus this week to get back into the win column, another booking decision within the lightweight division has him fired up, providing a source of extra motivation to get a win on Saturday.
Recently, Bellator president Scott Coker announced Patricio Freire vacated his lightweight title. As a result, the promotion decided to elevate the upcoming rematch between Patricio’s older brother, Patricky Freire, and Peter Queally to a bout for the vacant title at Bellator 270.
“It’s a damn joke, man,” Primus said. “Come on you guys, how is Patricky fighting for the world title when he’s coming off two losses? And then how is Queally fighting – he hasn’t fought anybody, you know? He’s fought twice in the last 3, 3 1/2 years or something like that? I just do not see how that fight makes sense.
“It’s crazy to me and it motivates me a little bit more, so I’m gonna go out there and smash Benson, and I’m gonna go out there and beat the crap out of whoever wins that fight.”
Primus’ disagreement with the matchup itself doesn’t stop there. Still sour from a booking with Queally that fell apart, Primus was set to face him in February 2020, but an injury caused the bout to be scrapped.
“The guy is known for getting injured or backing out of fights,” Primus said. “I was supposed to fight Queally in his hometown in Ireland and he supposedly got injured a few weeks, a month before. Bottom line, it’s a damn joke. Those guys should not be fighting for a world title.”
According to Primus, the decision to put the fight together comes down to politics with the promotion and the Freire brothers. He believes that Patricio vacated the title because he knew Patricky would get the opportunity to fight for it next.
“I think that’s stupid,” Primus stated. “I could be fighting at a gym, I could have the world title, and I could retire, and be like, ‘Who should I give this belt to? Hmm, this guy’s my good training partner, I’m gonna give the belt to him.’ That’s not how it should be, you know? They should earn their fights, especially if they’re coming off two losses. I don’t see how that’s possible.”
Check out the full interview with Primus in the video above.
Loading…