Logan Storley is edging closer to a Bellator welterweight title shot, and he knows he has the right team behind him.
The standout wrestler trains out of Sanford MMA with numerous high-level fighters, ranging from former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns to unbeaten rising prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Storley (12-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) took current Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov to the brink but ultimately lost in their non-title bout, with one of the judges awarding him the fight. The 29-year-old Storley will headline the promotion’s first five-round non-title fight when he meets Neiman Gracie (11-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) on Saturday at Bellator 274.
“When you’re at a gym like Sanford MMA, you train with guys like Gilbert Burns, Vicente Luque, Ian Garry, Robbie Lawler, Mike Chandler, Jason Jackson – top guys in the world,” Storley told MMA Junkie Radio. “You feel them, you know them, and I know it’s a little different than competing, but then when I went in there with Amosov, I knew I’ve trained with the best guys in the world, guys who went in and fought for the title.
“Kamaru (Usman) used to be a training partner, sparred a lot of rounds with him. I know Neiman’s good, and it doesn’t really matter to me who’s there. This isn’t a revenge tour, ‘I want to beat this one guy.’ It’s like I want to be the best in the world. I don’t care who has that belt. I just want that belt. I want to be the best in the world.”
Storley has been guided by one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history, former champion Lawler, who has plenty of experience battling in title fights.
“Robbie Lawler’s always in my corner, always helping me through the training camp,” Storley said. “Especially now that it’s a five-round fight. Robbie fought for the title, defended it. He knows the pressures, this and that, and so he’s always there to help me with these little things and just always making sure I’m always on point.”
Sanford MMA’s wealth of talent has Bellator’s Logan Storley confident he’s championship material
