Looking back on his split-decision loss to Islam Mamedov at Bellator 263 this past July, lightweight Brent Primus cannot fathom how he came out on the losing end of the fight.
From Primus’ point of view, a lack of aggression and damage done by Mamedov cements that the fight shouldn’t have gone the way it did in the judges’ eyes.
“Honestly I feel like it was a weird fight,” Primus told MMAWeekly.com. “I don’t feel like Islam was trying to finish the fight. He wasn’t trying to advance position. He wasn’t trying to punch me hard. I feel like he was defending the whole time.
“I had absolutely not one scratch on me, or bruise, or damage at all. It was just a weird fight. It just sucks.”
Considering how he wasn’t dominated in the fight or lost in a decisive fashion, Primus was hoping he’d get another crack at Mamedov at some point in time.
“I feel like I was asking for that rematch, I wanted it so bad, I 100% feel like I can knock him out if I fought him again,” said Primus. “It is what it is. It’s hard to fight somebody when they don’t want to fight.”
This Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona, Primus (10-2) will look to rebound when he takes on Benson Henderson (28-10) in a main card 155-pound bout at Bellator 268.
Bellator 268 Weigh-in Results and Video
“He’s going to try to finish the fight,” Primus said of Henderson. “He’s going to be active, and throwing punches, and trying to pass guard, it’s not going to stall and not really do anything. It’s going to be fast-paced fighting. I think me and Benson fighting is going to be awesome.
“I’m going to try to knock him out. I’ve been working on my cardio and wrestling, and I’m excited. This is a fight that as soon as I signed the contract I was really excited about.”
Primus is hoping that with a win over Henderson he’ll be placed into a position to challenge for the title he held once before a couple years ago.
“Benson is ranked #3, so I’m going to out there and I feel like I finish Benson I should be in title contention or get that title shot next,” said Primus. “I know (Sidney) Outlaw and Patricky (Pitbull) are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, and I think I should definitely fight for the belt next or have an interim title fight with one of those guys.
“I really think that Patricio (Pitbull) should give up that belt or fight. One of the lightweights should be able to have that lightweight title again.”