DUBLIN – Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen thinks a grand prix in his division would help ramp up his activity.
Eblen (13-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) notched his first title defense earlier this month when he defeated Anatoly Tokov by unanimous decision in the Bellator 290 co-main event. The undefeated American Top Team fighter sees a grand prix as an easy way to map out his future fights.
“That would be awesome. I would like that,” Eblen told reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage at Bellator 291. “I would love a tournament, keeps me really active. I’m near my peak. I want to be as active as possible – being champion is hard to set up fights. But if you’re in a tournament-type of style, they’re forcing you to fight a lot. So I would really enjoy that.”
Eblen has his eye on the upcoming fight between former opponent Gegard Mousasi (49-8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) and Fabian Edwards (11-2 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) on May 12 at Accor Arena in Paris, and he believes his next challenger likely comes out of that fight.
“Let’s see who wins, because the winner of that fight is probably gonna face me,” Eblen said. “I really don’t care (who wins). They’re fighting for my attention right now. So all I’m doing is focusing on myself and becoming a better fighter, and whoever wins that fight gets to challenge me.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 291.