UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Phil Davis wants to be the captain of his own ship.
On Friday night at Bellator 231, Davis (21-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) notched his second win in a row, taking out Karl Albrektsson in the third round. Davis, the former light heavyweight champion, lost his title to Ryan Bader and would like nothing more than to get it back, but he will do it his way.
He just wants to keep winning until you can’t deny him.
“I try to lead my life in a way where I am accountable for my own actions,” Davis said Friday during the post-fight news conference. “And ultimately it makes me happier because I’m in the driver’s seat, and I’m the one making all the decisions. And so when I lose the title to Ryan Bader, I don’t feel like I want to say give me a title shot, title shot, you need to be fighting people in this division. I want to win fights and make the fans say what the heck is this, he keeps winning, what’s going on with this title?”
Since edging Davis in 2017, Bader has defended his 205-pound title only once and gone on to win the heavyweight title, holding two belts simultaneously. It’s been almost two years exactly since Bader last competed at light heavyweight, and Davis thinks the division has got to get moving.
“He’s got to defend that title, and I think it’s gotten to that point, and I think hopefully he’s going to fight against (Vadim) Nemkov, and we’ll get some fresh blood in there and see where we’re at,” Davis said. “But my job is simple: Go in the cage, fight, win, and just wash, rinse, repeat.”
And that is why Davis has suggested a light heavyweight grand prix, hoping to face the likes of Nemkov, another narrow loss on his resume that he’d like to avenge.
“I want all of them. I want everybody,” Davis said. “There’s room for plenty in the grand prix. I definitely got to get a win back over Mr. Nemkov. Great fight, he’s a great competitor, he just had a big win, but most likely he’s waiting to fight for the title. I would love to fight him. Great fight, close fight, and he got the win, so I got to get that back. And whenever there’s an opportunity, I would love to fight for the title again.”
