Sam Sicilia doesn’t see Bellator’s featherweight grand prix as unfamiliar territory.
Former UFC fighter Sicilia (16-9 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) will take on Pedro Carvalho (10-3 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) at Bellator 226 on Saturday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card, including Sicilia’s tournament fight against Carvalho, streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
No, he hasn’t competed in a tournament for Bellator before. Nor has he fought in a bracket that has $1 million on the line for the winner. However, Sicilia believes his time on “The Ultimate Fighter Live” (Season 15) gives him an advantage going into the tournament.
“That was a 16-man bracket,” Sicilia told MMA Junkie. “This is just another talent-stacked, 16-man, winner-takes-all in this one – especially with the $1 million on top of it. It’s all exciting to me. You go in with a record of 0-0 and it’s all about stringing them together.”
In the tournament format, Sicilia thinks the saying “styles make fights” couldn’t be more relevant. According to Team Sikjitsu fighter, the final outcome depends on the stylistic pairings leading up to it.
“When I was on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ with Mike (Chiesa), it was talent-stacked,” Sicilia said. “But if you shuffle the deck, I think you get a different winner every time. But my teammate found a way to beat them every time and win every match when it mattered by looking at one fight at a time.”
Sicilia likes the matchup with SBG’s Carvalho. He thinks Carvalho’s aggression and willingness to exchange will play into his hand – and thrill fans in the process. In Sicilia’s mind, the fight comes down to youth vs. experience.
“He doesn’t take any steps backward,” Sicilia said. “I’m going to go meet him in the middle. We’re complete mixed martial artists. We’re not going to be completely reckless, but we’re looking for openings to tear into. If I see openings, I’m tearing into it. It’s kind of youth vs. experience.”
Unlike “TUF,” the Bellator featherweight grand prix will not only crown a new champion, but $1 million for the last man standing.
According to Sicilia, the winnings would not only be life-changing for his immediate family, but his fight family, as well. Sicilia said if he wins, he’ll throw some of his earnings toward helping finance a new gym.
“That’s life-changing money,” Sicilia said. “We’re building a gym here in Spokane, (Wash.) That would mean I can contribute. I love our gym. I’ve been a part of it forever. I always contribute, but that would mean I get to do a lot and help out a lot. (Expletive), we’ll be wrestling on golden mats once I win this thing.
“I have a daughter. This would be huge for my family, my fight family, and everybody. It’s very motivating and anyone who says they haven’t thought about it is lying.”
