UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Austin Vanderford is happy with one of his recent career choices.
The Bellator middleweight picked up a unanimous decision win over Vinicius de Jesus on the main card of Bellator 251 on Thursday night. And though it was yet another win for Vanderford (10-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), this was his first fight training at the famed American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla.
The unbeaten competitor is happy about his move to ATT and thinks a rapid evolution is coming in his MMA skills.
“I have so many good coaches there,” Vanderford said at the post-fight news conference. “Not to forget, my head coach Fabiano Scherner – he wasn’t here with me tonight, but I owe so much to him, too. But man, coach ‘Parrumpa’ (Marcos DeMotta) is the man on the ground and at American Top Team.
“Who do you want? I get Mike Brown every day, Steve Mocco, Conan Silveira, all these great coaches. It’s hard not to improve with guys like that, let alone my training partners, as well.”
Vanderford trained in Oregon prior to his cross-country move. He’s been at ATT for about four months now along with his wife, former UFC fighter and recent BKFC signee Paige VanZant.
The 30-year-old thinks the attitude that comes with training among the best in the world has been a key difference in his game.
“It’s hard not be confident when you walk in through those doors every single day,” Vanderford said. “You’ve got guys like (Muhammed) ‘King Mo’ (Lawal) telling you, ‘You have what it takes to be the best in the world.’ So I think first and foremost, my confidence (has improved). … There’s a lot of good striking coaches there. Coach Anderson (Franca), all these guys, so I think that’s where I’m really going to see an improvement.”
Despite being undefeated in his career and a 4-0 run in Bellator, Vanderford wants to take things slow and not rush to the top of his division. He wants to make sure he’s more than ready to fight for gold.
“I definitely think I have a lot of room to grow and to get to the point where I’m fighting for the title,” Vanderford said. “I want people to know that I deserve it and I’m ready to fight for the title. I’m ready whenever. But we’re just going to keep on the pace and do what Bellator wants me to do. They’ve done such a great job so far. I’ve had opponents fall out and they were quick in getting me someone.”
