Bryan Battle has a specific mentality and approach when he steps into a combative space, whether it’s for UFC, Dirty Boxing Championship, or PFL. On March 28th at PFL Pittsburgh, Battle will showcase his specific recipe for expressing himself within fighting as he next battles former middleweight kingpin Johnny Eblen.
In an interview with MMA Junkie, the TUF season 29 champion touched on how he feels like he is firing on all cylinders ahead of his first event headlining bout. When discussing his kinetic approach to the art of competitive combat leading into this trek into the PFL smart cage, Battle said,
“I think if there’s going to be a car crash, you know what I’m saying? We’re going to play a game of chicken. I’m coming out on top every time. You know what I’m saying? Like I feel like, you know, fighting is kind of at moments when everything’s equal, it’s kind of just a big game of chicken.”
“You know what I’m saying? It’s like who’s got the balls to stay in the pocket? You know what I’m saying? Who’s got the ability to stand on the coals the longest? You know what I’m saying? Who can maintain their focus in all the chaos that’s going on inside of there.”
Bryan Battle: “I’m the A-side of every fight that I’m in”
While he is battling a pedigreed former champion in Eblen, who has been a steadily promoted grassroots star since coming over from the Bellator MMA acquisition, Bryan Battle feels like he is the big-name combatant within this bout that will generate buzz. Speaking to MMA Junkie Radio in the same referenced interview from above, Battle stated,
“It’s been a long time since I haven’t been the A side. Until I lose, I’m the A-side of every fight that I’m in. I’m the big draw. I’m the one people are tuning in to see. This time, it’s really nice that I have a good opponent. I have a good partner.”
“I have a great dance partner, someone who people would go as far as saying is better than me, someone that people think is really able to beat me. “So that adds to the intrigue and the interest of it all, but at the end of the day, my fate is in my hands. Until I lose, I’m the A-side. Until I lose, I’m the one people are tuning in to see.”