Concho, OK. (March 18, 2011) — Bellator Fighting Championships’ debut in Concho, OK happens this Saturday, March 19 LIVE on MTV2 and takes place at the Lucky Star Casino. The event will host the Season 4 Featherweight Tournament quarterfinal pairings. The televised card includes:
Featherweight Quarterfinal Fight: Georgi Karakhanyan (14-2-1) vs. Patricio Freire (14-1)
Featherweight Quarterfinal Fight: Wilson Reis (11-2) vs. Zac George (20-3)
Featherweight Quarterfinal Fight: Kenny Foster (8-2) vs. Eric Larkin (3-0)
Featherweight Quarterfinal Fight: Daniel Straus (14-3) vs. Nazareno Malegarie (19-0)
Please find the quotes for your use below from the above Bellator 37 fighters below.
Patricio “Pitbull” Freire
When my brother won I was very happy. Then I thought that I have to train even harder because I have be a winner also in memory our manager Ivan Canello.
I am extremely confident in my ground game. My submissions are definitely better than Georgi’s. I’m sure of that.
Georgi’s striking ability does not worry me at all. I’m always prepared for all aspects of the fight. It doesn’t matter who my opponent is. But with that being said, I definitely studied his game, and I’m ready for anything he brings.
My goal is for “The Pitbull Brothers” to become the first brothers to hold major championships at the same time. We will make history.
Georgi Karakhanyan
I know Patricio Pitbull is a well rounded fighter because he made it all the way to the finals last year, and I think that will bring the best out of me. It’s safe to say that he’s one of the most dangerous fighters I’ve fought so far. He’s a Noguiera Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu so I’m definitely excited about the challenge that represents. I want fights like this. I want to constantly challenge myself so I definitely feel like this is going to bring the best out of me.
I would definitely like to go out there and finish the fight, but I’m a smart fighter so if I have to win a decision, I’ll win a decision; if I see a submission, I’ll take the submission; and if I see an opening for a flying knee, I’m going to use my flying knee.
Eric Larkin
A lot of people are going to be able to see me fight for the first time, especially my family, because most of them have never seen me fight. I’m just really excited to have the chance to show people what I can do on national television, and to let people see all the hard work I’ve been putting in with my striking and my ground game.
I have a lot of people that believe in me right now and I want to let them know that they believe in me for a reason. I kind of put a little bit of pressure on myself in that aspect. I feel like I have to prove myself a little bit to all of the different people that believe in me, and that’s kind of where my head is at going into this fight. I just hope I don’t put a little too much pressure on myself.
I didn’t even know that Kenny [Foster] had a wrestling background until just now. I don’t really concern myself with my opponent. I just know that I have to go out there and do what I know I’m capable of doing. I know he’s not going to be able to take me down, but I’m definitely excited about the fact that he’s a better competitor than I’ve faced up to this point in my fighting career.
Kenny Foster
I know Eric is an incredibly talented wrestler, but I think that wrestling is wrestling and MMA is an entirely different sport. This isn’t going to be wrestling and I feel like he still has to prove that he can transition his wrestling to make it work for MMA, which is something I feel like I do well. I’m definitely excited to mix it up with him and see how it plays out.
Eric [Larkin] only has three fights and he hasn’t been in a dog fight yet. I plan on putting my hands on him. I want to hurt him and see how he reacts from there.
I’m approaching this fight like it’s any other fight. I’m no impressed with the hype. I personally don’t look at anyone in this tournament as a favorite. If anything, I feel like Eric [Larkin] only has three fights and it’s a great fight for me. He’s the least experienced guy in this tournament and I think he still has to prove himself as a fighter, so I truly believe that this is the best fight for me.
Zac George
I think I definitely want to put Wilson [Reis] where he’s the weakest, and that would probably be on his feet being that he’s a World Jiu-Jitsu Champion. I’m sure it’s going to go to the ground at some point in the fight, but it’s going to be me on top, punching him and busting him up.
I’m rolling out a new and improved version of myself this time around. I haven’t fought in a while now, and it’s actually been a real blessing for me. My performance will do all of my talking for me. Wilson seems like a really nice guy and after the fight we can be buddies, but during the fight I’m going to be trying to punch a hole in his face.
I know Wilson [Reis] is extremely decorated in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and that’s awesome for him, but I’ve tapped out a lot of black belts. I like to describe what I do as “Anti-Jiu-Jitsu”, because when you add the strikes in there, it really opens things up.
Wilson Reis
I definitely think I’ll have the advantage on the ground, but I’m also very confident on my feet as well. I’m absolutely ready for anything that Zac [George] has to bring. I know there are going to be no easy fights in this tournament, so I expect for Zac to be a really tough fight, but it’s a fight I definitely expect to win.
I’m definitely focused on winning this tournament but I know that I’m going to have to win two fights before I get to the finals. This is just the first of those two. I’m very focused on my first fight with Zac [George] right now. I want to fight as hard as I can for Bellator because they gave me this third opportunity to come back and show the fans how good I truly am.
Nazareno Malegarie
I’ve never fought a wrestler like Daniel [Straus] but I’m ready for anything. I’ve been training really hard on my wrestling. I’m completely prepared to fight Daniel anywhere the fight goes. Whether it’s on the ground or standing, I’m ready.
If Daniel [Straus] takes me down, I will work my jiu-jitsu. I won’t be afraid for a moment if he takes me down. I plan on working my submissions if that’s where the fight ends up.
Daniel [Staus] is definitely one of the toughest opponents I’ve fought so far. I’m really excited to fight him on the big stage at Bellator. It’s time for the world to see what I’m capable of, and that begins Saturday night LIVE on MTV2.
Daniel Straus
I know Nazareno [Malegarie] is a really good jiu-jitsu guy, and that’s my biggest weakness. But just because that’s his strength, that doesn’t mean I won’t play into it. I’m more than game to go to the ground with him. If my strategy involves taking him to the ground, then that’s what I’m going to do.
I don’t really know any of the guys Nazareno’s fought before me, so I can’t really say how tough they were. I can only tell you how tough I’m going to be for him. It’s not going to be easy for him to do anything to me. I would like to think that I’m going to be a big test for him.
My biggest test isn’t going to be winning the world title, but my biggest test will be getting there.
