Every competitor at the top of their weight class craves a chance at a championship. However, Brennan Ward has set his sights on Logan Storley, Bellator’s top-ranked contender at 170 pounds, for the main event of Bellator 298. Ward believes that defeating Storley, a former interim champion, will pave the way for a shot at welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov. But Ward isn’t entirely sold on the idea of fighting for the title.
During a recent Zoom interview with The Post, Ward candidly admitted, “I’m gonna be honest with you, dude: I didn’t even want to fight, I still don’t maybe want to fight for the title. I’m just taking fights, dude. I’m out for a paycheck.” This level of frankness is uncommon among fighters in Ward’s position. The 35-year-old, who returned to MMA competition after a five-year hiatus, further explains his hesitancy by acknowledging the additional “pressure” that comes with increased visibility.
Ward says, “A lot of pressure comes along with wanting that belt. All the pressure is what gets to me, dude; all the social media s–t and all this and that. Like, dude, I just want to get a paycheck fight. That’s it. That’s what I’m trying to do. I hate having to f–king try to, like, blow up on social media and all that. Core fight fans know who I am, and they know what’s up. So, will I fight for a title, I don’t even know. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
While Ward’s priority is to support his growing family, including his girlfriend and two young daughters, financial compensation could sway his decision. He admits, “If the money was right, I’d do it. I’ll do anything if the money’s right.” However, Ward is uncertain whether Bellator would even want him as their champion. He says, “We’ll see what happens ’cause I’m gonna beat Logan. Who knows? They might want me to fight someone else. I can’t see another one in between this and a title [fight]. I can’t see another one. He’s ranked No. 1.”
Ward, who battled addiction during his hiatus from MMA, has made a successful comeback, winning his last three fights by second-round TKO. His most recent victory, a head kick followed by punishing punches to stop Sabah Homasi, showcased his explosive fighting style. If Ward can defeat Storley, a four-time All-American wrestler, using his signature knockout power, a matchup against champion Amosov would make sense.
Despite his respect for Amosov, Ward believes it would be an intriguing fight. He says, “He’s real good; super calm, super collected. He’s a sportsman, for sure.” However, Ward is focused on Storley and acknowledges the threat the wrestler poses. He is confident in his ability to finish the fight, as he has only gone to a decision once in his career.
“I’m almost positive this fight’s gonna end with me knocking him out, and I think he even knows that. I think even his people know that,” Ward confidently states. Although Storley presents the danger of a takedown, Ward is certain that he won’t be able to keep him down for an entire fight.
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