MMA Quick Quote: Top prospect Cole Konrad heads to Bellator because 'It's not all about the money'
by Jesse Holland on Mar 12, 2010 11:02 AM EST
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"Brock (Lesnar) actually took care of me from the financial standpoint. He knows the guys he wants around him to help him train, people he gets along with, and he compensates you for it. I was fortunate, because it allowed me to train full time. Every time he had a practice, I was there, not just to get myself better, but to help him peak for his fights. (Bellator) came at me with an interesting opportunity. It's not all about the money. They were able to give me some fights pretty quickly, worthy competitors relatively quick. It's the right direction for me. With the other, bigger organizations, it seems like guys fight every four months at most. That's not where I am right now. I need ring time. I need to become more comfortable in the cage. You can only learn so much in practice. When the bell rings, it's go time, and you learn a lot when you are out there."
Two-time NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion Cole Konrad tells Brawl Sports that joining Bellator Fighting Championships growing roster of top fighters was a career-minded decision and not one motivated by financial gain. The 2-0 mixed martial artist and full-time training partner of current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar wants to fight with more frequency to help expedite the learning process so that he can mature as a fighter and be ready for the big time sooner rather than later. Any Maniacs out there think he should have used Lesnar's clout to jump into the deep end of the talent pool? Or is his approach best suited for career longevity?
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That is cool to learn about big Brock keeping everyone in good shape around him.
5 points to Lesnar.
I want Ricardo Arona to sign with the UFC and his first fight should be James Toney. This is a win win scenario for MMA
I've said it before and I'll say it again
Konrad looks like the love child of CB Dollaway and Mark Kerr
by SHORT_BUS on Mar 12, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Why the hell isn’t the UFC picking any of these guys up? Do they not care about new talent, instead choosing to give us the same old roster over and over and market them as stars?
Anderson Silva is p4p the greatest fighter of all time, Fedor and GSP fear the mighty Spider
same old roster???
The UFC has the largest Roster in MMA and have great young talent that has grown from JDS, Cain, Carwin, Struve, Bones, Bader, Paulo and many more. Cole has decided to take a different root to grow as a fighter but if he proves to be talented he will get picked up by the UFC or SF no doubt.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
Cole only has like 3 fights under his belt.
At his current skill level in all other aspects of MMA other than wrestling, he would not hang with any of the Top HW’s. So why come to the UFC now and lose a couple fights in a row and get cut.
Its better for him to train, get better, and get his ring experience. Its not like he is 35 years old.
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
I am actually happy the UFC didn't sign him...
because in two or three fights, he’d already be in contendership for the title. With his wrestling credentials, he probly beats up most HWs that fall below that line under GG. Then he starts fighting people way over his head. It’s better he learns his craft against no namers then moves to the big show with a better game.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Mar 12, 2010 3:28 PM EST up reply actions
well if you want to fight once a month and get comfortable in the cage
The UFC is not the place you want to be just yet.
-This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
by PSYQO78 on Mar 12, 2010 11:22 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Agreed.
It’s like the big leagues by the time you get to the UFC. That’s why most TUF fights are so boring or just plain suck because those guys are not ready for the big show. Let this guy get his experience and he will be better and prepare by the time the UFC comes calling.
But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies. - Kenny Powers
Rolles Gracie is proof that guys shouldn't be thrown into the UFC before they've gained experience
Guys like Konrad need smaller promotions like Bellator to help them work on their skills and gain experience before heading off to the major leagues, you don’t see young prospects in any other sport thrown into the major leagues immediately. Guys need time to build up their skills and get comfortable in the sport, if they’re thrown in when they’re not ready then it can kill their career before it’s even begun like what happened to Rolles, he came in before he was ready and lost to a no name in embarrassing fashion, so it’s going to take a long time for him to ever build up credibility.
As far as I’m concerned the UFC shouldn’t be for novices, I’d much rather see prospects in smaller promotions where they don’t have to win every fight or bring in ratings to keep a job, that high pressure environment is too much for guys who are just getting started. Bellator is the perfect promotion for prospects, it offers lots of fights in a short space of time with a great opportunity to build up skills in front of a decent TV audience and earn good money. Great move for Konrad in my opinion.
"Not a lot of professional sports down here (in Australia)"
"We just had our best season (of TUF) last season and it was season 10"
"Nogueira is probabaly the best HW of all time"
Dana White, proving that he's clueless about Australian sports, has never heard of Fedor and is still trying to hype up TUF 10.
I thought this already happened ages ago
Fedor with a gun... ULTIMATE DANGER!!!
by Spinning Fat Kick on Mar 12, 2010 11:19 AM EST reply actions
it's an eplanation of why he decided on Bellator
-This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
by PSYQO78 on Mar 12, 2010 11:23 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Konrad will be a beast, he needs to develop his game in smaller shows. The only reason why Lesnar got into the big show was because of his WWE following
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by NEWBLOODFIGHTGEAR on Mar 12, 2010 11:37 AM EST reply actions
Brock was not giving up millions of dollars and work his way up and find out MMA wasn't for him
So he asked Dana to throw him against a experienced fighter and go from there, if he got destroyed he might of stayed in the WWE.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
Plus Brock was mentally ready and had an idea of how the big show would be.
Wrestlemania is as big of a big show as there is.
But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies. - Kenny Powers
This sound like he knows his stuff
I like how lesner treats his inner circle.
TV
Cool!
I can’t wait to watch these weekly Bellator fights, every Thursday night,
begin on FSN channel April 8th!
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