"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?