Bryan Battle hasn’t misplaced a combat in nearly three years, however he’s nonetheless preventing an uphill battle in the case of his status within the fight sports activities neighborhood.
The previous Final Fighter winner was cruising in direction of a prime 10 rating within the welterweight division, particularly after his post-fight interview at a UFC Paris occasion went viral following a Efficiency of the Evening knockout over native favourite Kevin Jousset. However then Battle missed weight previous to a cut up resolution win over Randy Brown earlier than reserving his subsequent combat at middleweight.
Battle missed weight once more inflicting his combat in opposition to Nursulton Ruziboev to be cancelled, and some days later, he was launched from his UFC contract. He wasted no time signing with Soiled Boxing the place he scored an emphatic knockout victory along with his second combat for the promotion set for Thursday whereas additionally inking a deal to affix the PFL roster however Battle is aware of he nonetheless has one thing to show after his unceremonious exit from the UFC.
“It’s humorous,” Battle instructed MMA Preventing. “I’m nonetheless the one motherf*cker who’s obtained to make a comeback with out f*cking shedding a combat! It’s cool. I’m nonetheless the most effective on the earth so I’m simply going to maintain on doing my factor.”
Reflecting again on a tumultuous begin to 2025, Battle admits it’s robust to wrap his head round every thing that has occurred.
He completely meant on working his manner into title competition within the UFC earlier than later however now the 31-year-old veteran has to set new objectives for himself.
“It’s been wild,” Battle stated. “There’s been issues that occurred out of my management, lots of issues that occurred inside my management. It’s been a really humbling expertise. Now if something I realized, there’s nothing you may take with no consideration. Completely nothing you may take with no consideration.
“It’s been such a f*cking up and down and far and wide nevertheless it’s been enjoyable. Clearly, I’d nonetheless prefer to be within the UFC however they’re going to write down a e book about this shit. It’s going to be a film someday. It’s been loopy as hell nevertheless it’s been enjoyable, too.”
In relation to his weight slicing points, Battle failed on the size previous to his combat cancellation and eventual UFC launch however lower than two weeks later, he made the middleweight restrict earlier than scoring his knockout in Soiled Boxing.
Wanting again now, Battle is aware of what went fallacious within the UFC and what he needed to do to make weight however he can’t dwell too far previously as he now prepares for his future.
“The factor is I simply took with no consideration how simple it might be to make middleweight,” Battle defined. “After I lower for Soiled Boxing, that was more durable than it was for the UFC. I used to be operating a lot. As quickly as I obtained the combat, it was simply operating, operating, operating. Doing rounds, operating afterwards and it was a grind. It’s so dumb however actually trying again on it, it’s only a couple minor changes and I’d have f*cking made weight for the UFC fights.
“It form of sucks however lesson realized. At this level, I can’t change what occurred previously. All I can do is be taught from it and never make the identical mistake ever once more.”
In fact, Battle is aware of he has nobody in charge however himself for the way his UFC run ended so he refuses to get mired in self-pity. As an alternative, he’s simply fascinated by his subsequent combat in Soiled Boxing earlier than ultimately turning his consideration to the PFL the place he plans to stake his declare within the close to future.
“There’s a little bit little bit of frustration for certain however solely a lot,” Battle stated. “It’s unproductive. I’m prepared to maneuver on. I realized my lesson and able to transfer onto greater and higher issues.”
Whereas he’s now competing at 185 kilos, Battle says he doesn’t consider his days are finished at welterweight however that could be the most important check for him transferring ahead.
Proper now there’s not a complete lot of religion in Battle in the case of his weight cuts and he takes possession of that notion however he’s not giving up the combat.
“I’m going to go on the market and present I will be skilled, do what I’m speculated to do,” Battle stated. “Be a superb boy and take issues one combat at a time. I don’t know in the event that they’ll ever let me return to welterweight once more but when I had my selection, yeah, I nonetheless obtained unfinished enterprise there. Folks suppose I’m loopy for saying shit like that however I don’t care. Folks have been calling me loopy for an extended, lengthy, very long time. I’ll deal with one factor at a time.
“Whereas I’m staying energetic and busy, 185 is certainly the transfer. I could make the lower simpler and it’s not so taxing on my physique however ultimately after I get again to the UFC, I want to return to welterweight and end some issues.”
