AddictedMMA meet Bellator FW Tournament Winner Daniel Straus
Having claimed the title just under two weeks ago by defeating Marlon Sandro in the final Daniel will now go on to face the promotions current Featherweight Champion later this year. We put a few questions to Daniel who was only too happy to answer them!
AddictedMMA: Firstly, thanks for agreeing to this interview Daniel, it's a great pleasure to hear from you, and I know our readers will love it. Congratulations on your recent win and earned title shot, I'm sure you'll do great.
Let's jump right into your last fight, against the #5 ranked Featherweight in the world, Marlon Sandro. I think a lot of people were counting you out against Sandro, and throughout most of the tournament. Do you use that lack of confidence by MMA writers & fans as motivation or is it completely irrelevant to you?
Daniel: I do. I have always been an underdog so it doesn't bother me too much when people count me out. I read the forums sometimes and get a kick out of how people feel about me.
AddictedMMA: Your win against Sandro was perhaps the biggest of your career; do you feel that the win against him will finally give you some much deserved respect amongst writers & fans, and in the rankings?
Daniel: I doubt it, you have to remember not only am I an underdog but I also have a ton of decisions wins, so to MMA fans that haven't seen me fight I'm just another Lay & Pray guy which is by far not who I am.
AddictedMMA: What do you think was the most effective part of your strategy, in defeating Sandro?
Daniel: Staying in his face, keeping his confidence down, and to keep moving to my right.
AddictedMMA: Your opponent for your championship fight will be decided between the last two men to defeat you, Patricio Freire & Pat Curran; do you feel you learned enough from those losses that you have a good gameplan for whichever fighter comes out on top?
Daniel: Yes, I'm a completely different fighter since I fought both guys. I've grown so much in this sport that it's hard to believe that whoever I fight, the fight will go the same way as before.
AddictedMMA: Who would you rather face, Freire or Curran? Which one makes a better match-up for you?
Daniel: Whoever has that belt! That's who my eye is on. So right now it's Curran, in a few months that could change, but who knows.
AddictedMMA: Do you enjoy the tournament format that Bellator employs or would you like to see a more free fighting structure ala the UFC?
Daniel: I do like the tournament but I would also love to see more fights out of Bellator. I think as they grow that will come.
AddictedMMA: Do you feel as if the Bellator fighters don't get the same respect as UFC fighters because they don't have the UFC machine behind them?
Daniel: OF COURSE!!!! Just open the magazines, read the trending fighters!! Bellator has some great fighters in their stable but because the UFC is bigger and better known, sometimes it just takes some people longer to learn about us smaller guys.
AddictedMMA: If you could fight any fighter, from any division, from any company who would it be & why?
Daniel: I think I'd fight Anderson Silva... why not?!?
AddictedMMA: And finally, the signature question at AddictedMMA, what are you addicted to?
Daniel: Fighting, tattoos, and fighting again!
AddictedMMA: Thanks Daniel, hope to hear from you soon, and congratulations again on the win.
Daniel: Thank-you guys.
By Bret Orwig.
Picture Courtesy of Bellator FC.
Published by Steve Wickett - Tue, 22 May 2012 20:32
