By FCF Staff
Bellator has announced that its heavyweight champion Cole Konrad (pictured) will face UFC vet Paul Buentello in a non-title, ‘super fight’, April 23rd in Concho, Oklahoma. The bout will be part of Bellator 42, which will be hosted by the Lucky Star Casino and broadcast on MTV 2.
“Cole had three very dominant performances for us last season on his way to becoming our first Heavyweight World Champion,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney was quoted saying in a pree release from the promotion. “I’m expecting big things from Cole, and Paul will provide a fantastic test for our young champ.”
Konrad hasn’t competed since last October, when the two-time NCAA wrestling champ submitted Neil Grove in the first round to lay claim to the Bellator belt. Konrad has won seven straight since he began competing in pro MMA in January, 2010.
“I'm not taking Paul Buentello lightly for one moment,” said Konrad. “I feel like this fight with Paul is going to be the toughest fight of my career, and that's exactly how I'm preparing for it. Just because he's a little older doesn't mean he's not dangerous. He has a ton of experience, and that definitely works to his advantage.”
Buentello (29-13) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Kerry Schall in December, while competing under the Nemesis Fighting banner. The win returned Buentello to the winning column after he was knocked out by Tim Sylvia at a Powerhouse World Promotions event last August.
“I'm definitely expecting for Cole Konrad to try to get me to the ground as soon as possible,” said Buentello. “I have to pull the trigger in this fight. I got into this sport making a name for myself for putting my hands on my opponent’s faces, and I definitely want to get back to my roots in this fight. I plan on standing my ground and putting my hands on Cole.”
“In my mind I see this fight like David versus Goliath. Cole Konrad is a lot bigger than me, and a lot of people are expecting for him to beat me. They're expecting for him to take me down and hold me down, kind of how David was supposed to lose against Goliath. I know what I'm expected to do and I know what I'm capable of doing, so it's up for me to go out there and perform the way I know I can.”
