Andrey Koreshkov Says Rory MacDonald Fight 'Must Happen'
Andrey Koreshkov Says Rory MacDonald Fight 'Must Happen'
Bellator welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov campaigns for fight with Rory MacDonald
Andrey Koreshkov has been tearing through the Bellator welterweight ranks for the past two years. The 26-year-old Russian has notched six-consecutive victories en route to becoming the promotion's 170-pound title and cemented an impressive run that includes a lopsided win over former UFC champion Benson Henderson in his most recent outing.
Koreshkov dominated Henderson from start to finish to pick up the most high-profile win of his career at Bellator 153.
"I was very confident going into that fight because I have great coaches who knew I was much better than him," Koreshkov said. "We had a good game plan during the fight and there wasn't a doubt in my mind I would beat him. And I did.
"It is a very exciting time for me, but at the same time, mine is a position that comes with a lot of responsibility. If you are going to be recognized as one of the best you have to be able to prove it each and every time. That is one of my biggest motivations."
While Koreshkov's winning streak has elevated his profile in some regards, the Bellator champion has run under the larger MMA radar for the most part. And if Koreshkov has his way, that will all be changing in the near future.
"I'm very excited because Bellator is getting a lot of respect right now," Koreshkov said. "A lot of top fighters are coming to Bellator and that offers great perspective for me. There are a lot of great fights ahead for me and I'm very much looking forward to those challenges.
He knows there are big fights waiting for him in 2017, but there is immediate business to be handled.
The Siberia-based veteran will square off with former champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 164 in the main event for the promotion's debut in Tel Aviv, Israel. Koreshkov defeated the American Top Team product to claim the welterweight strap back in July of 2015, and believes the work he's done since their first meeting will allow him to walk away victorious once more.
"It is difficult for me to predict exactly how the fight will unfold, but I can tell you I'm more ready for this fight than I was for the first one. My team and I did everything to make sure I'm 100 percent ready for this fight. I know that I will be him no matter what."
And while Koreshkov has Lima in his sights, there is another huge opportunity he's eager to land.
When former UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald signed with Bellator in late August, there was immediate speculation of the Canadian star would get a title fight in his promotional debut.
Koreshkov not only agrees a MacDonald fighting for gold is the right move, but is actively campaigning for the bout to materialize.
"This fight must happen," Koreshkov said. "Rory is a very strong fighter and he is a great fighter as well. He has fought a lot of top guys and he is very well known. This fight is very important for me and it must happen because I have everything to gain by defeating him."
Koreshkov dominated Henderson from start to finish to pick up the most high-profile win of his career at Bellator 153.
"I was very confident going into that fight because I have great coaches who knew I was much better than him," Koreshkov said. "We had a good game plan during the fight and there wasn't a doubt in my mind I would beat him. And I did.
"It is a very exciting time for me, but at the same time, mine is a position that comes with a lot of responsibility. If you are going to be recognized as one of the best you have to be able to prove it each and every time. That is one of my biggest motivations."
While Koreshkov's winning streak has elevated his profile in some regards, the Bellator champion has run under the larger MMA radar for the most part. And if Koreshkov has his way, that will all be changing in the near future.
"I'm very excited because Bellator is getting a lot of respect right now," Koreshkov said. "A lot of top fighters are coming to Bellator and that offers great perspective for me. There are a lot of great fights ahead for me and I'm very much looking forward to those challenges.
He knows there are big fights waiting for him in 2017, but there is immediate business to be handled.
The Siberia-based veteran will square off with former champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 164 in the main event for the promotion's debut in Tel Aviv, Israel. Koreshkov defeated the American Top Team product to claim the welterweight strap back in July of 2015, and believes the work he's done since their first meeting will allow him to walk away victorious once more.
"It is difficult for me to predict exactly how the fight will unfold, but I can tell you I'm more ready for this fight than I was for the first one. My team and I did everything to make sure I'm 100 percent ready for this fight. I know that I will be him no matter what."
And while Koreshkov has Lima in his sights, there is another huge opportunity he's eager to land.
When former UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald signed with Bellator in late August, there was immediate speculation of the Canadian star would get a title fight in his promotional debut.
Koreshkov not only agrees a MacDonald fighting for gold is the right move, but is actively campaigning for the bout to materialize.
"This fight must happen," Koreshkov said. "Rory is a very strong fighter and he is a great fighter as well. He has fought a lot of top guys and he is very well known. This fight is very important for me and it must happen because I have everything to gain by defeating him."