Preparing for a fight is never easy. Preparing for one while finishing up your college education is even harder. That’s what Joey Davis had to contend with ahead of Bellator 219.
Temecula, CA — Mark another one in the win column for Joey Davis. One of the hot prospects out of Team Bodyshop under coach Antonio McKee, Davis improved to 5-0 at Bellator 219 on Friday at the Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula, California. It was a big night for Davis: he recently finished his college education, and hasn’t even made the walk to receive his degree just yet. Through five pro fights, all with Bellator MMA, he juggled his education and other pressures.
So this win, in a way, marked the start of a new era for Davis. He gave full credit to his team, and god, post-fight, speaking to media members including Cageside Press. “If it wasn’t for my team, I would not have been successful in this fight, and I guarantee that,” he said back stage. “Just with me finishing school and everything, I was under a lot of stress, a lot of other circumstances. But with a team it brings you together, with your coach he just builds you stronger, and I’m just thankful. I’m thankful I got the win for my team.”
Davis looked loose in the cage. Certainly the most relaxed we’ve seen him thus far in his young career. “I was just having fun,” he admitted. “Honestly, my cousin A.J. told me, ‘do everything we’ve been working towards. You put all the hard work in, now it’s time to celebrate.'”
His way to celebrate was in the cage, “by doing my dances, moving around like I do. I was doing kicks this time, normally out of all my fights, I didn’t do no kicks. So I was just moving around in there, just enjoying the moment as much as I can.”
He even noticed opponent Marcus Anthony smiling, indicating they were both having fun. Anthony likely wasn’t having much fun by the end of the round, however. That’s when Davis knocked him out. On the knockout, it was simple: “Something opened up.”
The big question after a win like that is always what comes next. Or who comes next. “I’m absolutely not worried about a human being,” Davis explained. “I’m worried about these checks. I need this money bad. I ain’t worried about another person, because at the end of the day, I have the best skills on the planet I feel.”
That’s something Davis was open about heading into the fight. He said the same to Cageside Press little over a week ago. The championship will come, he said at the time. But I’m in it for the money.
He reiterated that on Friday night. “I will be successful. I’m here for the money.”
Watch the full Bellator 219 post-fight press scrum with Joey Davis above!
