Alex Polizzi wants to go out this weekend and put on a show, which will hopefully lead to a new Bellator contract.
Fighting can be stressful. Fighting with a somewhat uncertain future is even more stressful. With no fights left on his current contract, Polizzi (8-1) is looking to impress Bellator and to continue to give the fans great fights. Although surprisingly, Polizzi is just going with the flow and not letting it stress him out.
“This is my last fight on my Bellator contract, but I’m not letting that get in the way of my preparation. I’m hoping for a win, hoping to put on a good show, and if the fans and Bellator see fit, maybe I’ll be able to get another fight and just, you know, keep putting on good shows,” Polizzi told Cageside Press in an interview ahead of Saturday’s Bellator 266. “That’s really all the future holds for me and, and really what I’m expecting because there are easier ways to make money than getting punched in the face, and I’m just hoping that I can keep doing what I really enjoy, which is getting in that cage and trying whoop some people.”
Polizzi has a tough, undefeated opponent in front of him at Bellator 266: Grant Neal (7-0). He sees the fight turning into a grappling treat for the fans, which will be his path to victory.
“You know, I kind of see it turning into grappling territory quickly. Well, that is, at least, where I want to take it. I want to make sure that we’re in close, and I’m putting that pressure on them, just like most of my fights,” Polizzi said. “I’ve been working with my coaches to making sure that we’re striking into wrestling and wrestling into striking. Hopefully, we can wear him down a little bit and use that strength to look for a TKO on the ground or even a submission. As long as I follow the game plan that my coaches laid out, I am confident.”
A win over Neal should nab him a top 10 ranking only three fights into his Bellator career. However, Polizzi isn’t thinking about it whatsoever. Getting the win is the only thing on his mind.
The only other thing he is thinking about is the fan’s reactions to the temporary tattoos he has planned.
“They will have to tune in to find out what I’m planning because this interview won’t do it justice,” Polizzi said.
Alex Polizzi and Grant Neal headline the Bellator 266 prelims on Saturday, September 19. The fights are available on Bellator and Showtime Youtube channels.
