Lest you think heavyweight Said Sowma is some big lug Bellator MMA found to fill the ranks of their heavyweight division, think again: outside of fighting, Sowma is currently taking computer science classes. His goal, to become a video game designer.
“I’m in school to get my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science,” he told media members during the Bellator 274 media day on Thursday. Gaming, in fact, helps Sowma (8-2), a former Titan FC heavyweight champ, focus ahead of fights.
“I play Devil May Cry, because it’s actually very fast paced, and I kind of feel like it wakes of my nervous system, because I’ve got to be alert and get going quickly,” Sowma revealed.
Coming off of wins over former champ Vitaly Minakov and former UFC heavyweight Ronny Markes, Sowma admits he was expecting something of a bigger name for his latest match-up. Instead, he’s been paired up with the 4-0 Davion Franklin, a rising prospect in the heavyweight division.
“I actually was a little bit surprised about that,” Sowma told Cageside Press. “He’s a new up-and-comer, a prospect, pretty powerful guy and fast starter. I was hoping for someone more experienced or higher up in the rankings, but I guess he is above me, so he’s next I guess on the list.”
Franklin is, in fact, exactly one spot above Sowma in the heavyweight division, despite Sowma fighting the more experienced competition. Sowma sits in the #9 spot, Franklin at #8.
“I’m a little salty about it, I’m not going to lie,” Sowma said of the rankings snub. “I don’t understand the rankings per se, but all I can do is keep fighting, and keep proving myself. Not being used as a stepping stone, and keep climbing.”
He’ll look to do that at Bellator 274, where Sowma is predicting a “fast start, and then maybe a faster finish.”
Watch the full Bellator 274 media scrum with Said Sowma above. The event takes place this Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
