Bellator 274: Davion Franklin Believes with Sowma Fight, He Can Shut Up Critics and Haters

Davion Franklin didn’t have too much to say about Bellator 274 opponent Said Sowma during this week’s media day, at least at first.

“I think Said Sowma, he’s showing up,” Franklin (4-0) replied when asked about his current foe. But despite that, the undefeated heavyweight feels that this is the fight he can silence his critics with. Those that have questioned his level of opposition, for starters.

“I think if I go out there and have the performance that I know I’m capable of, nobody’s going to keep discrediting me and telling me I’m fighting bums, and I’m not going to get these kind of DMs anymore,” Franklin later stated. “So I think this is the fight to shut up all the critics, shut up all the haters. And I’m going to do it.”

Franklin recognizes that yes, Sowma has wins over the likes of Ronny Markes and Vitaly Minakov. But until an injury incurred by the ex-champ, “I had Minakov winning that fight,” he suggested. “Said Sowma, he’s kind of like one of those guys who, he looks to last, he looks to wait for you you to tire yourself out before he starts to get off his offense. I had Minakov winning that fight, but obviously he broke his finger, so it didn’t go his way.”

Franklin sits at #8 in Bellator’s rankings, Sowma one spot back at #9, and the latter admitted Thursday that he was a bit salty about their position. Franklin, however, doesn’t pay attention to the rankings at all.

“No, I just pay attention to the kind of performances that I’m going to have. That’s what I look forward to,” he told Cageside Press. “Said Sowma can be salty all he wants, but none of that is going to matter when he steps into the cage with me.”

Watch the full Bellator 274 media scrum with Davion Franklin above. The event takes place this Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. More coverage from Thursday’s media day can be found below.