Honolulu, HI – Just over a couple months since his last fight Bellator lightweight Bobby King fought three hard rounds to a split decision win over Keoni Diggs at Bellator 279 on Saturday night.
Speaking to reporters in his post-fight media scrum King expressed that he figured it would be a real scrap against Diggs.
“That was a fun fight. We’re both local boys from the island we were going to bang for sure. Kind of don’t like fighting local brothers, but hey we gotta do what we gotta do. Hopefully Bellator won’t make me do that again until I fight for the belt,” King said.
Even with the sentiment that he doesn’t like to fight fellow Hawaiians King knew he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to fight.
“We take what we can get. We want to fight. We’re always trying to stay busy and it’s what we do. It’s just another day. Unfortunately I had to fight a local brother, but it is what it is,” King said.
Even with the split-decision King still felt the fight would go his way.
“I felt like I landed more on the heavier exchanges. I landed more in general so I definitely thought I was winning that one,” he said.
King continues to fight on one-fight deals with Bellator putting together a 3-1 record with wins of Nick Newell, Aviv Gonzali and now Diggs.
“I have fought two top-10 guys and the one guy that did beat me he laid on me for two rounds. Didn’t do much on the ground, I mean, let’s put a number behind my name. Come on, Bellator,” King said.
King made a case for a long-term deal with the promotion.
“I’m putting on a fight every time. We go out there, put on a show, and I’m here to fight.”
Even at 38-years-old King continues to fight with the energy and vigor of an up-and-coming fighter.
“I train smart, I’ve always trained smart, I’ve always trained like a champion. Throughout my career I didn’t get into a lot of brawls. Fight smart, don’t get hit a lot, and we stay sharp. We stay in the gym. I train with top level champions, so what can I say,” King said.
“It’s the way I fight.”
Fighting at home for most fighters is special but the way Hawaiian fighters are received in their home state is on another level.
“It means the world to me. I get emotional for sure. Last time I fought here was about nine years ago. Fought in Maui right before I left to Utah. Fought on the local amateur circuit down in Maui and I left. Been fighting ever since. To come back home on the top stage, the biggest stage in the world Bellator, come out with the win against one of the tough local brothers out here…it means the world to me man. I appreciate the opportunity Bellator, and all my team, everyone that has supported me from the bottom to the top,” King said.
“I love you guys, and thank you so much.”
Watch the rest of Bobby King’s post-fight media scrum above and go to CagesidePress.com for more from Bellator 279
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