English middleweight Mike Shipman returns from an extended layoff this Friday at Bellator 280, heading into enemy territory in Paris, France.
Shipman (14-3) will look to play spoiler against Gregory Babene, who returns to the Bellator cage on a six-fight win streak. Shipman himself will be looking for his second straight win, competing for the first time since September 2020 — and he’s happy to play spoiler in Paris, though he hasn’t given it too much thought.
“Yeah sure. I mean, my primary concern is the guy across from me. If I can get a reaction out of the crowd, then great. It’s just some added energy,” Shipman told Cageside Press during this week’s Bellator 280 media day. “I’ve not really thought too much about being the spoiler or being the hero, what role I’m playing, so much as just going out there and enjoying myself. Hopefully I win the crowd over with a good performance.”
During his absence, Shipman was called out by Dalton Rosta, an ATT middleweight who has fought his way into the 185 pound rankings. That’s a callout Shipman is aware of, and he’s up for the challenge moving forward.
“We did see it,” said Shipman, adding that he and his coaches reached out to the promotion about the match-up. “We asked Bellator about it as well. So that’s definitely something that I’d be interested in. I think he’s ranked now, and during my inactivity I’ve been dumped out of the rankings. So yeah, sure, anyone in the rankings is great, and I think he may have bit off a bit more than he can chew. But I’ll be happy to meet him in the Bellator cage.”
Mike Shipman faces Gregory Babene at Bellator 280 in Paris, France, this Friday, May 6, 2022, on Showtime. Watch the rest of Shipman’s media day interview above. More coverage can be found below.
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