Sioux Falls, SD — Who needs a shrink when you’ve got the cage? That’s the sort of therapy that has been working for Bellator 298 winner Sidney Outlaw at least.
Outlaw (17-5) out-wrestled a dangerous Dagestani foe in Islam Mamedov on Friday, returning from both suspension and illness to win a unanimous decision over the former PFL and WSOF standout.
“For six months, I’ve just been using that animosity, all that hurt and pain. I used it in the cage,” Outlaw told media outlets including Cageside Press following the fight. “I’m telling you, it beats any type of therapy, fighting. Probably better than Dr. Phil. Bellator.”
After the win, Outlaw was quick to praise both God and his team. “Guys, I am not good. The people behind me, the people you saw cornering me, they’re good. If I can do this, just imagine what you can do. And I’m telling you the truth.”
Outlaw also discussed feeling healthy for the first time in a while. “I’m just getting better and better. I was sick a while ago. Didn’t know it, just been going through it, thinking it was just a mental thing. I just didn’t know, it messed with my mood,” he explained. “I didn’t know what was going on. I thought everything was mental, and I just kept pushing, pushing, pushing. And then made a couple mistakes, and then I got my health back. The doctor told me ‘yeah you’re sick big dog, you gotta get this taken care of. Forget your fighting for a little bit, focus on your health.’ And once I did, I’m like ‘what, am I even allowed to be this type of guy?'”
Outlaw credits a lot of his recovery to his faith. “I didn’t do anything. Like I said, I’m not the best, I’m just a beast.”
Next up for Outlaw? Maybe getting some training in with opponent Mamedov. And staying busy.
“Hopefully I can get some tips from him, because he’s pretty good. I was trying to take him down; he had a weird posture. I was like ‘okay, he’s definitely different.’ I had to be a little bit different. Fight again, try to keep fighting, try to be active. Because I’m back now. I’m healthy now. I just want to keep testing myself. I’m not going out there to lose, I’m not going out there to win, I’m going out there to let everybody know how I feel and express myself. And put myself in the battlefield.”
Watch the full Bellator 298 post-fight press conference with Sidney Outlaw above.
