August 7 will see Bryan Battle return to the PFL cage for the second time, as he headlines PFL Charlotte in a middleweight fight against Dalton Rosta.
For Battle, it’s his second straight headlining assignment in the PFL, despite losing to Johnny Eblen in Pittsburgh earlier this year. The former winner of The Ultimate Fighter and UFC contender addressed that opportunity during the recent PFL Summer Series kickoff.
“Fighting in Charlotte, there is really, I’mma do my best, but there’s not enough words in the dictionary to properly summarize how I feel. Not only getting prepared to fight in Charlotte but what happens when I fight in Charlotte, and even afterwards,” Battle (12-3, 1NC) told Cageside Press and other media outlets. “Even though it’s been years since the last time, people still come up to me and talk about the last time I fought in Charlotte.”
The last time Battle fought at home in Charlotte, he knocked out Gabe Green, earning a Performance of the Night bonus in the process. This time around, he believes that “all the ingredients are there for something magical to happen, not just to be a fight but to be a moment. A moment that sticks with people for an extended period of time.”
“This opportunity is one where, to go back-to-back main events even winning is tough, but to get another main event coming off of a loss is huge. It’s just a chance for redemption.”
Between his UFC and MMA run, Battle competed in a different rule set in Dirty Boxing. This time, he’s made his debut, is coming off an MMA fight, and has had a full camp, including training at The MMA Lab in Phoenix. “No excuses, let’s get after it this time.”
Battle, who struggled with his weight in the UFC, admitted that he’d like another crack at Johnny Eblen, who submitted him in his PFL debut. “Johnny’s a really good fighter, with that being said, I want the rematch desperately. I still think I’m a better fighter.” Still, there’s great benefit to getting right back on the horse. “We all saw what happened, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to move on. A quick turnaround and a prime spot, a quick turnaround and a prime spot in my home town as the main event. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
His date with Dalton Rosta, meanwhile, is one Battle feels could end early. “I see the knockout as inevitable. Dalton is another guy, another main event type talent, he’s a stud. But stylistically, I think this more so bodes in my favor,” Battle suggested. “If I come there on the top of my game, hitting all my marks, I come in there and I look good— if you see abs when I walk in, it’s a wrap, you feel me?”
Watch the full media appearance by PFL Charlotte’s Bryan Battle above.
