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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=454186" target="_blank">
Davis: Bellator 'reignited my love and passion'
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=454186" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=100&q=75&x=323&y=175&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=phil-davis-ryan-bader.jpg" /></a>
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<p>Instead of signing a new contract before his last UFC bout, Phil Davis opted to fight out his last bout and after losing to Ryan Bader, signed with Bellator MMA. And the light heavyweight couldn't be happier:</p>
"It was a really weird fight for me (against Bader); obviously I want to win every competition, but in my head it was just kind of a weird fight,” Davis told MMAjunkie. “Now, fighting for Bellator, I feel like just my preparation reignited my love and passion for the sport. I’m very thankful – not that it was necessarily a bad opportunity before, but I think it’s a better opportunity where I’m at now.”
Davis begins the next chapter of his career on Sept. 19 when he participates in a four-man, one night tournament at Bellator 142. The event, titled “Dynamite,” takes place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Although no one can ever be certain with what the future holds, Davis said he’s settled in well with Bellator and sees a UFC return as unlikely. That’s not because he holds any negative feelings toward his previous promotion, he said, but rather because he’s excited to be part of a growing operation like Bellator.
“I’ve fought professional for five different organizations, and I’m thankful for each one of them for giving me the opportunity to fight and advance my career,” Davis said. “Looking back, I can’t look back at anybody and say this or that. All of them took a chance on me when I was young in the sport and helped me make a name for myself and gave me what I needed to get into the position where I’m at now. I’m thankful.”
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