Bryan Battle didn’t journey to his most up-to-date battle at UFC Paris with the intention of pissing off the whole nation of France however that’s kind of the way it labored out.
A blistering end over French fighter Kevin Jousset led to a post-fight interview the place Battle first flipped off the gang after which invited the raucous viewers to maintain feeding him with their boos. The interview, his gesture in direction of the followers and even his selection in walkout songs led to a parody tweet going viral that claimed he was fined for his actions and banned from ever returning to France.
Whereas Battle by no means deliberate on erupting the way in which he did that night time, the response undoubtedly obtained him numerous consideration and he believes performed at the least some half in touchdown his upcoming battle towards Randy Brown at UFC 310 on Saturday.
“I let you know what, it’s the straightforward issues,” Battle informed MMA Preventing. “Generally all you’ve obtained to do it begin a riot and issues work out the way in which you need them to.
“That is all the things I’ve been asking for. It’s a kind of issues. You may’t complain a couple of full plate in the event you’re hungry. I’m enthusiastic about it. Excited to get this battle achieved. Exit and placed on one other stellar efficiency.”
As a lot as profitable and dropping ought to all the time matter most, Battle acknowledged that getting consideration within the UFC generally goes far past what occurs within the cage.
That’s one more reason why Battle doesn’t need to lose any momentum coming off that win at UFC Paris so he expects to placed on one other memorable efficiency on Saturday earlier than taking full benefit of no matter time he’s granted on the microphone afterwards.
“It’s a kind of issues the place at the beginning, it’s a sport however we’re entertaining individuals,” Battle mentioned. “What I’ve discovered is the fighters that stick out are the fighters who’re capable of seize imaginations. You are able to do that together with your performances however it’s also possible to do this together with your efficiency on the mic afterwards. In the event you can mix each of them, that’s when magic occurs. Like Conor McGregor did.
“It’s a troublesome factor to do. I’m lucky, I’ve gotten to be in some nice conditions. Like in France, I didn’t have any of that stuff deliberate to say. It simply type of occurred and it caught the zeitgeist. It’s been actual cool. We’re simply going to maintain constructing on it.”
Whereas he had no downside enjoying the villain when he beat down a fighter in entrance of his house crowd, Battle doesn’t actually see himself because the heel — a professional wrestling time period used to explain the “unhealthy man” in a match.
Battle truly hopes to have extra of the gang on his aspect come Saturday however greater than something, he simply desires to get a response as a result of silence is rarely golden in his thoughts.
“I’m anticipating being the face on this state of affairs or the anti-hero, in the event you’re simply speaking from the professional wrestling perspective,” Battle mentioned. “However I’ve numerous love for Vegas. The majority of my UFC fights have been in Vegas. I really like the individuals on the market. It’s like a second house to me. I’ve had numerous fights in Vegas however I’ve by no means fought in entrance of a crowd this dimension. I’m trying ahead to it.
“I’m simply an vitality man, interval. Whether or not that’s good vitality, whether or not it’s damaging vitality, simply give me vitality. Give me one thing and I’ll maintain the remaining.”
In contrast to his earlier battle the place simply preventing a French fighter in France gave him a lot to work with after a win, Battle doesn’t anticipate Brown to do a lot of something to essentially fireplace him up in the identical manner.
Sometimes soft-spoken and respectful, Brown has a powerful resume whereas consistently teetering across the high 15 rankings however nobody goes to label him as the most effective trash talkers within the sport.
That’s superb with Battle as a result of he’s not going to attempt to drum up some faux rivalry between them however he’s additionally not going to chunk his tongue when it comes time to get individuals excited for this battle.
“We’re going to battle one another, why not make it as massive as doable?” Battle mentioned. “What we’re going to do within the cage is what we’re going to do within the cage however the extra individuals who care about it and the extra eyeballs which can be on it, it’s higher for all events concerned.
“I’m not likely going to do something out of character. I’m actually lucky that simply me being me, comes throughout as build up the battle.”