Zitat:“Life is easier. I was able to bring my friends also into Bellator. The treatment that I’m getting is great. I feel Bellator has space to grow, not only with me, but also as a company.


I was a small fish in the UFC. I’m a big fish in Bellator. That’s why I want to do my part to grow with Bellator. There’s a connection that I don’t have with UFC. It’s a company, like a factory. With Bellator, it’s more that I’m part of the family, and I’m doing the best I can to grow with the family.

I was treated well in the UFC because I got the opportunity to get where I am now. But, if I was to criticize them, I think the fairness of payment or the fairness of getting a title shot, it’s too much about the name of the fighter and who they feel they can build as a star as opposed to who is the best fighter. There are issues. Before the belt I’d have to fight probably Luke Rockhold, I would have fought Yoel Romero because Robert Whittaker is next. It would have made my road so difficult to get to the top. Some get an easy road.

They give the fighters they like matchups suited for them so they can keep winning. They’ll probably do Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3. Why? Because McGregor has a good shot of winning. They’re not going to make a fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson because it’s bad for the promotion. Those things, you feel as a fighter. I’m not making things up. It’s frustrating. I had to take the hard road. That’s what I feel.

Sponsorship is not that important for me because I feel like I’m getting paid well. I don’t need a lot of sponsorship. But sponsorship is also not that great because UFC has killed it with the Reebok deal. A lot of companies that used to be there are not anymore. It’s a little bit tougher to get sponsorship. But I don’t really need sponsors.

People don’t care about me that much because I’m not a U.S. citizen. In Holland, there’s not that big support for me here. For me, it’s little bit different. Sometimes it makes a difference where you’re from. If you’re an American fighter or Canadian fighter or Brazilian fighter you get certain opportunities a Dutch fighter doesn’t get. The sponsors my manager got paid for the extra guys coming with me (to Bellator 185). Just to pay the bills; it’s allowance money.

That’s one of the great things about Bellator is I have the freedom to decide and do whatever I feel. I have more freedom. It’s a lot more easy-going. Scott bringing me into Bellator, I want to have a good impression. I don’t want to let anyone down. I’ve come to get the belt. I have to beat Shlemenko and I have to beat him decisively. I have to make a statement.”