Adam Piccolotti is “Pissed off” about being featured bout on Bellator 244 prelims
Adam Piccolotti feels disrespected by his placement on the Bellator 244 card on Friday, August 21.
The 31-year-old is taking on Sidney Outlaw in the featured bout on the preliminary card. Winning three of his last four bouts, the 11-time Bellator veteran expected a spot on the main card, which will broadcast on Paramount Network.
Fighting Outlaw on Bellator’s Youtube channel is only adding to what he wants to prove at the Mohegun Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
“Yeah, I’m pissed off. I got to go out there and remind these guys what the hell is up,” Piccolotti said.
“I’ve been grinding my [expletive] off day in and day out, for a long time now. I’m ready for this fight to happen. I’m ready to put an explanation point behind my name and make sure this is my last fight in the prelims.”
“I’m way better than any other fighter in the prelims”
Whether it is the last fight on the prelims or somewhere on the main card this time around, Piccolotti is looking to make it two-straight wins with a victory over Outlaw.
Outlaw is newer to the Belator cage, but already holds a decision win over UFC veteran Roger Huerta. Outlaw’s nine-fight win streak recently came to an end after suffering a first-round knockout to former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
Piccolotti re-entered the win column in his last appearance, tapping out Jake Smith in the second round at Bellator 226 this past September. It came after he dropped a split decision to Benson Henderson at Bellator 220 in April 2019.
In 2018, he won back-to-back against Strikeforce veteran James Terry and “The Ultimate Fighter” season 21 contestant Carrington Banks. Piccolotti considers himself near the top of the lightweight division.
Beating Outlaw on Friday is another way to prove his point.
“I’m way better than this guy in my opinion and I’m way better than any other fighter in the prelims,” Piccolotti said. “I feel that my skill set is going to be far superior than his. I just have to come in with a strong mine, be myself, be the bomb and put in the work. If I do all those things, it’s going to be a good night for me.”
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“Let’s get going”
Piccolotti expects a win to put him right in the mix of Bellator’s lightweight division, which is currently in a peculiar spot. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is currently serving as the lightweight and featherweight champion.
He is yet to defend the strap after taking it from Chandler via first-round TKO at Bellator 221 in May 2019.
The current COVID-19 pandemic is not helping either. After a six-month layoff, the promotion held two events since returning on July 24.
Chandler is entering free agency after knocking out Benson Henderson in the first round at Bellator 243 last Friday, Aug. 7. Then there’s Henderson, who is 36 years old and coming off his first loss by finish in six years.
In the Bellator 243 post-fight press conference, Chandler laid out the division, putting himself in front, followed by Pitbull and Henderson respectively.
Piccolotti sees himself, along with Goiti Yamauchi and Brent Primus, in the top five conversation. Piccolotti is yet to face Primus, but lost via first-round submission to Yamauchi back in 2017.
The Californian is even tossing the idea of a lightweight tournament. Whether he rematches Yamauchi or Henderson, Piccolotti says he’s not far from a run at Bellator gold.
“The division is held up, let’s get going,” Piccolotti said. “We’re all the top guys and I still need to prove that this week. I think those are the fun matchups to make.”
“I’ve always had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder”
To this day, Piccolotti still feels he defeated a former UFC champion in Henderson. Instead, the loss kept him away from a four-fight win streak.
Piccolotti is confident his resume is enough to earn him a spot on a Bellator main card. He plans to show his worth come Friday.
“I’ve always had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, especially since last year. That chip is going to continue to be there until I get that title belt and to be honest it will still be there then,” Piccolotti said. “I always feel that way. That’s who we are. We’re fighters, we’re ego driven.”
