BKFC 51’s Dustin Pague on “Big Old Blockhead” Joe Elmore
Joe Elmore and Dustin Pague clash in the co-main event of BKFC 51 on September 29th.
Pague appeared on the fifth episode of Bare Knuckle Radio to touch on where the winner goes in the welterweight title hierarchy thereafter, the respective blueprints for this barnburner bout, and so much more. Excerpts from the chat are below.
Dustin Pague
What was the initial temperament when the bout offer came your way for Joe Elmore at BKFC 51?
“Yeah, I was very excited. Even though Joe’s coming off of two losses, I mean they were they were decision losses and he fought Leonard Garcia and Connor Tierney. So those are two top-level dudes, tough opponents. So, I’m very excited to fight Joe. He’s a big name, so a win over him would look really good. I know we’re gonna put on a banger because that boy likes to bang, and I like the bang. So, it’s gonna be exciting.”
BKFC 51
You previously mentioned some of the people you have already indicated interest in fighting. I mean I would think that if you get your ideal outcome in this one here it could facilitate getting in there with some of these guys you’ve mentioned like Elvin Brito, Austin Trout, I saw you also mentioned Rico Franco at one point.
Not overlooking this task and Elmore is a great opponent, but do you think a win here at BKFC 51 could jettison you toward someone like that?
“Yeah, absolutely. I never overlook opponents even if it’s heavily favored to me for victory. I know the fight game; I’ve been doing it since 2005. I’ve been fighting actively. I’ve lost to guys that I should have never lost to. I beat guys that no one thought I could beat. So that’s the fight game. Yeah, all it takes is one good punch, especially in BKFC. So, everybody’s got a fighter’s chance. So, I’m certainly not overlooking Joe. He’s a very tough guy, he’s gonna be hard to finish, and his big old blockhead is just going to keep coming (laughs).”
“So definitely not overlooking that but in a perfect world, I get this victory and yeah any of the top three guys. Some of the people I mentioned are not even on my radar anymore. (Elvin) Brito, I just don’t think he’s high caliber like he was built up in the earlier BKFC’s. I want, you know, (Rico) Franco would be an awesome fight. I think that would be a good title contention fight.”
Dustin Pague vs Joe Elmore
Dustin Pague continued, “I actually think he’s a better fighter than Gogo (current BKFC welterweight champ, Gorjan Slaveski). I think he’d be a tougher fighter than Gogo. So, if I can just skip over him and go for the belt after this victory, that would be ideal (laughs). But it’s in the hands of the matchmakers, BKFC, Dave Feldman. So, I’ll be happy with anything, but my long-term goal is to have that belt. So whatever path I got to take to get there, I’m all down for.”
Order and watch BKFC 51 below:
