Carl Deaton III ready for short notice opportunity to win a million dollars
This past Tuesday evening when Carl Deaton III was preparing for a fight for 864 Fighting Championship he received a call from his manager. Deaton was told that he was being considered for as a replacement in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) featherweight division. The message took only a moment to sink in.
“It kinda hit me like, this is a real thing. 864, what I was training for, it’s not there anymore and I’m heading to New York not South Carolina. Then after that, f*^king it was real. A couple extra medicals and now I’m here. I hit my family up and let them know.”
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The American Top Team product will face Bekbulat Magomedov. Magomedov lost to Lance Palmer in his first fight and is in the same boat as Deaton with zero points in the standings. Deaton doesn’t consider himself at a disadvantage coming into the season with only one opportunity to jump in the standings, he is just grateful for the opportunity.
“It’s just an opportunity, it’s a fight. Of course, I’m trying to get points but I’m trying to win too. I’m definitely going in there to try and finish this man.”
Despite the short notice nature of the fight, Deaton believes he is the top featherweight in the division.
“I’m going to go out there and prove that I’m one of the best in the world. That’s why I’m signed to this promotion and that’s why I’m fighting on Thursday and that’s why I’m in this.”
Deaton is a veteran of the sport at 13-3, he started the sport after wrestling in high school. During college, he decided to pursue his dream of fighting. He took his first professional fight in 2011, which he won by submission and hasn’t looked back since.
“I wanted to pursue a dream and chase this goal, and I was hungry for it.”
He is also of Native American heritage which is extremely important to him and it’s his goal to represent his heritage proudly.
“One of the goals is to be the very first Native American champion for the PFL.”
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Now settled in, Deaton has a message for all the fans who will be watching him for the first time.
“Expect the unexpected, I’m going out there to put on a show for sure and I’m excited for this fight.”
