Davion Franklin: “All about the pace” against Anthony Garrett | Full Bellator 254 media day press conference
Davion Franklin learned a lot from the last time he stepped into the Bellator cage.
The Jackson Wink/Matta Leon scholarship recipient entered the third round for the first time in his young career at Bellator 246 in September. The 26-year-old used a lot of energy in the first round by throwing power punches.
Franklin started to fatigue on his way to a technical decision victory. Three months later, Franklin will take his experience into a heavyweight clash with Anthony Garrett at Bellator 254 this Thursday, Dec. 10.
“That was my main focus this camp, was just pacing myself. it’s all about the pace,” Franklin said to MyMMANews at the Bellator 254 media day on Tuesday, Dec. 8. “It’s not that I didn’t have the cardio, it’s more like pacing myself.”
The 26-year-old is still young in his career with just two professional bouts to his name. The heavy-handed heavyweight has already displayed his power in both of his Bellator contests.
In his professional debut, Franklin finished JW Kiser via first round TKO with brutal ground and pound at Bellator 239 this past February. Franklin came out swinging against Hylton, but after his opponent survived the early onslaught, Franklin fatigued.
For the third time in his career, Franklin will fight a more experienced fighter since Garret holds a 5-2 record. Franklin’s previous two opponents displayed a combined 11-6 record at the time he fought them.
“At this level in my career right now, everybody who I fight will have more experience than me,” Franklin said. “It never matters if someone has more experience than me because that doesn’t necessarily mean anything,”
Davion Franklin interview
Franklin spoke to MyMMANews and other media outlets at Bellator 254 media day on Tuesday, Dec. 8. You can see his full press conference in the video above.
The full Bellator 254 fight card is listed below:
Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez Main Card:
CBS Sports Network
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Flyweight World Title Main Event: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-0) vs. Juliana Velasquez (10-0)
Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Magomed Magomedov (16-1) vs. Matheus Mattos (12-1-1)
Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (19-8, 1 NC) vs. Ronny Markes (19-7)
Lightweight Bout: Goiti Yamauchi (25-4) vs. Nate Andrews (16-3)
Preliminary Card:
CBSSports.com | Bellator MMA’s YouTube Channel
7:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. PT
Welterweight Bout: Robson Gracie Jr. (3-0) vs. Billy Goff (2-2)
Featherweight Bout: Cody Law (1-0) vs. Kenny Champion (2-0)
Heavyweight Bout: Davion Franklin (2-0) vs. Anthony Garrett (5-2, 1 NC)
Middleweight Bout: Romero Cotton (4-0) vs. Justin Sumter (7-3)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Grant Neal (4-0) vs. Maurice Jackson (7-2)
Welterweight Bout: Shamil Nikaev (9-0, 1 NC) vs. Kemran Lachinov (10-2)
