Jornel Lugo on Bellator 256 opponent Cass Bell: “I got somebody with a name”
Jornel Lugo is all about fighting opponents with well-known names.
He will get a hint of that when he takes on fellow bantamweight Cass Bell at Bellator 256 on April 9. Bell is not the most established fighter in the division, but with a 5-1 record and his signature green-colored hair, “The Mean Green Fighting Machine” is someone the promotion is investing in.
Lugo once focused his fight path based on opponents’ records, but is starting to transition over to fighting more popular advisories.
“Finally, I got somebody with a name. Eventually, I only want names. Eventually it’s not about the records anymore,” Lugo said.
“I am not saying he [Bell] has the biggest name in the world, but he has a recognizable name to where some people would be like, ‘Oh, the guy with the green hair?’”
Jornel Lugo and becoming a household name
Lugo just officially became a member of the division by signing a four-fight with Bellator this past December.
Finding well-established opponents is becoming more common in Bellator’s bantamweight division. Long-time veteran Juan Archuleta is currently the 135-pound champion, but there are plenty of new prospects looking to climb the ranks.
In addition, Bellator recently announced the promotion will be introducing rankings. This will be visual proof for Lugo to see if he is currently pegged in the top 15.
Lugo is on the rise with an unbeaten record of 5-0, but is in the mix with fellow rising prospects like Keith Lee, Jared Scoggins, among many others.
Lugo is still young into his career, but expects some notoriety when all is said and done.
“When I do beat these guys, no one can say like, “Oh, you fought a bunch of bums,’” Lugo said. “They’ll have to put respect on my name.”
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Bell is a fighter
Bell fought all six of his previous bouts under the Bellator brand. He resigned with the company back in December after going 5-1.
Bell most recently suffered his first professional defeat, a third-round TKO loss to Raufeon Stots at Bellator 242 this past July. He previously rattled off five-consecutive wins, including four-consecutive finishes.
Lugo is looking forward to facing a Bellator veteran like the 33-year-old Bell.
“His [Bell] best attribute is that he is a fighter. He shows up to fight,” Lugo said. “The people he has fought have had better attributes than him as far as wrestling, but he has been able to overcome those things because he’s got that grit.”
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For the record
Fighting a more recognized fighter never mattered to Lugo earlier in his career.
He most recently made his second Bellator appearance, handing Schyler Sootho his first professional defeat in a unanimous decision win at Bellator 252 last November. His only other promotional victory was a unanimous decision victory against John Douma at Bellator 232 in October 2019.
His previous five opponents fought to a combined 17-8 with none of them currently displaying a losing record.
“In the beginning, it was about fighting guys with good records so it would show. “Look, I beat notable people that have good records,’” Lugo said. “At some point, if you fight a guy with a 10-0 record and has no name, they are like, ‘Who did you beat?’”
The Countless Hours I Spend In Training So One Day The Whole World Can Share This Opinion 📝#SkillPayTheBills #GodisGood #Bellator pic.twitter.com/XgqjbvsEd5
— Jornel A1 Lugo (@Aunolugo) November 15, 2020
Jornel Lugo on being different
Lugo is convinced most of the division is already aware of his presence. If they are not, he plans for the entire division to take notice come April 9.
Lugo is entering his sixth fight and just the first of a multi-fight deal with Bellator. He is well aware there are plenty of contenders ahead of him.
At the same time, he is still aiming to reach the top. He plans by creating his own name by beating fighters with established names.
“I’m excited to show everybody and let the whole bantamweight division know I’m here. I’m different. I am not like all these other dudes,” Lugo said. “I’m not saying I’m the greatest in the world, but I am definitely headed toward that direction.”
