Shane Kruchten ready to send Daniel Straus into retirement

After his Bellator debut loss against Aaron Pico, Shane Kruchten is back and looking for a victory against Daniel Straus at Bellator 219. Kruchten suffered four broken ribs in his fight against Pico. He joined the SFLC Podcast and really went in-depth about the effects of that loss.

“I’ve been around the sport for years now and at the end of the day … once you get to a certain level there is no hand-picked fights,” Kruchten explained.

“I’m not making any excuses and hats off to Aaron Pico. I went in injured, but I didn’t make any excuses and i thought I still had a good game plan,” he continued.

It isn’t often that fighters talk about the damage and emotional effects they suffered during a loss. When Kruchten talked about the physical damage he suffered, he also discussed the personal aspects of his life.

“At the end of the day I realized that being where I was and training where I was, I needed to change my mindset. … and I needed to change who I surrounded myself with and become a better man,” Kruchten said.

“I actually went into a pretty deep depression after that loss it took a lot of me and luckily, I had a girl that caused a lot of relationship issues, cancelled marriage and all that stuff. Now I’m in a better place and around people who are like minded … it’s just so many good things coming from that loss,” he said.

We talked a little about his background in the Marines, his Purple Heart and being able to carry the names of his fallen brothers on him every time he steps into the cage. Kruchten was very open and humble when discussing his deployment. He also complimented Bellator, as a company, and their support for Veterans.

Kruchten is excited to step back in against Daniel Straus following his opponent’s accident.

“I watch a little bit of tape but at the end of the day, he’s not going to work me the same way the guys do in the gym every day,” Kruchten claimed.

“I’m here and I’m more than happy to welcome him back to the cage, but at the same time I’m going to send him back out of the cage and into retirement … I’m going to show him that he has never fought a guy my height, he has never fought a guy with my range, and he has never fought a guy that moves as funky as I do,” Kruchten finally stated.

Catch Kruchten vs. Straus at Bellator 219 Fri. Mar. 29 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA.