Leandro Higo headlines Bellator 195 on March 2 as he challenges Darrion Caldwell for the promotion’s bantamweight title.
Prior to the title opportunity, a surging Higo defeated Joe Taimangle at Bellator 184 and that was the win that the fighter believes propelled him to a title shot.
“After that fight, I had the impression that I would either fight Caldwell or Joe Warren because he (Warren) was coming off some important wins. So, the only thing I knew for sure was that I was going to face a wrestler. So, I went to the U.S. to train with Eric Barnstein, who was my wrestling coach. I spent a couple of months there just honing my skills and improving and creating a foundation for what was to come. During my time their, I learned that I would be fighting Caldwell for the title,” Higo says in an exclusive interview with Fightful’s James Lynch.
Higo was originally supposed to challenge then bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas for the gold at Bellator 177, but missed weight and the bout was changed to a non-title affair.
With a second opportunity at Bellator gold approaching, a cautious Higo wants to make sure the weight cut goes right the second time around.
“(Everything’s going) pretty good, I don’t think I’ve ever had any problems with weight cuts. The dieting has (previously) screwed us, I’m happy for this fight and its me improving everything. I should not have any issues and I don’t remember if I ever had some kind of time where the weight cut was going so well. With so much energy, I’m feeling like I can train two times a day without any issues. I don’t feel tired, I’m keeping my focus and my mood is good. I just had my last sparring session, which we call here in Brazilian a ‘day of stick.’ We finished it in a high style, I did five rounds of five minutes each and I could go more. I couldn’t be happier with the way everything is developing right now. For the fight, everything is aligned for the picture to come. I don’t think I’m going to have any issue with this and I’m very comfortable and content regarding this weight cut,” says Higo.
Bellator 195 takes place on Friday, March 2 from the Winstar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma with Darrion Caldwell and Leandro Higo headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on the Paramount Network.
