Melvin Manhoef is looking to right a lot of wrongs, and then he'll take things one step at a time.
After a controversial loss to Rafael Carvalho following an incredibly inactive fight at Bellator 155 last May, Manhoef had the Bellator Middleweight Championship ripped from his grasp. Carvalho would later withdraw from a re-match, before the two were rescheduled for Bellator 176 this Friday in Italy.
Manhoef knows fans didn't take well to the first fight, and looks to rectify the boring output the first go-around. When we spoke to Manhoef, he told us he already has a vision of how his career plays out moving forward.
"I want to get the belt and defend the belt in my home country. I want to defend it in Holland. I'm going to do everything in my power to win the belt, come here, defend the belt. Then I'll retire in my home country, that's what I want. Get the belt, defend the belt, and then we'll see what happens from there," said Manhoef.
The 40-year old Manhoef sees his 41st birthday next month. After nearly 50 MMA fights and countless others across different combat sports, this could be his last opportunity at glory.
Bellator 176 takes place Saturday from Turin, Italy. You can hear Fightful's full interview with Manhoef above.
