Interview With Raufeon Stots Ahead of Bellator 242.

Raufeon Stots enters the bout full of confidence and rightly so. The 31-year-old hasn’t tasted defeat since 2017 and currently has a five-fight winning streak under his belt. The last outing of Stots occurred at Bellator 236 picking up a unanimous decision victory over Cheyden Leialoha.

Stots has a tough test ahead as standing across the cage from him is Arcata born and bred Cass Bell. Bell has seemed to be in complete control of his Bellator career so far going (5-0) under the promotion with four coming via finish.

One thing Bellator fans around the world can expect from these two Bantamweights that they will both bring it. Don’t blink!

Interview

How have things been with yourself during this current pandemic? I imagine it’s been a frustrating time for all athletes. How have you kept yourself amused and how’s your normal training schedule been affected? 

Stots – “My quarantine consisted of a lot of home projects and basement workouts. My wife and son kept me pretty busy also  and it felt like a much-needed home vacation for us with each other.”

When did you sign the contract and agree to take on Bell? Was there much notice from Scott Coker and Bellator? 

Stots – “Couple of weeks before it was announced officially. The notice we received was be ready by the end of July.”

You started your Bellator career with a unanimous decision win over Leialoha. In those six months without competing, have you added anything else to your game? Can we expect to see anything new from Raufeon Stots come fight night? 

Stots – “I wouldn’t say I’ve added much but I’ve improved my mindset and approach to training which I believe will produce a more exciting version of myself.”

You’re currently riding a five-fight winning streak, your last loss was to Merab Dvalishvili who is now tearing it up in the UFC. How do you learn from a loss like that as that’s something you’re certainly done. Your performances show that. 

Stots – “The main thing I did was accept that it happened and took what I learned in that experience forward in my career. You can’t dwell on the loss but we must acknowledge it and fix what we can.”

Onto your opponent next week in Cass Bell, how do you view him as an opponent and where would you rank him in your toughest fights to date? He’s definitely a threat being 5-0 and 4 being finishes.

Stots – “I believe Cass Bell is a tough opponent. I believe I’m his biggest test on paper. He’s not my biggest test on paper but it doesn’t matter. The fight is what matters and I wouldn’t rank him because people usually bring their best against me so I excited to see what he brings.”

With everything going on in the world I imagine your itching to compete and for Bellator’s schedule to get back underway. If victorious over Bell and injury-free. How soon would you like to jump back in there?

Stots – “I love fighting OFTEN so ASAP!.”

This is a matchup I believed is getting under looked by fight fans. Has the potential all there for a great fight. Two guys on impressive win streaks. Two guys who can finish the fight at any time. How do you personally see the fight playing out? 

Stots – “Definitely a finish and I’d be lying if I didn’t say my hands raised after a finish!”

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