CHICAGO – Raufeon Stots would love to run things back with new Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix. Then again, if a trilogy with Danny Sabatello got offered to him, it’d be hard for him to turn it down.
Or so that’s how Stots’ thinking went after he beat Sabatello by unanimous decision in a thriller Friday night at Bellator 301. The result means Stots now owns two victories over Sabatello after he claimed split decision in the Bellator bantamweight grand prix last December.
The buildup to both fights has produced a lot of heat between Stots and Sabatello. That explains why Stots thoroughly enjoyed his second win over Sabatello, so much that he gloated on the microphone when addressing the Wintrust Arena crowd after the fight – and continued to relish the win during his post-fight news conference.
“I’m gonna say this over and over again: Anytime I can punch Danny Sabatello in the mouth, I’m gonna take that opportunity,” Stots told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “I don’t know how many more opportunities I’m gonna get like that. For me to beat him and then beat him again just speaks to my skill level and my confidence in myself.”
Stots later said that he’d like a rematch with Mix, who choked out Sergio Pettis to unify the 135-pound title at Bellator 301. Knocking out Stots in 80 seconds this past April is how Mix became interim champ and won the promotion’s grand prix to earn his shot at Pettis, with whom Stots is teammates.
“Congratulations to Patchy. I’ve made it clear that I would like that rematch with Patchy,” Stots said. “I know that I can perform better, and I can prepare better. I made some changes in my camp, no fault of anybody’s, but I know that I can have a better performance if I fight him again. Me and Patchy talked about it; we have to do it again. …
“Congratulations to Patchy. I’m heartfelt for my boy Sergio. He’s a true champion. But yeah, I want that fight again. It kind of makes me mad seeing him there. He deserves it, did everything he’s supposed to do, but I would like that chance to face him again.”
Still, though, Stots left the door open for another go-round with Sabatello even though he’s 2-0 against him and should probably focus on bigger things. And why? Because he loves to see Sabatello miserable.
“If I talk sh*t and you still got something to say, I don’t really care,” Stots said. “It really don’t do me no good to punch Danny, but the satisfaction of watching him bleed or watching him when I dropped him, that’s like the best Christmas present ever. Watching the panic in his eyes and blood drip down his face, that’s like Christmas came early this year. No matter how many times I beat him up, if he’s got something to say, I’ll beat him up again.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.
