Missouri’s own Eric Irvin will be looking for his fifth win in a row tomorrow night on the preliminary card of Bellator 138 as he meets fellow Missouri fighter Hugh Pulley.
Tomorrow night will mark the first time that Irvin competes since trying out for The Ultimate Fighter 22. He was attempting to go on the show as a welterweight, but that division was scrapped and he will continue to fight as a lightweight.
Irvin (9-3) has been competing on the regional scene since 2010 and he is 6-1 since 2012. His opponent is considered an up-and-coming fighter and he is ready for the challenge that Pulley will bring to the cage tomorrow night.
“I have been around the regional scene for awhile and he is an up-and-comer,” Irvin told The MMA Report. “He is the next big thing out there so it’s always good. A lot of people have the mentality that not a lot of people want to fight you since you are a regional top talent. Fighters fight and I said ‘yeah, we will fight him.’ He is an explosive young guy that is going to be a tough fight. I am ready for the challenge so it’s going to be fun for sure.”
For the most part, every fight offers something different. Every opponent brings something dangerous to the cage. When it comes to Pulley, Irvin explained that what makes his opponent dangerous is the height and reach he brings with him.
“I think he is 6’0 tall and has a really long reach,” he said. “I am 5’8 and don’t have a very long reach so he has me beat there. I am going to be the stronger guy and he is a pure physical specimen. He is a very explosive natural athlete. He has a lot going for him and at any given moment, he can explode. He is definitely a dangerous and worthy opponent for sure.”
While Pulley will have the height and reach advantage, Irvin does see a major advantage on his side. That advantage is the experience he will bring to the cage. This will be his thirteenth professional fight, which this will only be the seventh fight for Pulley.
“I feel that my experience is definitely going to help me out. Not to mention that I have fought for such a long time, it seems like I have competed in wrestling most of my life and my college career,” Irvin explained. “I am use to competing at nationals in front of a couple of thousand of people. I am not sure if he is use to competing in front of that many people. I have no problem in shutting that out and going to work. That might be a problem for him or it may not be. I think my experience is definitely going to help me out a bit.”
Every fighter will talk about how they plan to make a statement in a fight. For Irvin, he plans to make a statement by winning and he hopes that the victory comes by finish.
“Go out there and finish this guy. Make it my fifth win in a row and my fourth finish in a row. I finished my last three opponents. Winning first and fourth most, but if I can go out there and finish the fight, that is what I am going to do. Keep the finishes rolling and that is going to be making a statement.”