New Weight Class and Camp Have Bryan Baker Dreaming Big Prior to Bellator 63
While a little change in scenery can be refreshing for anyone, Bellator talent Bryan Baker has no plans to relax as he embarks on a new chapter in his career.
In fact, the man known as “The Beast” has done exactly the opposite, cranking up his intensity as he drops in weight in an effort to reach his goals.
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Since losing to Vitor Vianna in the semifinals of Bellator’s Season 5 middleweight tournament, Baker has changed divisions and camps in hopes of achieving his dream. After two attempted runs through the promotion’s 185-pound field -- he lost to Alexander Shlemenko in the Season 2 middleweight finals -- Baker decided to make the cut to 170 pounds.
“I made the choice to drop down to welterweight because I just got
tired of being an undersized middleweight,” Baker said. “As strong
as I am, I feel like I keep all of that strength down at 170, and
I’m a lot faster. I’m just going to be a lot more ‘ninja’ and
really let ‘The Beast’ loose at 170 pounds. I’m really excited to
get out there and show the world how dominant I’m going to be at
this weight.”
In preparation for his first-round welterweight matchup with Carlos Alexandre Pereira at Bellator 63, which takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Friday, Baker joined forces with the highly respected team at Jackson’s MMA. Previously, the 26-year-old California native had trained at longtime friend Thomas Denny’s MMA Premier Fitness in Centennial, Colo.
“Making the move to Greg Jackson’s MMA was really just all about me doing what’s best for my career. I really needed to step outside my comfort zone and focus on what I need to do to excel in this sport,” Baker said. “Now that I’m married and have a baby on the way, I really had to step back and focus on the path I wanted to take with my life. I just decided that I really wanted to take this last half of my career to its peak.”
The first obstacle in Baker’s way is Pereira, a 43-fight veteran who has finished 22 of his 33 victories by way of knockout or technical knockout. The Shooto South American 183-pound champion has won 15 of his last 17 fights, with his last defeat coming to current UFC talent Siyar Bahadurzada in August 2010.
Baker expects that his wrestling will ultimately give him an advantage against the 32-year-old Brazilian.
“I see myself striking with Carlos, making him uncomfortable on the feet and getting back to my wrestling roots,” Baker said. “My style has always been to take you down and pound you out, but I’ve gotten away from that in a lot of my recent fights. Not anymore.”
Baker proposed to his then-girlfriend in the cage after defeating Joe Riggs last year at Bellator 43. It was a monumental event, considering that Baker had battled back after being diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in 2010. Now fully immersed in the next chapter of his life, Baker wants to make the most of his chosen profession.
“My wife and my son to be are my biggest sources of motivation heading into this tournament,” he said. “Right now my wife is over 12 weeks pregnant, and I’m turning the page to the last half of my career, so it’s time for me to really peak. It’s do or die.”
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