Patricky Freire Has Wanted to Fight Josh Thomson Since He Came to Bellator

Patricky Freire spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Josh Thomson at Bellator 172. Some highlights are below:

On wanting to face Thomson for a while: “As soon as I heard (Thomson) was hired, I think I was the first guy to email Bellator asking to fight him. So, when they offered it to me, I didn’t even think twice. I was already training, staying in shape, and he’s a guy who needs no introduction. He’s a top fighter in the lightweight class. Some people say he’s coming off three losses in the UFC. Yes, but of those three fights, the only one I consider a loss was the last one, to Tony Ferguson. He’s a guy who has a big name, and a lot of respect and admiration from a lot of people. So it’s a great opportunity for me. I consider it the biggest fight in my career. Even the champion (Michael Chandler) is asking to fight him, and I’m the one who got this opportunity.”

On Thomson’s track record of injuries: “He has this history of injuries, but every time he came back, he never had this problem of showing lack of rhythm inside the cage. He always showed up prepared and very well, physically. So I’m sure (ring rust) won’t happen. I’m fighting him in his hometown, so he won’t put on an out-of-shape performance, and I’m sure he’ll be very well-prepared. Of the fights he did at home, I think a fight that was really remarkable was the Strikeforce one against Gilbert Melendez, which was a five-round war. So I’m sure that he will be prepared for a three-round fight.”

On his motivation to fight Benson Henderson: “The will is there. To fight a guy who’s been a UFC champion, who was a top-5, who already fought and won at the welterweight division, a guy who’s been very tested – a big name, who’s very respected in MMA. When Patricio fought him, I think that same day, when he was at the hospital or even in the locker room, I already had that desire, and my brother said: ‘Patricky, brother, I am certain that if you fight Ben Henderson you’ll beat him. I’m absolutely certain. Your game is a bad matchup for his. It’s a great opportunity to get a guy like him.’”

On Thomson: “The dangers I bring to him he knows and everyone knows. It’s my hands. He knows I have a lot of knockout power and if my hand lands, he’ll go down. I respect him, and will keep doing so, but a fight is a fight. It’s my job. I’ll want to rip his head off. That’s what I want, and he knows it. He knows I want to put my hands on his face. He knows I want to knock him out.”