Brent Primus’ Moment of Truth

When Bellator MMA returns to pay-per-view with Bellator 180 on Saturday in Madison Square Garden, it will do so with three title fights in tow. Lightweight champion Michael Chandler has grown accustomed to the glare of the spotlight, but for the man challenging him, it will be an entirely new sensation.

Brent Primus has a deep respect for Chandler and all he has accomplished.

“He’s the champion for a reason,” he told Sherdog.com. “He’s one of the best lightweights in the world, and it truly is an honor to get in there and throw leather with him. It’s going to be great. This is what all this hard work that I’ve put in will come down to. I can’t wait to get into that cage to fight him.”

While Chandler has a decided experience advantage on the undefeated Primus, mileage can prove to be a double-edged sword in MMA.

“I think his biggest strength is that he has a lot of cage time, a lot of experience,” Primus said. “His wrestling is obviously very good, too, but at the same time, he’s been in a lot of wars over the years and there might be a lot of damage to his head and [body]. I think he has had some concussions, but he’s a tough dude and it’s going to be a great fight. It’ll be a challenge for me, that’s for sure.

“You can’t just buy that experience,” he added. “You have to actually do it, but on the flipside, it’s not like I’ve been training with a bunch of low-level guys. My team is loaded with great fighters and coaches. Chandler has definitely fought some great guys, but like I said before, he’s taken a lot of damage over the years. I think that works to my advantage.”

Primus has compiled a perfect 7-0 record, with five of those victories falling under the Bellator banner. The 32-year-old has not fought since he edged Gleristone Santos by split decision at Bellator 153 in April 2016. Primus will enter the cage as a significant underdog against Chandler, but the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt seems unfazed by the widespread lack of faith in him. In fact, it has fueled him.

“I enjoy being given no chance to win,” Primus said. “My whole career has always been about how I’m the best [and] how I’m going to smash this guy, but this is great because not many people give me a chance to win. It excites me. It motivates me to go out there and prove these people wrong, but if people were saying that he’s past his prime and how I’m going to beat him, I’d laugh it off. I let that stuff go in one ear and out the other. Not everybody knows what I am capable of doing, and I am the underdog.”

While Primus is older than Chandler, he has roughly one-third of the cage time. His progress has been curbed by numerous opponents withdrawing from fights and injuries that go along with fighting. Still, Primus embraces the opportunity to compete inside one of the most historic venues in sports.

“It’s crazy, man,” he said with a laugh. “Sometimes I have to wake up in the morning and pinch myself that this is all about to happen. I’m fighting in the greatest fighting arena in the world, and I’m fighting on the same card as legends like Fedor [Emelianenko] and Wanderlei [Silva]. With me coming from this little town in Oregon and warming up in bathrooms of bars and fighting in these tiny cages, it’s a dream come true. I’m just going to soak it all in.”

Even with all the potential distractions, Primus remains focused on the task at hand: upsetting Chandler for the 155-pound championship.

“I have already fought Chandler over a thousand times in my head,” he said. “I can see myself knocking him out on the feet and submitting him on the ground, but he is a great, great fighter and I expect it to be a tough, grueling five-round war. My cardio is great and I know I can go for 25 minutes, but I definitely see myself finishing him.

“I’ve been working with Colin Oyama, and the team has created what we feel is a perfect game plan for me,” Primus added. “I know what he’s going to try and do once the bell rings. I have a Plan B and Plan C. I don’t want to give that all away, of course, but having backup plans is the key and I think we have created the perfect plan of attack for this guy. I’m not going to just keep trying to do one thing over and over. I’m ready for this.”