As Raufeon
Stots continued to rack up the victories in reputable regional
promotions like Legacy Fighting Alliance and Victory Fighting
Championship, he still found himself overlooked when it came to
making it to the next level.
That was in large part, Stots admits, because he had a singular
focus on reaching the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As a
wrestling coach at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Stots crossed paths
with the Las Vegas-based promotion’s matchmakers on numerous
occasions at events, yet he never seemed to receive a satisfying
response during their interactions.
“I went up to matchmakers to their face and was like, ‘Hey bro,
what’s going on? Because I’m being told that I’m next. What’s the
deal?’ I kept getting runaround answers,” Stots told Sherdog.com.
“I’m not in this thing forever. I can’t just sit and wait on
somebody to feel like I’m worthy. You’re gonna hop on or you’re
gonna miss out. That’s where I was at.
“I was getting the runaround. [They’d say], ’You’re the next guy,”
but when there’s an opportunity, somebody else would get it. I was
pretty much like, ‘Screw it.’
Stots’ attention shifted when he traveled to Bellator 226 to corner
teammate Emmanuel
Sanchez against Tywan
Claxton this past September. Not only was he impressed by how
Sanchez was treated, but a conversation with
referee-turned-commentator “Big” John McCarthy convinced Stots to
give Bellator a shot.
With that, “the UFC or bust mentality” was a thing of the past.
“I don’t want to go nowhere that I’m not wanted,” Stots said.
“Bellator wanted me, and I felt that. I don’t want to be somewhere
that you don’t feel like you can market me, or you don’t feel like
you want me. I’m not going to go chase after this girl I don’t
really know in the first place.”
Stots will make his sophomore appearance with the organization on
Friday, when he meets Cass Bell on
the preliminary card of
Bellator 242 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The prelims will air on Bellator’s YouTube channel beginning at
8:45 ET/5:45 PT.
A two-time Division II national champion wrestler at University of
Nebraska-Kearney, Stots was 12-1 when he made his promotional
debut, a three-round verdict over Cheyden Leiaoha at Bellator 236
on Dec. 21. Prior to that, though, Stots claims bigger-name
bantamweights like James
Gallagher and Patrick Mix
turned down fights against him. He also says other fighters — whom
he won’t name until later — also balked at facing him at Bellator
242.
“Having a fight with me isn’t worth the gain….As I keep gaining
steam, they’re not gonna be able to run forever,” Stots said.
“There’s a lot of names even in Bellator that denied to fight me.
It just gives me confidence and reassures that I’m here for the
belt and I’m here to take everybody out.”
That’s where Stots gives props to his upcoming opponent. Where some
don’t want to face a skilled wrestler, Bell, unbeaten in five
Bellator bouts, is stepping up.
“They see the wrestling and they don’t want to fight wrestlers.
Then they see I’m getting better at striking, I’m better at
jiu-jitsu. They just don’t want to be in that situation,” Stots
said. “Anytime someone signs to fight me, I knew they’re up to
fight. They know they’re gonna be in for a fight, and they’re ready
to come out there swinging.
“Cass Bell is the same thing. I feel like he’s got a lot of
momentum in Bellator,” he continued. “He’s looking for a tough
fight. He’s found it with me. He’s biting off more than he can
chew. But at the same time, a fight is a fight. I know he’s gonna
be coming. I know he’s ready to fight. I’m excited to dominate and
finish this fight.”
Stots will share Friday’s card with Roufusport stablemate — and UFC
veteran — Sergio
Pettis, who is headlining the bill against Ricky
Bandejas in another 135-pound pairing. Stots says that he and
Pettis won’t lock horns in the Bellator cage unless the stakes are
ideal, namely a championship belt.
“It’s got to be for something, though. I’m not gonna put our
friendship on the line for just another paycheck,” he said. “It’s
gotta be for something. He’s like my brother. I wouldn’t want to
fight him ever.”
However, if Pettis isn’t part of the equation, the 31-year-old
Stots has mapped out an ideal path to the bantamweight crown.
“I want to fight for this belt as soon as I can. I want to defend
it and if I have things my way, we’d have a grand prix tournament,”
he said. “And I’d win the grand prix, and then also I’d win a
Bellator belt. That’d be amazing. I think we’ve got a lot of
firepower in the bantamweight division, so it’d be a fun grand prix
to make.”