David “The Caveman” Rickels 21-6-0 is an American professional Mixed Martial Artist. A professional competitor since 2010, representing Saekson Janjira Muay Thai. He has competed for Bellator MMA, BKB and has also competed in the Kansas and Vermont regionals.
I’d like to start this off by thanking you for taking the time to speak to me today David, I hope training has been going well.
Making your mark in the industry with one of the biggest MMA organisations with Bellator, I can understand how difficult it must have been to part company with a place you have called home for 8 years of your professional Mixed Martial Arts Career. Out of the 27 actions packed bouts you had there, what one, in particular, stands out most for you?
“Out of 27 fights, the biggest fight was the Saad Awad fight. Bellator was built on tournaments and winning that tournament by KO helped me find my fan base in the city and around the world.”
Like many others within this brutally entertaining sport, you swapped the Gloves of MMA for the Wraps of BKB. Was this option a hard one to decide upon or has the ring always been a temptation?
“From the first day, I saw bare-knuckle I knew I’d have to do it eventually. High stakes make it more enjoyable to me. It takes a different breed to get in there knowing you will inevitably take damage.”
What an entrance it was though, unanimously victorious against not 1 but both of your outings for the BKB in true “Caveman” fashion when taking on Cliff Wright and Julian Lane. Julian being two years into his BKB career speaks volumes for your sheer determination to succeed at the new abode of your fighting journey. In regards to preparing for these dangerous outings, what changes were made in your regime to accommodate this level of pure unadulterated organised violence?
“I’ve always had pretty decent striking. I fight with heavy pressure and volume. The biggest adjustment was just focusing on head movement and defence from a boxing perspective.”
As previously stated, you are not the only athlete to have made the jump from the cage to the ring Artem Lobov, Bec Rawlings, Justin Baesman, just a handful of fighters to the ever-growing list. Are there any fighters, in particular, you’d be looking forward to facing from the list who have made the switch?
“Mike Perry and Thiago Alves are high-end targets on my list. I am adding to my legacy at this point and wins over those men would be great for my overall career”
I look forward to future announcements from yourself in regards to your next walk into the ring, as I’ve become quite a fan of BKB, even more so now that more and more familiar names are being added to the roster, I wish you all the best.
Last but not least do you have a message for the fans that will be in attendance and anybody you’d like to shout out to?
“No need for shoutouts. Please follow me on Instagram and Twitter at thecaveman316.”
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