Bellator’s invasion of Milan is fast approaching, the warriors have made final preparations to their prolific arsenal’s across their respective fight camps. Bellator 287 promises to be one of the biggest card’s in their violent history.
Packed to the brim with local talent, as well as some well rounded professionals from the UK and beyond, this will no doubt turn the fashion capital of the world into the bloody capital of the world.
At a recent press conference held online, some of these explosive warriors sat down to answer some questions from the media before the cage door closes on Saturday.
I was lucky enough to have been in attendance representing MMA UK News and grabbed some questions with Luke Trainer, Fabian Edwards, Davy Gallon and Main-Event headliners Adam Piccolotti and Mansour Barnaoi.
Aaron East MMA UK News: in regards to changing the home of your fight camp from TITAN Fighter Gym to GB Top Team, was this a scary situation for you as you were with Titan for so long?
Luke Trainer: I wouldn’t say scary, Brad and Ash were both at Titan before GB Top Team opened. Brad was the assistant Head Coach a while back with Mickey Papas when I first started there, and Ash was one of the fighters under the Banner. A Lot of the guys training at GB Top Team pretty much started out there too, so I was always around those guys at the start of my career and I’d already built great relationships, so I knew what I was going into. The scary thing for me was figuring out the travel haha, as I have to travel 2 and half hours there and 2 and a half back 4 days a week. That’s 20 hours of travel just for my morning sessions, then I had to go elsewhere for my evening sessions as well as on the weekends. So that was a bit of an adjustment, that’s time from my day that I’m used to filling with other things. So that was a bit to get used to, that was a bit of a leap of faith, financially as well. But it was time for me to make the move, a couple of other guys from the team had made the move already. I was following Simeon Powell who’s tearing up the PFL right now. He’s my main training partner now, like I said man, best decision I’ve made in a long time.
Aaron East MMA UK News: what can fight fans expect from you as we approach the 2023 calendar year?
Luke Trainer: I’m gonna finish Lucas Alsina inside 15 minutes, whatever happens in 2023 is up to Bellator. I wanna be active, I want at least 3 fights next year. There’s a Dublin card in February, there’s a London card I think in March. I’m a different animal now but I got to prove myself, all this talk is great but you’re gonna see it on Saturday. I’m gonna put this man away and move on to the next one.
Aaron East MMA UK: I look forward to it, all the best for Saturday Luke.
Luke Trainer: Thank you brother I appreciate it.
Next up, I grabbed a question with Davy Gallon who will be making his 4th appearance under the Bellator banner.
Aaron East MMA UK News: as we approach the violent festivities in Milan on Saturday, looking back, what has been your most memorable moment in the Bellator cage as you approach your 4th walk to Scott Coker’s organization?
Davy Gallon: I think it was the bout against Charlie Leary because he was a really tough opponent. To knock him out was an achievement for me, and I’m looking to do the same this Saturday.
Aaron East MMA UK News: thank you, all the best for Saturday mate.
Davy Gallon: Thank you, brother.
Next up on the mic was one-half of the Main Event and Bellator debutant Mansour Barnaoi.
Aaron East MMA UK News: Hi Mansour, what does it mean to you to now be part of Scott Coker’s Bellator?
Mansour Barnaoi: I would like to thank him, I’m very happy to be with Bellator MMA. I can’t wait to meet him and say thank you.
Aaron East MMA UK: Do you have a message for the Lightweight division as you enter your new contract with Bellator MMA?
Mansour Barnaoi: To all the fighters in my weight category, wait for me because I’m here and I’m coming.
Aaron East MMA UK: Thank you, Mansour, all the best for Saturday.
One of the most anticipated fighters on the main card for the UK fans is no doubt, Fabian Edwards, I grabbed a question with Fabian as he prepares for his inclusion.
Aaron East MMA UK: Your upcoming bout with Charlie Ward will have the UK viewers in high anticipation for Saturday night. What does it mean to you to have such a UK-based inclusion on the main card?
Fabian Edwards: It’s massive to me you know because there’s a lot of guys on the card that have been doing this longer than me. For them to put me on the main card, and allow me to make a splash for all the supporters back home, means a lot. I love that support.
Aaron East MMA UK: Appreciate you answering my question Fabian, all the best for Saturday mate.
Fabian Edwards: Thank you.
Last but not least I grabbed a question with the second half of the Main-Event Adam Piccolotti, who plans to make his Bellator 287 inclusion another victorious one after his recent return from injury.
Aaron East MMA UK: How does it feel to once again set out on your Bellator journey in the Main Event, after unfortunate events put your participation on hold in 2021?
Adam Piccolotti: yeah 21 was tough, I had a lot of things going on, injuries and whatnot, things out of my control. It was hard taking that time off, but I’m excited to be back in there for the second time this year. It makes me happy to get 2 outings, I’d of liked to of had 3 but 2’s good. The fact that I’m fighting in the Main-Event in Italy is the cherry on top, I’m feeling excited.
Aaron East MMA UK: Thank you very much mate, I look forward to witnessing you out there once again, good luck for Saturday.
Adam Piccolotti: Thank you.
Catch Luke, Davy, Mansour, Fabian, Adam, and many more this Saturday on the absolutely stacked Bellator 287 Milan card.
The Bellator 287 preliminary card will be watchable via BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV (US)
BBC iPlayer (UK) | Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)
6:30 p.m. CEST/12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT
Lightweight Bout: Davy Gallon (21-7-2) vs Daniele Scatizzi (11-6)
Middleweight Bout: Costello van Steenis (13-2) vs Kamil Oniszczuk (9-1)
Lightweight Bout: Alfie Davies (14-4-1) vs Thibault Gouti (16-5)
Strawweight Bout: Chiara Penco (7-3) vs Manuela Marconetto (3-1)
Featherweight Bout: Yves Landu (17-9) vs Walter Cogliandro (11-3-1)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Simon Biyong (8-2) vs Dragos Zubco (3-1)
Welterweight Bout: Nicolò Solli (3-1, 1 NC) vs Bourama Camara (5-1)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Luke Trainer (5-1) vs Lucas Alsina (11-3)
181 LB Contract Weight Bout: Andrea Fusi (8-6) vs Steven Hill (5-0)
Bantamweight Bout: Sarvadzhon Khamidov (13-0) vs Jose Maria Tome (40-9, 3 NC)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Oleg Popov (15-1) vs Denis Stojnic (15-3-1)
And the main card via SHOWTIME (U.S.) | BBC Three & BBC iPlayer (U.K.) | Virgin Media (IRELAND)
Saturday, October 29 – 10 p.m. CEST/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Lightweight Main Event: Adam Piccolotti (13-4) vs Mansour Barnaoui (19-4)
Middleweight Bout: #3-Fabian Edwards (10-2) vs Charlie Ward (10-4)
Lightweight Bout: Saul Rogers (15-4) vs Tim Wilde (14-4-1)
Featherweight Bout: #8-Justin Gonzales (13-1) vs Andrew Fisher (19-8-1)
Card subject to change
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