Today, Johnny Eblen goes locations. Comes with the territory after beating one of the completed middleweights in MMA, incomes the Bellator middleweight championship within the course of.
However seven years in the past, earlier than Eblen’s dominant choice victory over Gegard Mousasi on June 24 at Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Uncasville, Conn., he was only a former standout school athlete whose life lacked route; a depressed one at that.
“I had no concept what I needed to do with my life, to be fully trustworthy,” Eblen instructed The Submit whereas in Manhattan within the days after Bellator 282 coronation. “I used to be simply working a job and partying a bunch and, like, ‘Properly, that is life.’ I used to be type of depressed as a result of I didn’t place on the NCAAs. I used to be a highly-ranked wrestler, nevertheless it didn’t play out. So I dove into the partying life for a bit bit. It was enjoyable, nevertheless it wasn’t sustainable, and it wasn’t good for me.”
Clearly, discovering blended martial arts has been significantly better for the native of Kansas Metropolis, Mo. After a transfer to Florida, a coincidental assembly with former Olympic wrestler and American Prime Crew coach Steve Mocco put him on the trail of transferring previous an early exit from the 2015 NCAA Event.
And that led to a significantly much less good time for 185-pounders left to take care of Eblen, who issued Mousasi essentially the most lopsided loss within the veteran’s 19-year, 59-fight MMA profession for principally each main promotion. Although a wrestler at coronary heart, the 30-year-old’s punching energy turned the tide his manner early and an aggressive putting assault — in tandem along with his superior grappling — saved momentum squarely on his facet for a 50-45 clear sweep of all three judges’ scorecards.
“I’m simply all the time centered on beating the crap out of the man till he’s unconscious,” stated Eblen of his mindset for the Mousasi battle — and any battle. “After which when he’s unconscious, I flip it off.”
The victory gave Eblen an accomplishment he shares along with his American Prime Crew head coach Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal: a championship victory over Mousasi. King Mo, who retired from blended martial arts in late 2019 and holds a win over present UFC mild heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, earned his first MMA title with a 2010 choice victory at 205 kilos in opposition to Mousasi underneath the Strikeforce banner.
Lawal might hardly comprise his exuberance whereas watching his pupil excel in opposition to a former rival, with Eblen calling him the “No. 1 hype man.”
“It’s superior as a result of I actually feed off his power,” Eblen stated. “And the truth that I could make my coach proud, it actually means quite a bit.”
Eblen equates his relationship with Lawal as like “an enormous bro.” Lawal, 41, imparts real-world recommendation and hopes the brand new Bellator champion can keep away from a number of the identical pitfalls he skilled whereas competing largely for Strikeforce, Bellator and Rizin throughout a 12-year profession.
Whereas Lawal’s win over Mousasi — in simply his seventh professional battle — was fueled by a wrestling-centric method, Eblen’s 12 years later displayed a extra well-rounded arsenal. It wasn’t inside information of the erstwhile champion that King Mo supplied as a lot because it was a reminder of how way more developed as a fighter Eblen is when every stood toe-to-toe with Mousasi.
“He simply jogged my memory that I've extra instruments and a greater ability set than he did when he beat Mousasi,” Eblen stated.
Knocking off the man who’d already conquered a superb chunk of the Bellator middleweight division opens loads of choices for Eblen, whose speedy rise to the highest means he’s confronted only a few of the opposite prime males at 185 kilos.
Eblen wouldn’t thoughts making his first title protection earlier than the top of the yr, however he’s content material to attend till early 2023 after already having “made sufficient cash” though it wouldn’t be “an ideal scenario.”
As a still-developing fighter who estimates he’s solely midway by his ability development, Eblen would ideally compete extra regularly going ahead. However he additionally thinks like a businessman and believes “championship fights have to make sense.” In that manner, it’s nearly a present and a curse to succeed in the belt this shortly.
“Relative to the place I’m at in my profession, yeah, it might be barely a curse.” Eblen acknowledges. “I need to be extra lively, however I’m certain Bellator will determine it out.”
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