LONDON – There’s nothing fabricated about the rivalry between Bellator middleweights [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Shipman[/autotag].
The two fighters have beef since their regional scene days, and will finally get to square off against one another Saturday at Bellator Europe 6.
For those just tuning into the rivalry, Edwards (8-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) wants the public to know everything that’s been said has been authentic. Simply put: he really doesn’t like Shipman (13-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA).
“It’s genuine dislike,” Edwards told MMA Junkie at Thursday’s Bellator London media day. “I’ve been wanting to get my hands on him, but Scott Coker was like, ‘If you put your hands on him, the fight’s off.’ So I was like, ‘The bossman says no, so I’ll make sure to behave.’ It’s the dislike on my side.”
The present is as good of a time as any to take on his bitter rival, according to Edwards. However, Edwards would have maybe liked to have faced Shipman before he suffered his first Bellator loss in June.
“I think the last London card would have been the right time, but even this one is the right time as well,” Edwards said. “Because he’s coming off a loss. He’s going up against a guy that he hates. And I hate him as well. So I know he’s going to be training the hardest he’s ever trained.
“Co-main event in his hometown against someone he dislikes – that’s the Shipman that I want. The Shipman I’m going to beat. The guy who I’ve been training for as hard as ever. That excites me.”
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Asked what his message is to his opponent, Edwards said the eyes tell all. He wants Shipman to think about what he saw in Edwards’ eyes during their staredown Thursday.
“The message is when we were in the head-to-head and we looked eyes to eyes, what did you see in my eyes?” Edwards said. “Because I know what was in my eyes. So what did you see in my eyes? That’s the message. On Saturday night, he’ll see what it was on Saturday night. That’s the message.”
Bellator Europe 6 takes place Saturday at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London. The card streams on MMA Junkie.
Check out Edwards’ full Bellator Europe 6 pre-fight interview with MMA Junkie in the video above.
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