Paul Bradley made his WSOF debut just over a month ago, and now he’s already booked to fight overseas in a different organization for the very first time.
Bradley, who usually fights at welterweight, recently accepted a fight with former Bellator MMA middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko in the main event of M-1 Challenge 75 in Moscow, Russia on March 3. Fighting a Russian in Russia in a heavier weight class isn’t exactly what Bradley saw coming next.
“It legit came out of nowhere,” Bradley told BloodyElbow.com’s The MMA Circus. “I had no clue that this was coming about. It just so happened that my manager got word M-1 Challenge was looking for an opponent for Alexander Shlemenko.”
Bradley had to spend some time thinking about the opportunity and deciding whether or not it made sense for him and his career. The bout being in Russia and at 185 pounds were initially concerning for “The Gentleman.”
But he gave it some thought and eventually chose to take the bout, because it’s stylistically a good matchup for him, he believes, and because the offer was irresistible.
“I was a little hesitant at first, to be real honest,” he said. “But when they offered me the amount of money they did, it was one of those things where I was like, ‘Well, that pretty much seals the deal.’
“It’s one of those risk-reward things. But at the same time, I’m moving up a weight class, I’m getting the chance to fight arguably a top 10 fighter outside the UFC. I feel like there’s more to gain out of this than there is to lose. I’m fighting a guy who technically should beat me. But I’m going in to win this thing.”
Bradley is worried about the controversial judging in Russia – enemy territory. He thinks in order to guarantee himself a win, he’ll likely need to score a stoppage.
“We’ve come up with the idea that we gotta go in there and finish him,” he said. “It is what it is. I can drag him into places where I’m actually really good at. If it does go to a decision, we have to make sure there’s no doubt in the judges’ minds that this fight is mine.”
Bradley has no idea what to expect during fight week in hostile territory and a foreign land. This is his first fight outside of the United States, never mind it being his first fight in Russia. And that’s why he didn’t agree to a multi-fight deal with M-1 Global, which is what was initially offered to him.
“They first brought up about possibly doing a three-fight deal,” he said. “We kind of shied away from that. I gotta go experience it first. I’m not gonna be able to sign [a long-term deal] until I see how things are ran and how I’m treated over there. We’ll see how it goes. If I’m treated well, it could be something in the future.
“It’s definitely going to be different. I don’t speak Russian; I got the iPhone and Google Translate to help me with that.”
As far as how he’ll be treated by the Russian fans, he’s expecting the worse and hoping for the best.
“The only thing I’m picturing right now is Rocky IV when Rocky’s walking through the staircase to get into the arena. I’m picturing the worst. I don’t know how they’re going to treat me,” he said. “Hopefully I can get out of there without a mob coming after me after I beat Shlemenko.”
Bradley has zero plans to stick around in Moscow for a few days after the bout to experience the different culture and make a vacation out of the trip overseas.
“I’m getting the hell out of there,” he said. “I’ll be able to experience enough or see whatever we need to see the four days leading up to the fight. I’m there for business.”
WSOF’s best days seem to be behind the organization. There have been reports recently stating that WSOF has plans to either sell its assets or fold in the near future. That’s one reason it would be understandable for Bradley to be frustrated with the organization. Another is that the result of his bout with Yushin Okami at WSOF 34 on New Year’s Eve was very controversial; most scored the fight for the American.
All of that said, Bradley’s opinion of and relationship with WSOF has “become even stronger” since signing with it last summer, he said.
“I talked to (WSOF president) Ray (Sefo) before I even signed that contract for M-1. I said I’d never put my WSOF contract in jeopardy. We talked, he OK’d everything. He gave me an idea of what’s going to be next for me in WSOF. I couldn’t be more stoked to be with WSOF. I will be back.”
As he previously mentioned, Bradley would be open to fighting for M-1 Global more than just once if all goes well in his debut with the organization in March. But he also plans on fighting for WSOF.
“I’m OK with having two contracts, as far as I’m concerned. Ray is fine with it as long as it’s not a competing organization like Bellator. If he allows me to have two contracts, I’m in.”
Bradley is aware of the WSOF folding reports and hopes they are not accurate, because if WSOF does close its doors, finding a new home might be a challenge – M-1 Global might be his only option.
“I’m happy where I’m at,” he said. “With that being said, at least I have this opportunity to go overseas and make some money and see what this is all about. I don’t know where the next stop would be for me after World Series other than something like M-1. I’ve already fought in the UFC; I had a talk with them after I got cut from Bellator and they said I needed a longer win streak. My ties with Bellator aren’t great now. If [WSOF does fold], at least I’m getting a check out of this other organization that’s paying me some money.”