Daniel Weichel is headed back up to lightweight so he can be as active as possible.
The former Bellator featherweight title challenger meets Goiti Yamauchi in a 155-pound bout on the preliminary card of Bellator 210 on Friday night in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The fight marks Weichel’s first appearance in the Bellator cage as a lightweight; however, he has competed in the heavier weight class many times, earlier on in his 49-fight career.
Weichel said it wasn’t his idea to return to 155 pounds; Bellator came calling with a fight offer at lightweight, and he took it. Simple as that.
“I asked Bellator, ‘Hey, give me a fight, I’m healthy, I’m ready to go,’” Weichel told Bloody Elbow. “They were looking for a couple matchups, and they also asked if I would be willing to fight at lightweight. When they offered me that matchup with Goiti Yamauchi, I said yes right away, even though it was on a little bit short notice.”
Unsure if it will be a permanent move, Weichel said he has no issues fighting at lightweight for the time being.
“I basically feel like a 145-pounder, but I’m also kind of a heavy 145-pounder,” Weichel said. “I feel like I’m very solid when I’m at my walk-around weight. Now I can have an experience how I feel cutting to 155, and how I feel on fight day. I feel very confident with my weight, with my performance. I’m very good with that.”
Weichel said he hasn’t changed much in preparation for the Yamauchi fight — besides eating a little more than he usually does.
“I just keep eating bigger portions before the fight, and I’m enjoying it,” Weichel said.
Weichel said the cut to 145 pounds wasn’t difficult, but admitted it will be nice not having to cut those extra 10 pounds.
“I found a very good way to cut down to 145, where I feel also very strong,” he said. “But still, I sacrifice a lot of stuff. I don’t eat the portions I want to eat. I have to be very, very strict. I feel that I have a good weight cut at 145, but still cutting weight, it’s never really fun.
“I still try to keep a straight diet, I eat very healthy. Maybe a little bit fruit more, a little bit dark chocolate more. I’m enjoying it, definitely.”
That said, Weichel doesn’t expect to feel too much better in the cage despite the lesser weight cut.
“When I cut down to 145, I always feel very good. I can’t say the weight cut affects my fighting in the cage,” Weichel said. “I will find out how I feel when I cut down to 155.”
In his last fight, Weichel fell to current 145-pound champion Patricio Freire in a rematch. Weichel lost by decision in a competitive affair. It marked his second loss to “Pitbull,” and because of that, it seems likely Weichel’s chances of another title shot in Bellator are greater at lightweight than featherweight.
But Weichel isn’t focused on the lightweight title, currently held by Brent Primus, who defends it for the first time in a rematch against ex-champ Michael Chandler in December. Right now, Weichel is only thinking about the opponent that will stand across from him at Bellator 210.
“I want to win, I want to stay active as much as possible,” Weichel said. “I think things will come up by fighting.”
Weichel said he thinks Chandler will defeat Primus in the rematch to re-capture the Bellator lightweight championship. Chandler vs. Weichel for the title in 2019?
“Who knows?” Weichel asked. “You never know what happens after Nov. 30.”