LOS ANGELES – Neiman Gracie knows there are better days ahead.
The former Bellator welterweight title challenger is determined to break out of the worst slump of his career and get back to his winning ways. Gracie (11-4 MMA, 9-4 BMMA) enters Saturday’s Bellator 290 on the heels of defeats to Goiti Yamauchi and Logan Storley. It’s the first time in his MMA career that he has consecutive losses.
Gracie sees his bout against Dante Schiro as a perfect opportunity to bounce back.
“Things not going as planned, but when they don’t go as planned you have to make them work,” Gracie said at Thursday’s Bellator 290 media day. “I’m here to turn the tables and get back in line.
“The best thing in life is to overcome bad situations, and that’s what I live for. I’m happy to be in this situation, and I’m happy to overcome it and be a better fighter.”
Gracie once was undefeated with nine consecutive wins to open his career. The 34-year-old wants to get back to those winning ways and thinks he’s more than capable. He’s taken a good look at the things that have kept him from getting his hand raised and addressed them.
“Of course, you evaluate what you’re doing wrong, you evaluate how you’re doing mentally, you try to evaluate how you’re doing physically,” Gracie said. “It’s three aspects: the mental aspect, the physical aspect and the fighting itself.
“Those things have to be in line for you to be winning fights. I’ve been there before. I won nine fights straight, and I plan to do the same.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 290.
