LAS VEGAS – Bryan Battle and Tresean Gore may have unfinished business, but history has already been written.
Two members of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Season 29, Battle (6-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Gore (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) were expected to face off at the TUF Finale in August. However, fate had other plans as Gore withdrew due to a knee injury and Battle went on to defeat replacement Gilbert Urbina instead.
Although Gore earned his slot in the tournament finals, neither he nor Battle thinks there’s any sort of unofficial label up for grabs Saturday when they face off at UFC Fight Night 200 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Both men ooze with respect for the other.
“It’s whatever the people call it, you know what I’m saying? Battle told MMA Junkie at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “If people want to call it ‘the real TUF Finale’ and that’s what the perception is going to be, then whatever. I’ve still got the trophy and I’ve still got the contract. Yeah, whatever people want to stamp on it to make it saucier, go for it.”
For Gore, the one who could scream from the rooftops Battle’s TUF championship should be asterisked, declared the bygone is bygone. He’s not willing to demean Battle for his own injury.
“No, I don’t feel like it’s for the TUF title because Bryan won that,” Gore told MMA Junkie at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “He won that fair and square. I got injured. It’s not his fault that I got injured. He did his job and he showed up. You know. He won it, so they need to go ahead and give that man his respect. That’s a TUF champion. But at the same time, I’m going to be champion of the world. So he can have that title because I want that belt.”
With the “TUF contestant” label purposely shaken, Battle and Gore view themselves as UFC fighters, which they are. The goals have changed compared to when they were first matched up – a targeted booking that was worked on long before their TUF stints.
“I remember one time we got offered $600 to fight in Derek Brunson’s promotion (on the regional scene),” Gore said. “Bryan didn’t take the fight because they didn’t want to accept that amount of money. But I was ready to fight for that sh*t, because I knew where it was going to get us ultimately. But we’re here now. We’re here now and it wasn’t meant. Now we get to fight live on a (UFC) Fight Night on a main card. Look at God.”
Battle, who already has his first UFC win notched, shared a similar enthusiasm. TUF is behind them, but the numerously-matched fight needs to play out for him to feel a bit more comfortable.
“I don’t know if Bruce Buffer will be here for this one, (but) it’s definitely different,” Battle said. “It’s different from TUF. It’s definitely something he’s going to have to adjust to. He trains with good people. They’re going to have him ready to go. I don’t think he’s going to get in there and lay an egg. I think Tresean is going to get in there, the lights are going to shine on him, and the best version of Tresean is going to be in there Saturday night.”
Both fighters think UFC Fight Night 200 will be an opportunity to prove something to a wider audience. For Battle, he wants to show that he’s deceivingly devastating.
“If you just have to eye test, he’s a much scarier person than me,” Battle said. “His fighting style is scarier. The people talked about the way he looks is scarier. I come in ‘Pooh Bear, Mr. Dad-bod.’ I’m not the most imposing person in the world, but it’s not going to matter when I impose my will on you. Exposing people’s perspective on fighting. What they think to be true vs. what is actually true.”
For Gore, his angle is to prove Battle and his team wrong, and that he is better.
“I need to show him he’s not better than me. Because he thinks he is. He and his team, they sleep on me. I’m tired of this sh*t. I’m going to show them that I’m on another level. My coaches, my team, they know I’m on another level. I’m just ready to go in there and display my talent.”
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