CHICAGO – For top Bellator prospect Archie Colgan, his relationship with UFC contender Justin Gaethje extends beyond business.
Since his early days as a pro fighter, Colgan (7-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) has sparred and trained alongside Gaethje in Colorado. Although they are at much different points in their MMA journeys, the two have meshed and bettered one another through their physical abilities, but more prominently through their attitudes.
“I feel like just the camaraderie and the brotherhood between us is just like every practice is about the same,” Colgan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a Bellator 297 pre-fight news conference Tuesday. “We push each other. When you spar with somebody who you care about but you want to compete against, that in itself just brings the best out of you.
“It’s sweet that we’re both training for a camp. I’m a little earlier than he is – well, a lot earlier than he is. But when you go in there and if I hit you one time, being that brotherhood, you want to get it back with safety obviously. We want to take care of each other. But there’s always competition. Our training sessions are always good.”
Colgan, 27, will attempt to once again use what he and Gathje have drilled in the gym when he fights former Bellator title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez (20-8 MMA, 12-7 BMMA) at Bellator 297 on Friday.
The matchup, Colgan thinks, will be a good test for him to prove to himself and the promotion he’s ready to continue his progression toward contender status.
“I understand what the task is. I understand what he brings to the table. I’ve had eight, 10 weeks to think about it,” Colgan said. “To watch video and see who he is as a person and as a fighter, he’s a traditional Mexican-style, hard-nosed fighter. He’s going to fight until that whistle, the bell, the 10-second dinger, until that’s done, he’s going to fight. I understand what I’m getting myself into. I hope he does, too.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.
