LAFAYETTE, LA, March 14, 2012 – The last time we spoke to Eric Scallan of Lafayette’s Gladiators Academy, he spoke to us about what it was like training alongside UFC vets like Tim Credeur and Dustin Poirier and how much he desired to follow the same path as his teammates. In many ways, this is as much about money to him as it is about how the sport gave him the structure and discipline to succeed as a responsible adult. In short, it’s a lifestyle he doesn’t want to leave. “You just don’t stop being an athlete,” he told us. “It’s about continuously evolving and growing. I would be on jail or dead if it wasn’t for MMA. I want to keep growing.”
Looking to take his career to the next level, Eric will face his stiffest test yet this Friday night at Bellator 61 against Marshall, TX fighter Derrick Krantz. Scallan already has 2 wins in 2 months time in 2012 and he’ll be looking to make it 3 and 3 on the biggest stage he’s fought on yet in his career.
“I feel like I deserve to be here and I think he (Krantz) is the toughest opponent I have ever faces,” he says about the impending fight this Friday.”This fight has huge implication on my career and I have to answer the question ‘can I get the W on the big stage?’ I also just signed with Alchemist Management and these guys can take me to top with their support and how they manage me so I’ve got to take fate in my own hands too and win this one at all costs.”
If nothing else, Eric will be well-prepared heading into this matchup with the tough Texan. He’d already been preparing for a title fight in Mississippi and some other opportunities including a planned fight in Lafayette when he got the call. With this opportunity with Bellator surfacing in the midst of all that, all he had to do was extend his training camp some and just on doing what he’s been doing. According to him, cardio won’t be an issue and neither will anything else.
“If you fight in Texas, you know who Derrick Krantz is,” he says about how he’s approaching the bout – with cautious respect for his opponent. “He’s been around for a long time and has lots of fights. He’s heavy-handed with devastating ground-and-pound but this is MMA, and anything can happen. I’m ready to bleed and this won’t be a boring fight, I promise you that. I can’t predict how I will win but I definitely want to finish him.”