DALLAS, TX, March 15, 2012 – Heading into his recent fight with Pancrase/ZST veteran Kota Okazawa, Derek Campos already knew he was signed and slated to fight Patrick Cenoble at Bellator 61 this Friday in Bossier City, LA. With that opportunity looming, he could have easily overlooked the Okazawa fight or found a way out of it but he didn’t. Instead he went out there focused on the task at hand and did his job at G1 Fights, winning by second-round submission. Now 9-2 and facing the biggest opportunity of his career at Bellator, Derek is poised to prove himself all over again and prove that he belongs on the big stage.
“It feels great to be fighting for Bellator,” he says about this opportunity. “It’s a chance to compete against some of the top fighters in the world. For my career, this is the next step and my chance to show my skills against these next-level fighters. All I want to do is win, and I will not settle for anything less.”
Looking ahead to Friday night at Bellator 61, Derek will have to prove his worth against undoubtedly one of his toughest opponents yet in Floridian Patrick “Lights Out” Cenoble – an 8-1 veteran whose own fights have ended in KO or technical knockout in all but one contest. A tough opponent indeed but not one likely to intimidate a fighter who’s taken on TUF 14 winner Diego Brandao and TUF 15 candidate Cody Pfister in the past.
“I’ve had a while to prepare for this fight and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been coming out of a camp,” said Derek about how he feels just a few days out. “I think my opponent is a very tough guy and he has some good stand up. He’s tall and has the reach advantage so I will definitely be keeping that in mind going into this one. I envision finishing this fight one way or another. I don’t plan on letting it go to the judges when the outcome is in my hands. I hope he’s ready for the hardest test he’s had physically, mentally, and emotionally, because I plan to bring the fight to him and break him at each one. It’s time to prove that I belong.”
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