"You will see a better version. I'm much more prepared this time than last time. I didn't know exactly what he had the first time. I knew he was durable and it showed in a 5-round fight. I got 3 great rounds in me and I started so fast; being that this is only a 3-round fight, I will start like that again. I'm coming out gunning in this fight," stated Bellator light heavyweight Linton Vassell, who talked about his upcoming rematch this Friday with Emanuel Newton at Bellator 149. Check it out!
PC: How is it going my man?
LV: Good, good, how are you?
PC: No complaints at all here. Big rematch against Emanuel Newton coming up. How are you physically and how was preparation?
LV: Physically, I'm probably in the best shape. I'm in much better shape than the other fight. I'm very sharp and I'm more than ready to put a show on for everyone on the 19th, this Friday. I'm feeling great.
PC: It's so hard to prepare for someone like Emanuel because he's so awkward and unorthodox. Do you feel you have gotten the proper look in sparring for him?
LV: Yeah, I feel great. I think I had it the first time except this time around, I'm going to do it correctly. I should have pulled back a little bit in that first round when the submission wasn't there. If that was a 3-round fight, I would be champion right now. I've been getting a lot of sparring and I'm better prepared and I know not to do that.
PC: Being that you had so much success in the first fight, do you feel you needed to make a lot of adjustments preparing for this rematch or just be a little more patient and let things happen?
LV: You will see a better version. I'm much more prepared this time than last time. I didn't know exactly what he had the first time. I knew he was durable and it showed in a 5-round fight. I got 3 great rounds in me and I started so fast; being that this is only a 3-round fight, I will start like that again. I'm coming out gunning in this fight.
PC: You lost your title fight to Newton and recently dropped one against King Mo. Are you approaching this fight as a "back against the wall" type of fight or do you feel you just lost to two great fighters?
LV: I don't feel like my back is against the wall at all. I'm fighting against the top guys in the organization in a row. I just feel I gotta get back in there and see me winning. I know what I got to do; I just gotta do it. I believe in myself and it will happen. I know I've got the skills to beat him; it's just a matter of making it all come true.
PC: Do you feel like your height and range will be the difference in this fight or something else that will separate you two on Friday night?
LV: I think that will help, but I won't say that will be the key. I won't say what the key is, but I won't say what my key is. But it will be enough for me to get the win.
PC: Where would you like a win over Newton to place you in the stacked light heavyweight picture?
LV: Definitely a number two ranking. That's what I'm hoping for. If I beat Emanuel, I think it will match me up with another top fighter; maybe a rematch with Mo. I definitely think with a win, they will match me with a top guy. We will see what Bellator will put on the table for me after the 19th.
PC: It's gotta be a good feeling to be a part of such a huge event.
LV: Yes! I've been a part of a few big shows now. "The British Evasion" was the first, the tournament was a big one, and now this one. I want to be on all of the big cards. I mean, you have two big legends in the main event in Shamrock and Gracie, so I'm looking forward to watching that as well.
PC: How often would you like to fight this year?
LV: I want the big fights, but preferably 3 to 4 times this year. I just need the time to prepare properly; 4 fights will be fine.
PC: Have you changed your approach at all for Newton or do you feel you won the majority of the first fight, so he has to make the adjustments?
LV: I feel the biggest mistake I made was when I had his back and I had that rear naked choke. I was squeezing and squeezing and he just wouldn't go away. I think if I had let it go a minute or two earlier, things might have been different. I tried rushing it far too quick in the first fight and I learned from that and I have worked on stuff like that. I was like a kid in a candy store when I took his back (laughing) and I've definitely fixed that. I can't slam on a submission so hard where I lose myself, even if it's not there, you know. It's a physically grueling fight and I can't go for the finish in the first minute or two like that unless it's really there. If it's there, sweet; if it's not there, don't force it and I have learned from that. The submissions will come, the KO will come, and the TKO's will come if I'm just patient.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]