Matt Lozano with a gogoplata at Onslaught Fights.
Bellator Fighting Championships recently held a try-out at Daddis Fight Camps in Philadelphia. Bellator has always maintained a strong connection with east coast fighters — they periodically hold shows in Atlantic City, and recruit heavily from states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, especially for their AC events. On top of that, Bellator’s matchmaker, Sam Caplan, is a Philly native.
Yesterday, I found out from Chad Strawbridge, coach at Team Total Domination in Red Lion, that he took one of his fighters, Matt “SMG” Lozano, to the try-outs. Strawbridge already has a relationship with Bellator: another TTD fighter, Duane Bastress, has a contract with the organization. Here’s what Strawbridge had to say about the try-outs:
“I thought in was an all-pro try-out so I texted Sam and asked if I could bring him up because I think he’s a top guy at 125,” Strawbridge said of Lozano. “Sam told me to bring him up and they would rate him right along with the others. Turned out there were a lot of ammys there.”
Once everyone assembled at Daddis Fight Camps, Caplan addressed the fighters and coaches.
“He let everyone know he wasn’t going to pick a winner like they have in the past,” Strawbridge said. “He told everyone that all their names would be put in his database and he would be researching and keeping an eye on the fighters and as far as how they do in their future fights and that there’s a great chance a good number of the guys would get a call in the future.”
The try-out started with a grappling session, followed by mitt work. There were probably about 65 fighters trying out, both male and female, Strawbridge said.
“I was glad to have the chance to get Lozano around all that good talent and also let him mentally feel the pressure that comes along with auditioning for such a great organization like Bellator,” he said. “I’m looking to turn Lozano pro mid-summer and hopefully in the future get him the chance to fight for Bellator like his teammate Bastress!”
