Pedro Carvalho: “I’m gonna shut his mouth on Friday, and that’s what happens”
DUBLIN, IRELAND – With another historic event in Dublin, Ireland just days away, fighters from BELLATOR MMA 285: Henderson vs. Queally spoke to the media today before their slated fights this Friday, September 23 at the 3Arena.
Headlined by a five-round main event between No. 3-ranked Benson “Smooth” Henderson (29-11) and hometown hero and No. 5-ranked Peter “The Showstopper” Queally (13-6-1), BELLATOR 285 is supported by a mouthwatering cast of top MMA talent, featuring legends of the sport, homegrown stars and international challengers hoping to spoil the Irish party.
The co-main event features No. 8-ranked light heavyweight veteran Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero (14-6) taking on another legend of the sport in Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef (32-15-1).
The main card will air live in America on SHOWTIME at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, while the preliminary card airs live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.
Overseas, the main card will air live in the UK on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer and in Ireland on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Sport from 9 p.m. BST. The preliminary card will stream live in the UK on the BBC iPlayer and in Ireland on Virgin Media from 6 p.m. BST.
PEDRO CARVALHO: NO. 5-RANKED BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT:
“The best thing that I can say about my journey is that losses brought me maturity and a vision of things that I did not have. I was a young fella, saying and doing things that at some point was too much. The fall was big, and it was hard to get up, but I got up. I did my research on what I need to improve, and today I can say I have everything I need to be a world champion… I don’t know if I want to say a new Pedro, but it will be a new chapter, for sure.”
“For me, there’s a lot of ways to look at a fight. In a way, in my consciousness, I’m heading into this fight on a two-fight winning streak. I respect someone who has a different idea, but that’s all subjective. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning. I started to shape my fighting in a way that the judges’ like, but there’s always going to be judges looking at some details and not others. Judges are human. Sometimes, these decisions are not going to please everyone.”
“We are fighting in MMA, not in jiu jitsu. I have fought a lot of black belts, and it’s different. Mads excites me. I always wanted to fight him because I want to fight the top guys. If I want to be the best, I have to fight him. I’m not afraid of anything. He mixes his striking very well with his takedowns and of course he’s very good grappling-wise, but there’s no one thing I look at and I say I’ve never fought this before. There’s a lot of things in me that he’s never seen, and that’s what I’m gonna show.”
“I don’t care what he says. He can say whatever he wants. I’m gonna shut his mouth on Friday, and that’s what happens.”
“Having 10,000 people cheering for you is amazing. Last year was amazing. I knew it would be great, but I didn’t know it would be that great. I think this year’s will surpass it.”
“We’ve been in the trenches for years now. Every time we spar, it’s a cracker. It’s worth a few bucks. It’s always great to fight with Peter. Every time we spar, we both know that it’s going to be tough but it’s going to be super safe. Like John Kavanagah says, ‘Improve your software and protect your hardware.’ Every time we spar, that’s it.”
BELLATOR 285: HENDERSON VS. QUEALLY FIGHT CARD:
MAIN CARD:
SHOWTIME (US) / BBC Three (UK) / Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)
Friday, Sept. 23 – 9 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Lightweight Bout: #3–Benson Henderson (29-11) vs. #5-Peter Queally (13-6-1)
Light Heavyweight Bout: #7-Yoel Romero (14-6) vs. #9-Melvin Manhoef (32-15-1)
Women’s Featherweight Bout: #5-Leah McCourt (6-2) vs. #9-Dayana Silva (10-7)
Featherweight Bout: #3-Mads Burnell (16-4) vs. #5-Pedro Carvalho (12-6)
Featherweight Bout: Ciaran Clarke (5-0) vs. Rafael Hudson (5-3)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV (US)
BBC iPlayer (UK) | Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)
6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
Bantamweight Bout: Brett Johns (18-3) vs. Jordan Winski (12-3)
Bantamweight Bout: Brian Moore (14-9) vs. Arivaldo Lima da Silva (19-10)
Light Heavyweight Bout: #6-Karl Albrektsson (13-3) vs. Karl Moore (9-2)
Lightweight Bout: Darragh Kelly (1-0) vs. Kye Stevens (3-1, 1 NC)
Lightweight Bout: Georgi Karakhanyan (31-13-1) vs. Kane Mousah (13-4)
Featherweight Bout: Kenny Mokhonoana (3-0) vs. Alex Bodnar (4-1)
Featherweight Bout: Asael Adjoudj (3-1) vs. Jordan Barton (7-2)
Welterweight Bout: Dante Schiro (9-3) vs. Luca Poclit (7-1)
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
