Tearing Through the Competition- and, Doing it With a Smile

Tearing Through the Competition- and, Doing it With a Smile

By Randy Thomas
 
It’s one thing to be a bad ass mixed martial arts fighter who takes on all comers.  It’s another to do it with no worries, no pressure, and a smile on you face!  That’s exactly what “Mean” Dean Bradley has been doing for the last year.  Throw a powerhouse like Barret Eller at him, and what does he do?  He taps him out quickly.  Make him face a striker like Mike Downey, and what does he do?  He knocks him out in eleven seconds.  Give him one of the toughest, grittiest light heavyweight fighters on the MCC roster, Josh “Bull” Christensen, and how does he handle him?  He takes him down and chokes him in the very first round!  Put him against former Middleweight champion, Mike “Mini Van” Van Meer and how does he stack up?  Great!  He outworks him to win a unanimous decision victory! So, how does he do it?
 
“That’s easy!  I am always underestimated.  Always!  I look like a short, pudgy wrestler with a baby face, so it’s tougher for people to take me seriously.  I like it though because it takes all the pressure off me.  I was not supposed to win any of these fights, but I do.”
 
“Mean” Dean Bradley is one fight away from a title bout.  First, he will have to face former number one contender, Jesse Lund, a team mate and close friend to one of Bradley’s previous opponents, Josh “Bull” Christensen.  In theory, this should be his toughest fight to date, however, we find ourselves saying that every time he steps in the cage.  As usual, Bradley will get logged as the underdog.  The question is, will Lund avoid making the same mistake Bradley’s previous opponents have- underestimating him?
 
“I am not looking past Dean.  I’m training hard and looking to get back on the winning track.  I should not have lost my title fight to Demetrius Richards, and I would love another crack at the belt.  I have to get by Dean Bradley first though.  I will be ready.”
 
Tickets for MCC 27: “Mutapcic vs. Cummings” are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, by phone at 515-229-8566m, Iowa Events Center Box Office, or at all Dahl’s ticket outlets.  For more information including fighter interviews, blogs, and up to date fight news, log on to the web site.