Brandon Girtz explains drop to featherweight for Bellator 250: 'It's a bunch of new blood'
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Brandon Girtz has fought under the promotion’s banner for almost eight years, but Bellator 250 will mark a first.
Lightweight, no more. Girtz (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) will make his featherweight debut against Henry Corrales in Thursday’s co-main event. The drop-down is something Girtz has contemplated for a while.
“It’s always been a thing, like, if 150 was a weight class, that’s where I would’ve been at,” Girtz told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I’ve always been a little bit smaller 155-er. I was kind of in-between that. During this pandemic… I kind of wasn’t hitting the weights the same. It’s just natural that my weight got a little smaller. We looked at it and were like, ‘Maybe this is the time to go to 145.'”
Having competed against the who’s who of the Bellator lightweight roster, Girtz is excited by the new matchups featherweight presents.
“It’s a bunch of new blood,” Girtz said. “It’s not new blood to me, it’s literally new blood, younger guys, some up-and-comers. I think it has some of the most exciting people at 145. That’s what I want. I want to get excited and I want to go against guys that are trying to take my head off.”
Bellator 250 takes place Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Check out MMA Junkie’s full Bellator 250 pre-fight interview with Brandon Girtz in the video above.