Mads Burnell steps into the cage Saturday for his first-ever Bellator main event, headlining Bellator 276 against Ádám Borics in a bout to determine the No. 2 ranking in the featherweight division.
“It’s kind of annoying to me,” Burnell said. “I’ve won two times since Adam last fought, so how can he be No. 2? But it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is the C for champion next to your name.”
The reigning featherweight champion is A.J. McKee, and he represents the opponent Burnell (16-3) is striving to meet. Victorious in his past seven bouts, Burnell can win in a variety of ways–his last three fights saw him seize victory via TKO, a rear-naked choke, which is the same hold that cost Borics (17-1) when he lost to Darrion Caldwell, and most recently, unanimous decision.