Sullivan Cauley reacts after finishing Deon Clash in the first round at Bellator 268. Cauley is back in action Friday where he will put his 3-0 professional record on the line at Bellator 284.
Bellator MMA/Lucas Noonan
Sullivan Cauley wants to stay busy.
With a 3-0 record in Bellator thus far, the Douglas County native has his sights set beyond his next fight.
“It’s been a little bit too long of a layoff since my last fight, but it’s kind of out of my hands,” said Cauley. “I stay busy. I don’t mess around. I’m on a development contract so the goal is to keep developing.”
Cauley’s last professional fight with the promotion came back in January and ended the same way as his first two fights – a first-round knockout.
The Reno High alum may have had to wait for another bout under the Bellator flag, but it hasn’t kept him out of action.
In the meantime, he’s competed at the World Games in muay thai.
On Friday, Aug. 12, Cauley is back in the octagon at Bellator 284 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he will take on Tyson “The Anti-Hero” Jeffries.
Prepping for Jeffries
Cauley’s training camp heading into next week’s bout has been an eight-week marathon.
“It’s been brutal, but that’s the way I do it. I’m getting dialed in. … I’m going to show the same stuff you’ve already seen,” said Cauley. “I feel like a wrecking ball at this point. I’m just chomping at the bit.”
His eight-week training camps are longer than industry norm for a three-round fight, but Cauley refuses to sell himself short.
His mindset around training camp is to be in the best shape possible while avoiding injury. For next week’s bout, Cauley says he’s 100 percent.
“I work harder than anybody. I’m just smarter about it,” said Cauley.
There’s no shortage of confidence for Cauley coming into next week’s fight.
With three first round stoppages to this point, Cauley says his goal is to knock Jeffries out in the first round.
“You never know in MMA. I think I can take him out and probably take him out early,” Cauley said. “Who knows? Maybe we will end up grappling and it will go to the second or third round. I think I’m going to knock him out and I think it might come early.”
To this point, the light heavyweight says he expects Jeffries to showcase his jiu-jitsu.
Cauley – who wrestled at Arizona State – added that Jeffries isn’t up to his level if the fight goes to the mat.
Jeffries will be the most formidable opponent Cauley has taken on in Bellator to this point as The Anti-Hero has 25 professional fights (14-11) under his belt.
“He’s reasonably well rounded. He does things technically as a striker so he’s not a bum,” said Cauley. “He’s got a lot more experience than I do, you have to respect that, but I think I’m a lot better than him.”
To that point, Jeffries hasn’t fought professionally since 2018 and lost his last two bouts by technical knockout.
Cauley has switched to a new manager and hopes that a quality performance will get the ball rolling for another bout.
“If I lay waste to this dude, I think we’re going to be able to get a guarantee that I’ll be fighting quickly,” said Cauley. “I have to be on a three-fight-a-year pace. Four would be gravy, but I got to be fighting three times a year at my age. I wake up and eat bowls of nails and train all day. I don’t have anything else to do.
“Aug. 12 in Sioux Falls I’m going to be laying someone out, handing out another concussion,” Cauley added.
He has a new sponsor in Guardian Revival, which is a non-profit run by veterans to help other veterans and first responders with mental health.
Anyone who wishes to donate in Cauley’s name can do so through his Instagram page.
Bellator 284 will take place on Bellator’s YouTube page.
Cauley’s bout is scheduled to be the sixth fight during the preliminary card, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. Pacific time.
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