Benji Radach Looks for First MMA Title at IFL World Grand Prix

Benji Radach has never been a mixed martial arts champion. Despite his impressive 16-3 record, he has never stayed long enough with any one organization - or been healthy for long enough - to claim a belt. After a series of freakish injuries, he returned to the sport with the International Fight League to start the 2007 season and has since gone undefeated in four fights.

Now Radach is the top seed in the middleweight division of the IFL World Grand Prix, and many are expecting him to walk away with the title when the two-round tournament is over.

But before he can strap the gold around his waist, he has to get through his first fight with Canadian underdog Brent Beauparlant on the live MyNetworkTV broadcast on Nov. 3.

"I look at it pretty much like a wrestling tournament," Radach said. "I've prepared myself right and I have to go in there strong and look to strike first. I'm not underestimating this guy. I know he's a good wrestler in Canada, and I've wrestled some of the best down here. I just have to be on my game."

Beauparlant might be known for his wrestling skills, but he won his way into the Grand Prix largely with his improved striking after picking apart Fabio Leopoldo back in June. Since then he has had a long layoff to improve his stand-up for the hard-hitting Radach.

"I just have to train harder than he is and go in there confident," said Radach. "Hopefully I don't get caught with something, but that can always happen."

In fact, Radach has become something of an expert in recovering from big shots early on. In two of his four fights this year he started the first round by getting dropped by a single punch. Each time he has scrambled out of trouble and defended well enough to come back and win later, but he says it's not a strategy he'd like to repeat.

"I think I realized what I was doing wrong. I was trying to big brother some people, but I've fixed my strategy somewhat.

"Against Ryan McGivern I just got caught, but against Bristol Marunde I was coming right at him and trying to throw every shot as hard as I could, trying to big brother him. Whenever you do that you start to let your other hand drop. I've been working on some things to fix that, so I'm not too worried about it."

Radach admits it's something of a new experience to enter this tournament as the top-seeded favorite. While he's usually more comfortable with the underdog role, being the only undefeated middleweight in the 2007 IFL season definitely puts a bull's-eye on his chest.

"It puts a little pressure on me. The middleweight class has tough guys on both sides of the bracket. I was lucky enough to catch Brian Foster early in the first round in our fight, but he's tough as hell. Of course Matt Horwich is very tough, too. He's beat some of the best guys out there so you can't underestimate him, either. I know what I'm up against, and I'm preparing myself accordingly."

And while he may not have been happy with his training camp before the Anacondas' semifinal loss to the Silverbacks, Radach says they're back on track now. He and fellow Grand Prix participant Alex Schoenauer have been working hard together to get ready for the challenges that await them.

"We're dialed in now and it's great. I'm in the best shape I've ever been. I'm strong, with good cardio, I'm ready to go.

"Be ready for an explosive fight. I'm excited to get that belt around my waist."

Source: www.sportsline.com