Raufeon Stots, Danny Sabatello Probably Won’t Shake Hands After Bellator 289

Raufeon Stots and Danny Sabatello really don’t like each other. 

That was one of the takeaways at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference. Stots and Sabatello have been trading verbal jabs in joint interviews, press conferences and social media, and that didn’t end today – nor will it probably end after their fight on Friday. 

“It doesn’t bother me,” Stots told the media, including FIGHT SPORTS, about Sabatello’s trash talk. “It’s all a façade.” 

Stots earned the Bellator interim bantamweight title last April when he defeated Juan Archuleta via KO/TKO. He is also on a 10-fight winning streak. 

The American fighter is known for his high-paced attack, but Sabatello is everything but impressed by him. 

“With Stots, he doesn’t have great jiu-jitsu, he doesn’t have that great Muay Thai kick, boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu or anything like that, so I’m really not too worried about his finishing capabilities,” Sabatello said. 

“I just gotta go out there fight smart, fight hard, push the pressure and break this motherf–ker.” 

Sabatello is looking to put his wrestling style on display. He is undefeated in all three of his fights under the Bellator banner and has only suffered one loss in his whole career, which was back in 2019. 

When asked if his beef with Stots can be put aside after the fight – no matter the outcome – he said: 

“After I do get my victories, I don’t see the need to shove it in my opponent’s face… I’ll already be looking forward to the final of the Grand Prix… but who knows.” 

Stots said after Friday’s fight, there’ll be no good sportsmanship from him. 

According to sportsbettingdime.com, Stots is the favorite –140 while Sabatello is +120. 

They will battle it out from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.