EXCLUSIVE | Adam Piccolotti ready to solidify himself in the division with win over Benson Henderson

Bellator 220 is set to take place this Saturday night live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. While the card is headlined by two big title fights, there are some great fights that directly precede them.

One of those involves the former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson who looks to extend his current winning streak to three straight. His opponent, Adam Piccolotti, will also be looking to do the same.

A win is obviously very big for each fighters’ title hopes. But for Piccolotti who is still somewhat ‘the new kid on the block,’ especially compared to Henderson, it’s much more than that.

However, that’s only if you make it out to be.

“It’s super exciting,” Piccolotti expressed to BJPenn.com in regards to the fight. “On one aspect it’s, I’m fighting this living legend kind of deal, with somebody that’s really paved the way in the lightweight division. And on the other side, it’s another fight. Another person that I’ve had to prepare for, it’s kind of almost trying to look past that name and just going out there and being me.

“[I wasn’t surprised to get the fight] at all. I’ve actually been wanting this for some time and they’ve kind of teased me in the past. You know, they kind of threw it out there, [kept] putting it out. So to actually get it and get that paper signed has made me super stoked.”

“It’s giant,” He said of a win over Henderson. “It’s kind of solidifying who I am, you know… Not only to everybody else but to myself as well.

When it comes to fighters in the ever-fascinating lightweight division, Henderson has been one of the trickier ones to face throughout the entirety of his career. That accompanied by his great experience will always make him a formidable opponent.

On top of that, the name and status are in favor of The MMA Lab staple which will automatically create some pressure for his opponents at this stage.

“Trying to squeak out rounds has kind of been his M.O., I feel like,” Piccolotti said when speaking of what he expects in the fight. “So just saying ahead of him and staying aggressive and dominate him inside of the fight, every minute of the 15 minutes is going to be really important.

“I like pressure. I like being in front of the lights. I feel like that’s what brings out the best in me so the fact that he is a bigger name, it’s great and it’s almost in a sense of practice for what else is to come down the road.”

If the Half Bay, California native can pull of the big win, he could very well find himself fighting for the title next.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/25/2019