Danish featherweight contender Mads Burnell is all set for the biggest bout of his career at Bellator 276, and the entertaining 28-year-old said he’s ready to continue his rise up the promotion’s featherweight division.
“I’ve been feeling the same as any other fight,” he said during a pre-fight media session.
“They always say the next fight is your most important fight. But this fight week I’ve been feeling fresher than ever. It just seems everything is coming together.”
Burnell is prepared for the main event spotlight against fellow contender Adam Borics, but said there’s no additional pressure as he gets set to return to action in St. Louis.
“A fight is a fight,” he said.
“I always prepare for a tough match and come in there trying to be my best every time.
“I’m just trying to be me every time I go in there. Every time I go in there, I think of it as 0-0.”
Burnell’s striking skillset continues to evolve, and his boxing impressed in his most recent victory over two-time title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez. But arguably his most dangerous weapons come in the submission arts, and the Dane said he’s ready to finish the fight in either realm.
He stated, “If he exposes his neck, I’m going to take it. If he exposes his chin, I’m going to take it.”
After going 1-2 in the UFC earlier in his career, Burnell bounced back in Cage Warriors, where he became the promotion’s featherweight champion before eventually signing with Belator in 2020.
Now back on the global stage, Burnell is happy to be getting the attention he feels his abilities deserve.
“It’s nice getting a push and feeling like the organization have belief in my skills,” he said.
“I have some goals in my life. One of them is to become Bellator world champion, another one is to headline Bellator Copenhagen. I really think it would make sense for Bellator to go to Denmark and it’s my dream to main event that card.”
But first, Burnell will need to claim another notable win with victory over Borics at Bellator 276. The pressure to perform is something he said he’s relishing heading into the matchup, and he welcomes the raised stakes.
“For me, pressure is a privilege. I like it,” he said.
“So many people dream about being in the position I’m in right now. Yes, there’s some pressure with that, but it’s all good. It’s part of the game.”