Learning Curve

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HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- When he accepted a short-notice fight with consensus Top 5 welterweight Jon Fitch at UFC 111 in March 2010, Ben Saunders expected to gain favor with Ultimate Fighting Championship executives. A late replacement for teammate Thiago Alves, he anticipated commendation for the effort he put forth against a former title contender.

“When I found out Thiago wasn’t able to fight, I texted [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva and [UFC President] Dana White,” Saunders tells Sherdog.com. “I was just throwing it out there, and it happened.”

Unfortunately for Saunders, the loss to Fitch and a subsequent decision defeat to Dennis Hallman at UFC 117 resulted in his release from the UFC. Though baffled by the decision, the American Top Team product was undaunted by the setback.

“I was confused [when I got cut],” Saunders says. “I wouldn’t say bitter, but I was confused. I understood what they were talking about, but I don’t think they should have included the Fitch fight. It is what it is.”

Saunders immediately searched out competitive fights in order to set the stage for a possible return to the UFC. However, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 alum found difficulty putting together bouts on the mid-tier MMA circuit that would draw the attention of the powers that be.

“When I got cut, I thought, ‘I’ll get a few wins, work on my takedown defense and come back,’” Saunders says. “I was in discussions with Bellator [Fighting Championships] for a little bit, but some things fell through. It ended up not working out originally, but it was always in the back of my head.”

At the time of his release, “Killa B” had a limited number of options for attaining fights that would be beneficial to furthering his career goals. The purchase of Strikeforce by Ultimate Fighting Championship parent company Zuffa, LLC, had not occurred at the time.

“Zuffa didn’t own Strikeforce,” Saunders says. “We had Strikeforce, Bellator, [Maximum Fighting Championship], Shark Fights and that’s about it for trying to get good fights. So what was in my head was, ‘Don’t sign a contract with anybody. Do single fights, but try to fight top competition.’”

In that quest, Saunders sought out Paul Daley for a fight under the Shark Fights banner. Unfortunately, the matchup was never finalized and Saunders was forced to find employment elsewhere. Bellator resurfaced.

“I was trying to get Paul Daley for a while,” Saunders says. “They respectfully declined. There were a few fights where opponents backed out, so I went to Bellator -- [where tournament wins paid] $100,000; that would make ends meet.”

Saunders and Bellator agreed to terms in the spring, and he appeared poised to make a splash in the fledgling promotion’s welterweight division. However, Bellator executives had other plans, much to his chagrin.

“I tried to do the tournament in March,” Saunders says. “I believe Lyman Good had an injury and made it [into the tournament]. It makes sense; he was the last season’s champion at the time. That was very frustrating. I was ready to sign and make money, and that got taken away.”

Instead of joining the welterweight tournament, Saunders was placed in a showcase fight, through which he displayed his devastating muay Thai skills and brutal clinch work. He made his promotional debut against Matt Lee at Bellator 39, where Saunders achieved a doctor’s stoppage in the third round. Saunders utilized his devastating clinch, as he pulverized Lee and secured the finish.

“I got the Matt Lee fight, and they told me they would work with me,” Saunders says. “They told me they would try to give me some showcase fights to hype up the next season.”

Saunders will get his chance to dent the Bellator welterweight ranks, when he meets Chris Cisneros in the Season 5 welterweight tournament quarterfinals at Bellator 49 on Saturday at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. Granted, it may be a primary source of income, but Saunders sees MMA as more than just a job. It is a source of fun and enjoyment for the 28-year-old Floridian.

“I just love to do it,” he says. “If I was able to work a full-time job and didn’t have to worry about finances, it would only be for fun. I would do it every day and all day. It wouldn’t even matter.”

Like any other fighter, Saunders hopes to make a decent living while carving out a memorable career for himself. A tournament victory, which would earn him a six-figure payday and a title shot against Bellator champion Ben Askren, would represent a significant step toward those ends.

“I signed a contract with [Bellator],” he says. “At the end of the day, the number one priority is to make money. That’s the main reason I came here. They pay well. On top of that, [I want to] show them I’m relevant. I wanna be up there with the top guys. I think winning the tournament and getting that belt can put me up there. That can at least put me in a spot where people would have to question where I rank.”