Big-show vet Mike Rhodes still driven in fighting career: 'When it comes down to it, fighting is primal'
With prior appearances for both the UFC and Bellator, Mike Rhodes isn't the least bit intimidated in handling headlining responsibilities in his Cage Fury Fighting Championships debut. And with previous title wins under the Victory FC and RFA banners, the stakes of a championship being on the line don't cause him much concern, either.
But don't think for one second that "Biggie" isn't fired up for Friday's "CFFC 80: Fight for the Troops" event.
"For me, it's about the fighting," Rhodes said. "I honestly love to fight. I love competition. I love being able to compete, and for me, fighting is just something that I fell into that allowed me to still be competitive. This is something that gets to push me to be better, whether it's just my health or if it's winning the fights and getting my name out there and growing my brand and using this platform that I have from my given abilities and talents to make a change for people that look like me and people that believe in what I believe in. That's what I'm using fighting for at this point."
Rhodes has enjoyed a taste of the big show. A longtime Roufusport product, he made his way to the UFC in 2014, registering three octagon appearances, including a three-round decision in New Zealand against Robert Whittaker, who would later go on to become the UFC's middleweight champion.
While his stay in the organization was short, Rhodes said he valued his time competing in the world's biggest MMA promotion.
"I'm thankful for the time that I spent with the UFC, the experience I got to have, and the people that I got to fight," Rhodes said. "Obviously it didn't go my way, with the record and stuff like that, but I think I had exciting fights, and I got to fight a guy that just lost his world championship, so for me, you know, I got the chance to fight some of the best in the world, and not many people get to say that they did that."
That said, Rhodes admits he's had a hard time finding his way in the years since. Returning to the regional scene can prove challenging, at times, for fighters exiting the UFC.
"Honestly, it's just difficult," Rhodes said. "Trying to find fights after the UFC was tough. It kind of puts you in a position where guys know that you're good enough to not bring in for just anybody, and you're too good for a lot of the guys at the lower end. It's one of those things also where people aren't going to pay you as much money, so you've got to just take the fights that you can get that you believe you can win and go from there. So I'm just kind of bouncing around, fighting for a couple of different organizations that gave me the opportunity to fight, and that's where we're at right now."
Rhodes (11-6) hopes that status can take a swift change, though, with his bout at CFFC 80, where he will fight for the promotion's vacant light heavyweight title against the hard-hitting Najim Wali (6-4) in the headlining bout on UFC FIGHT PASS from Virginia's Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
Sure, the title would be great to add to his collection, and yes, the honor of competing in the night's main event is appreciated, but that's not what it takes to get Rhodes excited.
"I've fought on the biggest shows, so that's not the motivation – the fight is the motivation," Rhodes said. "I never want to lose. I don't care on what level it is. I don't want anyone to ever say that they bested me in a fight.
"When it comes down to it, fighting is primal. We've been doing it our entire existence, and for me, it's like that gladiator thing: Each fight is like life or death, and in that moment, somebody has that control over you. I never want to let anyone get one over on me.
"There are very few people walking this earth that can say they beat me in a fight, and if you look at it, they're some of the world's best. The last thing I want to do is let anybody else get a win over me, and say, 'I beat Mike Rhodes.' That's not something that will sit well with me."
Wali certainly has the ability to turn in a performance worthy of a gladiatorial comparison. All six of his professional wins have come by way of a stoppage, including five by knockout, and three in the opening round. But Rhodes isn't concerned. He's been in the cage with the likes of former UFC champ Whittaker and current Bellator middleweight titleholder Rafael Lovato Jr., and he knows what it takes to compete at that level.
On Friday, he intends to prove where he belongs.
"Obviously, if you're fighting, the goal should be to get back to the bigger organizations and make money," Rhodes said. "Like I said, I love fighting and I love competition, but I also love money. Let's be honest about it.
"Where do you make the most money? It's not only the UFC anymore. If you pay attention, a lot of these promotions are starting to give fighters the opportunity to make more money, so that's where I'm trying to go. Whether it's the UFC, Bellator, PFL, ONE – wherever they're going to pay me the most money, value me, let me fight, let me compete against some of the best, that's where I want to go. I think a win here puts me on a three-fight winning streak. Maybe I'm one win way from getting back to one of those major organizations. But that's the plan for me: Win, get to the money – secure the bag – keep collecting scalps on the way there, handing out fades. That's what I'm trying to do. I just want to be a winner.
"At the end of the day, I want to win, I want to get paid doing so, and I want to have fun doing it."