Fortune Favors the Bold

After spending his entire mixed martial arts career in Bellator MMA and racking up a 13-2 record with the promotion, Tyrell Fortune still has championship aspirations as he enters the next phase of his journey. The Professional Fighters League’s acquisition of Bellator appears to hold much promise for the 33-year-old Arizona Combat Sports product.

Fortune will make his organizational debut in an emotionally charged PFL 1 rematch with Daniel James on April 4 at the Boeing Center in San Antonio. Their first encounter resulted in a second-round technical knockout loss for the Grand Canyon University alum, though it was later overturned to a no contest due to James’ failed doping test. Fortune sounds unconcerned regarding the potential of another failed test.

“This is a fighter who has a history of using steroids,” he told Sherdog.com. “Obviously, it’s something he depends on. That’s his issue. Now with USADA, it’s going to be a lot harder for him to cheat. If he’s cheating now or after the fight or during his training process, he’s going to be caught again. It’ll be ruled no contest. He’ll just go through the same embarrassing s--- again. That’s not something I can really worry about. I would just hope that this time he chooses to do the right thing.”

The Bellator 288 bout in question took place in James’ backyard at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Fortune voices strong opinions about the lack of transparency and perceived inaction from the Illinois athletic commission.

“It wasn’t until a year afterwards that we found out that he had even failed the drug test, because the state of Illinois doesn’t even report a failed drug test for steroids,” he said. “What kind of state or boxing commission are you running for the safety of the fighters if you can’t even report a guy who got caught on steroids? We had to find out a whole year later? To me, that’s where the concern should be.”

While James was punished by the commission, Fortune views it as little more than a slap on the wrist. In fact, James returned to compete at Bellator 293 some four months later.

“He had to pay a fine and he was suspended, and this is some other bulls---: They suspended his license only in the state of Illinois,” Fortune said. “That’s why after we fought, he was able to fight three, four months later, because he was only suspended in the state of Illinois. So does he only take steroids in Chicago? Again, that’s the commission and the company’s issue on how they’re choosing to punish these guys for making those decisions. I think you’re almost encouraging it when you’re not giving guys a big enough punishment.”

Through it all, Fortune has tried to maintain a positive outlook ahead of the rematch. He has big plans for the future, and they start with settling his score with James.

“I’m excited to be in PFL and definitely excited to have this opportunity to win a million dollars, so that’s really where my focus is at,” Fortune said. “I’m right up there at the top to get a title shot for the Bellator title, so when I win this tournament, I would still want that opportunity to be able to fight for the Bellator title.”