PFL-Bellator merger ‘bittersweet’ for Lorenz Larkin after Strikeforce experience

“I think me and my team know that when I’m active, I’m at my most dangerous place, but these days I only play two games a year,” he said, “and when I’m active, that’s when I’m at my most dangerous place.”

That’s where the PFL could benefit Larkin: The Strikeforce, UFC and Bellator veteran isn’t shy about voicing his frustrations with the current state of the sport, especially when it comes to trash talk, and he recognizes that a PFL season might remove some of the need to constantly promote himself.

“I love that…I’ve said it before, you know, it’s pretty shallow these days. It’s a bit of an app…time, you know,” Larkin said. “It’s just, there’s no rankings now. Everybody says, ‘Oh, rankings are important,’ but at the end of the day, rankings aren’t important. Now fighters think if they say something a bit trashy or outlandish, they’re going to get skipped. You skip people, you get fights, you fight for championships. So it’s a weird time right now. But this [season format] It’s exhilarating. Just fight in silence.

“And your performance is an indication of where you are. So it’s exhilarating to see that. It’s exhilarating to see someone who’s not very good but can swear a little and make some noise can leapfrog everyone else. But in this format, you just have to go in there and compete. It doesn’t matter if you can swear or not. If you lose, that’s it. You get no points and you’re out of the tournament. So it’s exhilarating.”

Larkin is also well aware of the positive effects that a merger between two MMA organizations could have, especially if one is struggling.

“Anytime you merge, one company is always bigger, right? So I think that would create more opportunities for fighters, bigger opportunities, maybe bigger events, you know?,” Larkin said. “I’m all for these things happening, these events happening. Hopefully, everything works out and we have some crazy events that come out of this that will only move the promotion and the sport forward.”

Larkin’s long-term future is unclear, as he has two fights remaining on his current contracts with the PFL and Bellator, but feels age has not yet caught up with him.

“I don’t feel like I’m getting old, you know? So when I’m with the younger guys I still feel fast. I’m still keeping up, if not surpassing them… I still feel good. I still look sharp, so I don’t know, time has gotten the better of me. I feel like an aged Moscato.”