Philippou on Being Champion: ‘I Don’t Care’

Costa Phillippou

Humble Phillippou Just Happy to be Here

Brian Stann may have found some valuable competition as to who is truly the most humble and grateful fighter of the middleweight division in UFC 155's Costa Philippou.

In a recent interview with MMAfighting.com, Costa was asked about his outlook on his immediate and future competition, and how he feels he measures up to the other stand outs at 185 lbs. Most athletes would use questions of this nature as an excuse to make a threatening impression on their peers, and simply explain why, because they are the best in the world, they deserve to fight only the best in the world.

Costa Phillippou, on the other hand, apparently hasn't gotten this memo. He just doesn't see the point in joining Chris Weidman and Michael Bisping in believing that he actually has the skills to defeat middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

"They're arguing over who's going to fight Anderson Silva? I don't want to fight that guy. Are you kidding me? I'd actually argue just to stay away from that guy."

Even more surprising was Philippou's response to the very idea of championship gold being a long-term goal.

"I don't care. If it happens, good. And if not …"

It's not that Philippou isn't confident in his ability to overcome whatever is put in front of him. It seems that just fighting in the UFC against such respectable competition is already a dream come true for Philippou, who was previously unaware that a former restaurant cook from Cyrus (a country not known for talented fighters) could ever have the potential to fight on the grandest stage of them all.

If he can beat Tim Boetsch at UFC 155 this Saturday night, Philippou will have once again exceeded his wildest expectations by becoming one of the top middleweights in the world. It's safe to say that this victory may have a slight affect on Costa's desire to make a run at the title. The win would be his fifth in a row, and while it might not get the immediate attention of the G.O.A.T, it will certainly solidify his role as a legitimate force in the division who most definitely deserves a big name opponent for his next fight.

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