Bobby Voelker makes his Bellator debut this Thursday against Sabah Homasi in a matchup of welterweights. The Strikeforce and UFC veteran has been juggling his MMA career with his construction business as well as making appearances reffing amateur fights.
To say he’s a veteran of the sport is an understatement. The Kansas City native started his fight career in the amateur ranks in 2002. 18 years later, he is still going strong. “I’ve kept it up [training]. My body is used to it,” Voelker said about how his body withstands all of the years of training and fights. “My mind is still in shape.” Voelker says that he listens to his body more and is willing to give it a day off when needed. He notes that aside from rest, he still trains the same way he has done since he started his career.
After signing with Bellator in April 2019, he’s been waiting for his chance to finally get into the cage. During the time, he’s kept busy with his construction business as well as training.
Voelker has spent the last six years fighting in the Kansas City-based Shamrock Promotions/FC where he won the welterweight title. He amassed a 9-1 record within the promotion. “They treated me good and I’ve had solid opponents,” Voelker said of his time with the regional promotion that has produced other Bellator products. Although he received offers to fight outside of his native Kansas City, Voelker stayed at home because that treated him well. He also has his own construction business which helps supplements his fight income.
Voelker noted that since the pandemic, his construction business which works on residential homes is peaking. “I’ve been busier than I’ve been in the last 22-23 years,” said Voelker. Perhaps chalking it up to people staying at home and finally getting time to coordinate those home projects, Voelker has been busy. But he’s not complaining.
In addition to his construction business, Voelker has been an MMA ref for amateur fights. He cannot ref pro bouts since he still fights professionally. However, the experience he has as a fighter helps with being a ref with young, up and coming fighters. He sees the young fighters’ anxiety and the need to slow them down. He also understands when he has to make the tough decision to stop a fight. Voelker looks into a fighter’s eyes and looks at other key signs and understands that even though a fighter has the heart to go forward, it is not in his best interest. “I get it, I understand emotions,” Voelker said of how fighters and their corners may object to a stoppage. “After calming down and thinking it through, they realize it was the right thing to do.”
On Thursday, Voelker faces another UFC alumni in Sabah Homasi. Voelker complemented Homasi stating that he’s a “beast.” Yet, he remains confident as he believes that he can exploit his weaknesses.
Voelker fights on the prelims of Bellator 250 on Thursday night on the CBS Sports Network.
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