Bellator 272 sees Oliver Enkamp return from a long layoff to take on Kyle Crutchmer in a fun matchup. The bout is considered a classic striker vs grappler matchup by many.

Oliver Enkamp was originally supposed to face Erick Silva but several issues forced the fight to fall through. The Swedish fighter was looking forward to facing a big name in Bellator.

“I was really excited for the Erick Silva fight,” Enkamp told ClutchPoints. “I trained for the fight for probably three months. But first, we had a visa issue, because all the embassies closed down in Europe, where you would need to go to get on these appointments, to be able to fight in the States, because I've never fought here before. Only in Europe. So the fight got postponed. Then he pulled out like two weeks or so before we were supposed to fight. So that was a real bummer. Then they rescheduled me with Kyle Crutchmer. I hadn't heard this name before. Obviously, I want to fight someone in the top 10 rankings so that I can climb because I'm number 10 right now. But then I look, Kyle up, and he seems to be a big name in wrestling. So there's still a lot of eyes on this fight, I believe because he's known in other circuits of martial arts. So I thought it'd be good. And I can see the kind of matchup from the perspective of two young guys, you know, chasing the title or whatever, and you have a more of a grappler versus more of a striker. So I think it makes for a very entertaining fight. So of course, I would accept this.”

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The fight may seem like a striker vs grappler matchup on paper but Bellator 272's Oliver Enkamp doesn't quite see it that way. He points to his record as proof that he's not just a striker.

“The thing has been if you look on my record, I think like 70% or something is submission victories. I think most of my opponents have looked at me as a striker because of my karate and kickboxing background. And so we have gone to the ground, which I believe is like, if not my biggest strength, one of my biggest strengths. And I have I've had very good wrestling and jujitsu. So I don't look at myself as a striker. I think that's more something the fans do. But I look at myself as a complete mixed martial artist. And yeah, I think if we end up in a grappling situation, I wouldn't be too worried. Obviously, I'll have an advantage on the feet. I think also, with the reach not only the experience, but I'm prepared wherever this fight goes. And every fight camp, I try just to focus on my own skills in preparation, and not focus too much on what the opponent does, because I think that puts you in a defensive mindset like you're playing his game, and I want to impose my game on him.”

In terms of what to expect at Bellator 272, Oliver Enkamp lets his fists do the talking. He thinks it won't be too difficult to figure out what he's going to do.

Yeah, so my first fight was against a striker and I won by submission. The second fight was against a grappler and I won by KO. A third fight was against a striker, I won by submission, and this time I'm facing a grappler, so I'll let you do the math.”