Yreka based DJ Linderman (9-1) will be making his 2nd appearance in the Bellator cage this Saturday, April 23rd at Bellator 42 when he takes on Richard Hale (16-3-1) in the semi-finals of the promotion's Light Heavyweight Tournament. Linderman reached the semis by dismantling tourney favorite Raphael Davis over the better part of 3 rounds before finishing him with punches for the TKO victory at Bellator 38 on March 26th. Linderman spoke to NWFS's Spaniard recently about the upcoming fight with Hale, his last fight with Davis, and much more...

NW Fightscene: You're going into Bellator 42 this Sat, April 23rd. How does your body feel from your last fight with Davis?
DJ Linderman: My body's feeling great from Bellator 38. Going into Bellator 42, I feel like I'm more lean than the last fight. Keeping to the diet that I have been for this 205 lb competition. I feel like there's nothing going to be able to stop me going into this fight.

NWFS: This last one was your first fight at 205, correct?
Linderman: Yes.

NWFS: How did you feel in there?
Linderman: I felt great going into my first 205 fight. I felt a whole lot faster, stronger, more diverse for being a 205er. There's a lot of things you cant do at heavyweight, that you can do [at 205] flexibility-wise. 205 is a whole lot better for me.

NWFS: With the Davis fight, you were the underdog. Everybody pretty much said that you weren't going to be able to take this guy out. But you went in there and you handled business. Talk about that.
Linderman: Going into Raphael Davis, I knew I was the underdog and a lot of people looked at me as another win for him. And it was a motivator for me. A lot of my fights with me being the underdog is a motivation. To be able to change people's minds about me at the end of a fight is a great feeling. And the Raphael Davis fight was another one of those fights.

NWFS: Your opponent, Richard Hale, what are your thoughts on him? 
Linderman: This fight with Hale is going to be a great fight. I'm looking forward to this fight. There's not that many fights that I've looked forward to as much as this one. He's a much bigger 205er. Has the reach on me. I'm just going to take it to him like nobody has before. I'm going to work him like nobody has. Its going to be a fight that people remember for a long time.

NWFS: Hale commented on your last win saying he was impressed with your win but not your overall performance. What are your thoughts on his comment?
Linderman: I don't think he's seen my overall performance. I went in there with a game plan that I never went in with before. It was a pure standup fight for a game plan against Raphael Davis. He hasn't seen my ground game like my Northwest fans have. And he's going to see something else when he comes into Bellator 42.

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NWFS: You & Davis threw hands, back & forth. That was an amazing fight. Do you plan on throwing hands with this fight too, especially with a guy who has reach?
Linderman: I plan on getting on the inside of him. I'll even stay on the outside of him. I feel I have a better rounded game than him. He may have more fights in the cage but I've watched him fight and I feel he has a weak chin. And I'm going to take advantage of that.

NWFS: How are you staying healthy in between the fights?
Linderman: I have a lot of elevation where I'm from. I'm at 2700 feet where I'm training at. And right now I'm using elevation as part of the workout. I'm using an elevation mask, you can go to elevationmask.com. It restricts your breathing and it makes you perform like you were at that higher elevation.. at about 12,000 feet. And he's not training for something like that. And I feel its going to be a big advantage [for me] against him.

NWFS: You're back to your original team, Team Do Somethin'. Is that correct?
Linderman: Yes, I was originally with Team Do Somethin'. I worked out up at Brave Legion for the last two months, prior to coming back and getting ready for Bellator 38. I'd planned on staying there but I had a little difference with management. But the training was some of the best training in the world with Ricky Story and Pat White. I just had to change a few things. It was just personality differences. And now I'm back at Do Somethin' in Yreka, California. And our team is stronger than ever and its going to be a great camp for the next  8 weeks.

NWFS: Now that you've fought on TV, on MTV2, and have gotten some pretty good exposure. Has anything changed for you?
Linderman: Not really much has changed. I'm still the same cool, calm, and collected guy. Nothing's really made my head blow up with being on TV. Its a little bit bigger around town. More people are apt to say hello to me because they watched the fights. But that's about it.

NWFS: People are saying again you the underdog for this fight with Richard Hale. What do you have to say to those people?
Linderman: They just have to watch and see what happens, because every time I go in as an underdog, I come out on top. So I'm going to tell them to tune in April 23rd and see who the underdog is after this fight.

NWFS: Anyone you want to give a shout out to or thank? 
Linderman: I'd like to give a shout out to KO Reps for my sponsorships. Red Army. Lexany. TJ and Cap. 123Stickers.com. All these places that are helping me out through this tournament. Do Somethin' Athletics for the great training I have there. And all my fans back home.

NW Fightscene thanks DJ for taking the time to speak with us. He'll be fighting Richard Hale on April 23rd in the semi-finals of the Bellator 205lb tournament, which will be aired live on MTV2. More info at bellator.com.

Fans of DJ can catch him on Facebook HERE.