Light Heavyweight Finishers to Clash

               

               A pair of undefeated Light Heavyweights clash when 8-0 Paul Craig and 12-0 Luis Henrique da Silva meet in the FS-1 Prelims on Saturday December 17^th UFC on Fox 22 in Sacramento, Ca. #7 Page Van Zant and #11 Michelle Waterson headline the Main Card on Fox in a Women’s Strawweight showdown, but fans will be treated to a great stylistic match in the Main Event of the FS-1 broadcast. Both Scotland’s Craig and Brazil’s da Silva have finished each of their respective fights.

               

Paul Bearjew Craig is a Submission machine forcing the tap from seven of his, eight career, opponents, six in the First Round. His other win was an opening round TKO back in 2014. Craig has been to the second round just once in his Pro career and took only 0:48 before he cinched a fight halting Guillotine-Choke around the neck of Karl Moore at Bamma 22 (9/20/15). Craig is making his UFC debut and has not fought since a First Round (3:51) Triangle-Choke win over Marcin Lazarz in November, 2015. A decorated grappler with credits like: Abu Dhabi European World Champion, 5X Scottish BJJ champion and 5X British BJJ champion, Craig’s ground game is world class.

               

Luis Henrique da Silva’s striking game is his strong suit, finishing eleven of his twelve career stoppage wins by TKO/KO. Frankenstein earned his first Pro career Submission win in his last, a Second Round (4:43) Arm-Bar of Joachim Christensen at UFC Fight Night 96 (10/01/16). Fighting in his third UFC match of 2016 and fourth fight overall, da Silva also stopped Jonathan Wilson this year at UFC 199 with a Second Round (4:11) TKO. Like his opponent, da Silva has never been out of the Second Round, ending eight fights with opening frame TKO’s.

                What will prevail? The ground game of Bearjew or the Muay Thai striking of Frankenstein. If you haven’t yet be sure to join Mean Jean’s UFC Pick’em League at: http://bit.ly/2hOtHp5 and put your knowledge to the test.

Before You Go, Stay!

               

                                              It appears Kelvin Gastelum will continue competing in the UFC’s Middleweight Division, at least for his next fight, with #8 ranked MW, Vitor Belfort. Gastelum is a fresh off an impressive Third Round TKO of Tim Kennedy at UFC 206 (12/10/16) but following the bout he expressed his desire to return to the Welterweight Division. Gastelum was scheduled to face Donald Cerrone (at WW) at UFC 205, but (Gastelum) failed to make weight and the fight was scrapped. This was not the first time the Twenty-five year old missed weight, nor was it the first time the UFC demanded he fight in the MW division for doing so.

At just 5’9” Gastelum is short for the 185lbs division, but you can’t argue with success, Kelvin is undefeated at that weight. Hopefully this match-up with Belfort is a sign of Gastelum’s commitment to the weight division, he has dealt with taller opponents with ease in the past and sets a pace many middleweights can’t keep up with. A win over a top-ten opponent, like Belfort, likely gets him closer to a title fight at MW than three wins at WW would, because the UFC is reluctant to promote Title bouts with fighters with a history of missing weight.

Gastelum is The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 winner at MW, he is 7-2 in the UFC, both losses at WW by Split Decision: to Neil Magny (11/21/15) and in a fight he also missed weight in, to now WW Champ, Tyron Woodley (1/31/15). It’s understandable that Kelvin believes he is best suited for the 170lbs class and that might be true (he was ranked #8 before UFC 205), but for now he should keep playing that role of underdog. Gastelum was the last pick by TUF 17 coach, Chael Sonnen, yet he finished all three of his opponents in the TUF House (2 Subs, 1 KO) and beat Uriah Hall by SD in the show’s Finale to take home the hardware.

Vitor Belfort may be a perfect match-up as well, coming off back to back TKO losses to: Mousasi (2^nd Round, UFC 204) and Jacare (1^st Round, UFC 198). It’s been a little bit since The Phenom was tearing through the middleweight division, kicking the heads off of Rockhold, Bisping and Henderson and with TRT exemptions a thing of the past the Thirty-nine year old, Belfort is looking toward retirement. Belfort has indicated this fight in Fortaleza, Brazil at UFC Fight Night 107 will be his last.

25-13 Vitor’s first round is war, he has eighteen finishes in the opener, but at just 13-2 Gastelum already has five wins of his own in the first. Kelvin will do well to avoid the opening onslaught of the aging, Belfort and look to outwork him in the latter rounds, likely getting a stoppage win. The 10^th Planet Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt, will likely employ a similar game-plan as the Kennedy fight, avoid the ground and keep forward pressure to tire the former Heavyweight Champ, Belfort.

UFC Fight Night 107 takes place March 11, 2017 from Fortaleza, Brazil, Brazil.  

UFC 206 Breakdown

                The Number Two ranked Featherweight, Max Blessed Holloway celebrated his Twenty-fifth birthday on Sunday and the Hawaiian hopes to end his week by wearing the Interim FW Belt home from UFC 206 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Holloway’s last lost was to stripped FW Champion, Connor McGregor, but that was over three years ago, an eternity in a young fighter’s career, at UFC Fight Night 26 (8/17/13). Since, Blessed has torn through the division, racking up nine consecutive wins against the UFC’s top Featherweights (4KO/TKO, 2Subs). In his last fight, Holloway earned a Unanimous Decision over Number Three ranked FW, Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199 (6/4/16). Blessed is revered for his versatile striking: kicks, knees and punches and his length, at 5’11” he’s tall and long for 145lbs. 16-3 Holloway faces former Lightweight Champion, Anthony Showtime Pettis.

               

Milwaukee’s Anthony Pettis wants to add another trophy to his, already packed list of achievements. The last WEC LW Champ and former UFC LW champ is also the only MMA athlete to appear on Wheaties cereal box. A flashy striker with superb BJJ, Pettis has finished sixteen of his nineteen wins (7 TKO/KO, 9 by Sub). After losing his LW belt to Rafael dos Anjos (3/14/15) and a pair more to top lightweights, Eddie Alvarez (1/17/16) and Edson Barboza (4/23/16) Pettis made the decision to drop down ten pounds to the Featherweight class to face Charles Oliveira, Submitting the BJJ Black Belt with a Third Round Guillotine-Choke (1:49) in August. Like opponent, Holloway, Showtime prefers the finish, he is 3-5 in fights that see the judges’ scorecards.

               

Donald Cowboy Cerrone has finished his last three fights at 170lbs. Following his second loss to former LW Champ, Rafael dos Anjos, Cerrone decided the weight cut was holding him back and moved up to the Welterweight Division. Cowboy is a fan-favorite for his laid back attitude coupled with his remarkable work ethic and toughness. He is known to take fights on short notice and is one of the promotion’s most active fighters, fighting in his fourth fight of the year. A tradition the Thirty-three year old has kept up each year since 2013. Last fight #5 ranked, Cerrone stopped Rick Story by TKO (2^nd 2:02) at UFC 202. He faces 20-15 Matt The Immortal Brown in Toronto, due to Kelvin Gastelum’s weight woes at UFC 205 (for more on that, check out my article: ). Cerrone owns twenty-three finishes, sixteen by Submission, a fate Brown has fallen to ten times in his career.  

               

Thirty-five year old, Matt Brown is looking to bounce back from a pair of losses in 2016. He submitted Tim Means with a First Round, Guillotine-Choke (4:44) in his last win at UFC 189 (7/11/15). The Immortal has only been to decision six times (2-4) in his thirty-five career fights. Brown went on a 7-0 run with six TKO/KO wins, from 2012-2014. Brown is a fan favorite for his head-down, move forward style. A cast-member on Season 7 of The Ultimate Fighter, losing to winner Amir Sadollah in the quarter-final round in the TUF House. The Ohioan won his UFC debut at the TUF 7 Finale (6/21/08) by Second Round TKO (3:40) of Matt Arroyo.

                In the Featherweight Division #11 The Korean Superboy Doo Ho Choi

gets his hands on a top ten FW, when he faces #4 Cub Swanson.  Twenty-five year old, Doo Ho Choi’s only career loss came in just his third fight back in 2010. Since he has won twelve straight with ten KO/TKO stoppages. Choi has collected eight straight TKO/KO including three First Rounders in the UFC: Thiago Tavares (7/8/16) KO 2:42, Sam Sicilia (11/18/15) KO 1:33, and Juan Manuel Puig (11/22/14) TKO 0:18. The South Korean hopes to advance into the top 10 with a win over Swanson.

               

23-7 Cub Swanson has been the gate keeper to the FW division’s top tier. 8-2 in his last ten bouts, Swanson’s only losses are to Max Holloway (4/18/15) and Frankie Edgar (11/22/14). A pro since 2004, he has only lost by TKO once in his career. Winner of his last two, Swanson looks to dig his heals into the divisions’ top five and hold the surging Choi at bay.  http://fightpage.blogspot.com/2016/12/gastelum-gets-no-favors.htmlhttp://fightpage.blogspot.com/2016/12/gastelum-gets-no-favors.htmlhttp://fightpage.blogspot.com/2016/12/gastelum-gets-no-favors.htmlhttp://fightpage.blogspot.com/2016/12/gastelum-gets-no-favors.html

UFC 206 No Dud

               

                                         When UFC 206 was announced for Toronto on December 10^th, the Main Event was rumored to feature Canada’s own, George St Pierre. Daniel Cormier, who was scheduled to face Anthony Johnson for Cormier’s Light Heavyweight Championship, lobbied for the sport’s most dominant Welterweight to return to the Octagon from a three year hiatus, and assume top billing. GSP has been one of the company’s top Pay-per-view earners and Cormier wanted in on the action. St Pierre’s negotiations broke down and a groin injury to Cormier forced the LHW bout to be put on hold. So what does the UFC do when they’re in need of a Main Event worthy fight? They get creative, stripping two-Division Champion, Connor McGregor of the Featherweight Belt and upgrading Jose Aldo’s Interim FW gold to the undisputed Championship. Also in order to help sell the event (UFC 206) the UFC has made, an interesting contender fight, into an Interim FW Championship bout, Anthony Showtime Pettis versus Max Blessed Holloway.

               

Don’t get caught up in the idea that interim belts don’t matter. This fight guarantees the winner a shot at the title and in a company where Championship fights are guaranteed only to be later revoked, Gold is the tangible proof of a fighter’s spot in line. McGregor has said he plans to take most of 2017 off and twelve months have passed since he won the FW belt. Let’s not forget the list of contenders looking for a crack at Connor’s Lightweight strap. This move gives the UFC options, the Dec 10^th winner will likely face Aldo to unify the belts before McGregor fights again, then Connor can fight for the LW Championship and decide how enticing the FW division’s gold is at that point.

               

For McGregor a rematch with Aldo can’t be too high on his list of goals, it isn’t likely he will better his thirteen second Knock Out of the long-time Division King. He also beat Max Holloway in 2013, since Blessed has won nine straight (4 TKO/KO, 2 Subs). The most interesting match-up may be if former LW Champ, Anthony Pettis successfully battles his way to the top spot. Third Degree Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, Pettis and McGregor have yet to meet in the cage, and make for an interesting clash of styles.  

                While you may not agree that stripping Connor was a good move, it may have been the best play, not only for UFC 206 PPV sales, but also the future of the two divisions. The Holloway Pettis fight is a Main Event worthy bout and with Donald Cerrone vs Matt Brown, Tim Kennedy vs Kelvin Gastelum and Doo Ho Choi vs Cub Swanson the card isn’t as weak as critics would have you believe. Unfortunately it is sandwiched between a pair of mega-cards in 205 and 207 making the absence of St Pierre and the LHW Championship appear much worse.

Gastelum Gets No Favors

               

                                              Kelvin Gastelum is likely fighting for his job at UFC 206. Gastelum has missed the 170lbs Welterweight limit on numerous occasions, most recently he was scheduled to face Donald Cerrone at UFC 205 (11/12/16), but never even attempted to tip the scale (speculation is he was over by more than 20lbs). This marked the third time Gastelum missed weight in the UFC, at Fight Night 44 (6/28/14) he earned the Unanimous Decision over Nico Musoke despite missing weight and at UFC 183 (1/31/15), Kelvin lost his the first of his career, to Tyron Woodley following a miserable loss to the scale, weighing in ten pounds heavy.

Following the fight Gastelum was forced to move up to the 185lbs Middleweight Division to face 50+ fight veteran and ultra-tough Middleweight, Nate Marquardt at UFC 188 (6/13/15). Gastelum won the fight by TKO due to Corner-Stoppage between rounds two and three.

               

Gastelum was determined to compete back at Welterweight and convinced UFC brass to give him another shot in the Division. A back-and-forth battle with Neil Magny, last November (11/21/15), resulted in Kelvin’s second consecutive Split Decision loss in the weight class. Still ranked in the WW division’s top ten Gastelum is coming off a UD win over former WW champ, Johny Hendricks in front of the huge audience of UFC 200 (7/19/16).

               

Despite being only 5’9” Gastelum is undefeated as a Middleweight, he is the winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 at MW and finished all three opponents in the TUF house (2 Subs, 1 KO). He entered the tournament 5-0 at just 21 years old and was the last pick for TUF coach, Chael Sonnen. Besting Uriah Hall by Split Decision to win the finale, then four months later (8/28/13), submitted Brian Melancon (1^st 2:26) in his Welterweight debut.  Now 12-2 with eight wins by stoppage (4 TKO/KO) the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt faces his biggest challenge in the #10 ranked MW, Tim Kennedy.

                Thirty-seven year old, Tim Kennedy hasn’t fought since his controversial loss to Yoel Romero at UFC 178 back in September, 2014.

Between rounds two and three Romero appeared unable to get off his stool at the sound of the bell, sitting much longer than the one minute intermission allows. Kennedy believed the fight to be over, but Romero finally got off his stool and delivered a TKO stoppage just 0:58 into the final round. The loss ended a four fight win streak, including an April 16, 2014 win over now-champ, Michael Bisping.

               

The BJJ Black Belt, under famed trainer Royler Gracie, once won three fights in one day at a MW tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah. He stopped two opponents by TKO and beat Jason Mayhem Miller by UD (2/23/03). Besides being an MMA fighter, Tim Kennedy is also an American Hero, joining the US Army Special Forces in 2004. A decorated soldier, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor under fire. Kennedy was assigned to the 7^th Special Forces Group, as a Sniper, Sniper instructor and principal combatives instructor.

               

Kennedy is also a Black Belt in Modern Army Combatives and a three time MAC Light Heavyweight Champion. He began his MMA training in 1999 with John Hackleman at The Pit, alongside Chuck Liddell and Jake Shields. Fourteen of Kennedy’s eighteen wins have come by stoppage (8 Subs), eight of those in the First Round. Kennedy has also competed in the IFL, HDNets Fights and Strikeforce (including 2 Title shots: UD Loss Luke Rorkhold 7/14/12, UD Loss Jacare Souza 8/21/10).

                Kennedy and Gastelum will meet at UFC 206 in the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on December 10^th.

TUF Makeover? TUF 24 Finale Breakdown

               

                                   What do you do when you’re champ has whopped the #1 ranked contender two times and is coming off a First Round TKO of the #2 ranked Flyweight? You dedicate a season of The Ultimate Fighter to finding a worthy opponent. All competitors on Season 24 are Flyweight Champions in other MMA promotions. Demetrious Johnson is the first and only FW UFC Champion and has defended his Title eight times, leaving the division decimated in his wake. Desperate to offer Mighty Mouse a worthy challenge, the UFC found the world’s best Flyweights not under UFC contract, put them in a bracketed tournament with the winner to face DJ for the belt. 13-6 Tim Elliot is the man that survived the competition, earning him the spot opposite Johnson in the Main Event December 3^rd.

               

Thirty year old, Demetrious Johnson is on a ten fight win streak (3 Subs, 2 TKO/KO) and continues to look better every fight. In April he revealed a new tool to Henry Cejudo, a First Round (2:49) Knee that ended the Olympic Gold Medalist’s night at UFC 197. He also stopped Cejudo’s TUF 24 coaching rival, Joseph Benavidez in their most recent Octagon appointment (UFC on Fox 9, 12/14/13) with a First Round Knock Out (2:08). DJ has run through the UFC’s Flyweight Division, dominating all opponents; his last loss was to current Bantamweight Champion, Dominic Cruz way back in October of 2011, for the BW Title. Since Mighty Mouse has gone on an eleven fight unbeaten run, beating Joseph Benavidez by Split Decision to become the UFC’s first FW Champ at UFC 152 (9/22/12). His eight Title defenses is the longest reign among active champions and Third longest all time (GSP 9, Anderson Silva 10). Johnson is the only UFC fighter with ten takedowns in three different fights and continues to add to his record for most takedowns in FW history. Pace, speed, movement, quick striking, defense, wrestling and BJJ, Johnson does it all well and blends it together better than anyone on the planet.  

               

The former Titan FC FW Champion, Tim Elliot won his last three fights with the organization before entering The Ultimate Fighter House. Elliot was the first overall pick by coach, Joseph Benavidez 24^th TUF. In the first two rounds he Submitted both: Charlie Alaniz and Matt Schnell in the First Rounds of their fights. Elliot bested Eric Shelton in a two round Majority Decision in the Semi-Finals and beat Hiromasa Ogikubo by UD to become the Season 24 TUF Winner. The Twenty-nine year old won the inaugural Titan FC FW belt by UD over Iliarde Santos at Titan FC 34 (7/18/15). Two months later, in his first title defense, he Sub’d Felipe Efrain with a Second Round (2:30) Guillotine-Choke (9/19/15) and beat Pedro Nobre by UD in his last non-exhibition fight, defending his belt at Titan FC 37 (3/5/16). This is Elliot’s second run in the UFC he is currently 2-4 in the organization. Elliot owns a Second Round (2:12) KO win over former UFC LW Champion, Jens Pulver at RFA 1 (12/16/11). An unorthodox fighter that blends powerful strikes, solid grappling and unpredictable movement, Elliot holds an outside chance of catching Mighty Mouse off guard.

               

In the Co-Main Event Coaches, Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo finally get to put the TUF Season behind them and focus on their FW contender fight. 24-4 Benavidez has only lost to two fighters in his career: Two fights to BW Champion, Dominic Cruz by UD and two fights to Flyweight Kingpin, Demetrious Johnson (1 Dec, 1 KO). The last match up with DJ was nearly three years ago, the #1 ranked FW, Benavidez has since: Submitted Main Eventer, Tim Elliot in the First Round (4/26/14) and bested four more of the division’s top talent in three round Unanimous Decisions. In his last appearance Benavidez earned a UD win over Zach Makovsky at UFC Fight Night 82. The Thirty-two year old is a diverse bonus earner, winning cash bonuses for one each: Performance of the Night, Fight of the Night, Knock Out of the Night and Submission of the Night.

               

The #2 ranked, Henry The Messenger Cejudo is coming off his first career loss, to Champion Johnson (4/23/16) by TKO. The loss halted a ten fight win streak. The youngest Olympic Gold Medalist, Freestyle Wrestling in US History brings a grinding style to his fights. 4-1 in the UFC with decision wins over: Jussier da Silva (11/21/15), Chico Camus (6/13/15) Chris Cariaso (3/14/15) and Dustin Kimura (12/13/14) by UD in Cejudo’s debut. The Messenger dominated Elias Garcia at LFC 27 just before signing with the UFC.

               

An interesting fight between TUF alumni headlines the Prelims Card when Season 5 cast-member, Gray Maynard takes on Season 22 Winner, Ryan Hall in the Featherweight Division. Both decorated grapplers in their own field, Maynard was a three time D-1 NCAA All-American Wrestler at Michigan State. The Bully lost three straight by TKO to Lightweight Division contenders: TJ Grant 5/25/13, Nate Diaz 11/30/13, and Ross Pearson 8/16/14, prompting Maynard to make a change. Thirty-seven year old, Maynard beat Fernando Bruno at TUF 23 Finale (7/8/16) in his debut in the FW division by UD. 12-5 Maynard has never been submitted and is 10-1 in fights that go the distance. He has fallen prey to KO/TKO four times in his career, a skill BJJ ace, Hall has uncorked in two of his four stoppage wins.   

               

Ryan The Wizard Hall is a decorated grappler as well, having medaled in Jui Jitsu competition from Purple Belt through Black. Hall owns over two hundred Submission wins in grappling tournament competition. He has medaled at ADCC, World Jui Jitsu Championship, Gracie Jui Jitsu World Championship and others. Training out of the famed TriStar Gym in Montreal, Hall is more experienced than his 5-1 record may look. The Wizard beat striker and McGregor training partner, Artem Lobov to win the TUF 22 Finale (12/11/15) in his last bout.

The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale airs live from Las Vegas on FS-1 check local listings.

Legacy Fighting Championship 63 Breakdown

Hometown fighter, Gerald Harris returns from, an over three year, retirement to Headline Legacy Fighting Championship 63, in Tulsa, OK Friday December second, opposite 6-3 Aaron Cobb. Thirty-seven year old, Harris last fought at WSOF 4 (8/10/13), earning a Unanimous Decision over Jorge Santiago. Hurricane has been a Pro since 2006, competing for: UFC (3-1 w/ 3 TKO/KO), Dream, Titan FC, and IFL. One of Harris’s 9 KO/TKO wins was a Third Round (2:53) Knock-Out of Two-Division WSOF Champion (MW, LHW) David Branch at UFC 116. The former Cleveland State University wrestler, holds the team’s record for all-time wins. The Tulsa Welterweight competed on The Ultimate Fighter Season 7, losing to eventual show winner, Amir Sadollah. 22-5 Hurricane has finished fifteen of his Twenty-two wins, six by Submission.

               

When Aaron Cobb enters the cage for the Main Event in The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Friday night, it will also be for the first time since 2013. Fighting out of Fort Smith, Ark Cobb has never been to a judge’s decision as a pro (5 wins by Sub). Cobb is making his Legacy debut, he lost his last to a Jeff Jenkins First Round Americana-Arm-Lock (3/9/13).

               

Trey That Just Happened Houston has finished each of his eleven wins (7 Subs). Bixby, Oklahoma’s Houston has taken two years off since going 1-3 in his last four, including a Second Round TKO (2:11) loss to Roan Carneiro (10/3/14) in his last bout. The Twenty-eight year old hopes to improve on his 11-3 record when he faces McKinney Texas’ Bilal Williams.

               

Thirty-three year old, Williams has finished five of his seven wins, 3 TKO/KO. An October, Second Round (4:59) Submission (Rear-Naked-Choke) loss to Melvin Jordan at LFC 61 broke a four fight win streak (2TKO/KO, 1 Sub). The 6’1” Williams TKO’d two opponents in the opening round already this year: he caught Ed Cline Jr early at 0:21 (4/20/16) and stopped Sean Holden at 3:13 (6/24/16).

               

In the Featherweight Division 8-2 Jimmy The Brick Flick takes on Venus, Texas’ Levi Mowles. Sand Springs, Oklahoma’s Flick earned his sixth career Submission win in his last, catching Tavares Collins just Twenty-three seconds into the September 17^th bout.

               

Twenty-one year old, Levi Mowles looks to bounce back from his first career loss, a Unanimous Decision to Damon Jackson at LFC 61 (10/14/16). Mowles has finished two of his four career wins (1 TKO, 1 Sub). At 5’8” Mowles will have a two inch height advantage over Flick.

Legacy Fighting Championship 63 airs live on AXS-TV check your local listings.

Night Two, Bellator 167

               

                                              Saturday Night’s Bellator 167 continues the Bantamweight Division action the promotion started the previous night in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Bellator takes over WinStar Casino and Resort for a two-night stint, offering back-to-back events. Friday, Bellator 166 is headlined by Champion Eduardo Dantas and challenger, Joe Warren for Bellator’s Bantamweight Crown. Top BW’s Marcos Galvao and LC Davis also battle it out Friday evening. Saturday the show doesn’t hit the road, in fact they stay put and offer Bantamweights, Joe Taimanglo and Darrion Caldwell in the Main Event.

               

Joe The Juggernaut Taimanglo is riding a four-fight win streak, including a Third Round Guillotine-Choke Submission (0:09) of opponent, Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 159 (7/22/16). The 23-6 Guamanian has been a pro since 2004 and is the former Pacific Xtreme Combat Featherweight Champ. Thirty-two year-old, Taimanglo is 6-2 in Bellator (2Subs, 1KO).

               

Darrion The Wolf Caldwell missed weight in his July fight with Taimanglo and received his first career loss in the effort. Convinced he could perform better, Caldwell desired the rematch. The Wolf won the biggest fight of his 9-1 career in March at Bellator 151 by choking former champ, Joe Warren to sleep with a First Round Rear-Naked-Choke (3:23). All five of the 2009 NCAA Wrestling National Champion’s MMA finishes have come in the first round (4Subs). At 5’10” Caldwell is tall for the division and will enjoy a nine inch reach advantage Saturday night.

               

Ilima-Lei MacFarlane will take on Oklahoma City’s own, Emily Ducote in a Flyweight Fight. Twenty-six year old, MacFarlane is 4-0 (2Subs, 1KO/TKO) and has competed for Bellator her last three bouts. The Ilimanator has Submitted her previous two opponents: began 2016 at Bellator 148 in January with a First Round (2:09) Arm-Bar of Amber Tackett and followed that performance with a Second Round (3:00) Rear-Naked-Choke of Rebecca Ruth in June. MacFarlane was also undefeated as an Amateur at 5-0.

               

4-1 Emily Gordinha Ducote lost her Pro debut, but has since rattled off four straight including a pair of Submission wins in her most recent appearances. The Twenty-three year old is competing in her fifth fight of 2016. At Bellator 159 Gordinha caught Bruna Vargas in a Second Round (0:29) Rear-Naked-Choke, less than two months later at Bellator 161 she stopped Kenya Miranda da Silva with an Arm-Bar in the Second Round (4:37).

               

In the Featherweight Division, 20-1 John Teixeira faces 9-3 Justin Lawrence. Thirty year old, John Macapa Teixeira has finished fourteen of his twenty wins (10 Subs). The Brazilian’s only loss came in his single UFC appearance, a Split Decision loss to Hugo Viana (6/23/12). The Nova Uniao talent is on a five fight win and nine fight unbeaten streak (6/23/13 Draw). He should forever avoid fighting on June 23^rd.

               

Justin The American Kid Lawrence fights out of Pacific, Missouri and is coming off a 6/24/16 TKO win over Isao Kobayashi (2^nd Round, 2:49) in his home state at Bellator 157.  Lawrence was Dominic Cruz’s first pick in The Ultimate Fighter Live Season 15. Although losing in the Semis to (Show Winner) Michael Chiesa, The American Kid appeared in the TUF 15 Finale (6/1/12), Head-Kicking cast-mate, John Cofer unconscious in the Third Round (0:19).

               

Also on the card, 6’3” Welterweight, Chidi Njokuani takes on undefeated, Andre Fialho in what should be a slugfest. Twenty-seven year old Chidi Chidi Bang Bang Njokuani earned his ninth career TKO/KO win in June, stoping Thiago Jambo Goncalves in the Third Round (2:39). The Las Vegas scraper is 15-4-1.

               

Portugal’s Andre Fialho has finished six of his seven wins (6TKO/KO, 1 Sub) in the opening round (the other came in the second round). This is Fiahlo’s third fight of 2016, in February the striker made quick work of Manuel Meraz, Knocking him out in just twenty-nine seconds and at Bellator 154 Rick Reger made it to 2:11 before falling to the same fate.