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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

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 23rd.

               
Justin The American Kid Lawrence fights out of Pacific, Missouri and is coming off a 6/24/16 TKO win over Isao Kobayashi (2nd 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.

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