Bellator MMA and UFC are presenting a double dose of motion this week. Bellator 289 and UFC 282 wield roughly 25 fights throughout Friday and Saturday, respectively. Sift via the sand and you can see a number of nuggets of gold.
Bellator 289 showcases the semifinals of the Bantamweight World Grand Prix on Friday with interim bantamweight champion Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello atop the marquee. Bellator’s strong presentation additionally incorporates a rematch between reigning girls’s flyweight champion Liz Carmouche and former champion Juliana Velasquez.
UFC 282 takes over on Saturday with a combat for the vacant gentle heavyweight title. Former champion Jan Blachowicz and oncoming contender Magomed Ankalaev graduated to the primary occasion after Jiri Prochazka voluntarily gave up his championship on account of harm. Paddy Pimblett, the week’s largest star, is nestled simply beneath Saturday’s headliner.
Looking past the three titles at stake and there are an equal variety of fights nonetheless price your consideration from each promotions. Take a take a look at three fights, plus quite a lot of honorable mentions, to dig into on Friday and Saturday.
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Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon
Pimblett and Gordon are on reverse ends of the character scale. Pimblett is an all-action, memeable trash-talking Scouser. Gordon is a stone-cold survivor of drug habit with a no-nonsense strategy to the combat sport. Pimblett rapidly emerged as a UFC star on the energy of enjoyable fights and his distinctive character. Pimblett notched efficiency bonuses in his first three UFC fights, however discovered himself in deep trouble early in opposition to low-level UFC fighters Luigi Vendramini and Kazula Vargas. Gordon has solely mustered one end in seven UFC fights. Despite an uneven 7-4 Octagon run, Gordon is battle-tested in opposition to a assassin’s row together with Charles Oliveira, Carlos Diego Ferreira and Grant Dawson. Look for Pimblett to start his take over in 2023 with a win on Saturday.
Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov
Stots vs. Sabatello headlines Bellator 289, however it’s not the one semifinal matchup of the Bantamweight World Grand Prix set for Friday evening. The different finish of the bracket options Mix vs. Magomedov with the winner assembly Sabatello or Stots for the interim bantamweight championship and a $1 million prize. Jiu-jitsu specialist Mix grounded and disabled match favourite Kyoji Horiguchi within the opening spherical. Magomedov tapped out Enrique Barzola, bouncing again from a three-round resolution loss to Stots. Their respective floor expertise might produce dynamic grappling exchanges or negate one another and result in a enjoyable stand-up battle.
Bryce Mitchell vs. Ilia Topuria
Mitchell and Topuria are two of probably the most promising featherweight contenders inhabiting the decrease half of the rankings. Mitchell’s chic grappling and Topuria’s depraved energy might actually shake up the 145-pound division. Their penchant for motion ought to produce an thrilling contest and arrange the winner to combat somebody within the prime half of the division. Mitchell (15-0) is coming off a win over veteran striker Edson Barboza and boasts a uncommon tornado submission victory in opposition to Matt Sayles. Topuria (12-0) has knocked out three of his 4 UFC opponents: Damon Jackson, Ryan Hall and Jai Herbert.
Honorable mentions: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dalcha Lungiambula, Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Jay Perrin, Chris Curtis vs. Joaquin Buckley and Billy Quarantillo vs. Alexander Hernandez
Who wins Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev? And how precisely does every combat finish? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on each combat at UFC 282, all from the incomparable skilled who’s up greater than $12,000 on MMA prior to now three years, and discover out.
