Saturday is an all-you-can-eat buffet for MMA fans.
No matter what you’re looking for, you can find it amidst the smorgasbord available this weekend. From title shots and unsung contenders jockeying for position in deep divisions to big names taking on overmatched opponents and facing each other, the tetra-pack of fight cards being presented by the UFC, Bellator and World Series of Fighting offers fans the opportunity to move around and try a little of everything, rather than having to choose a single dish to enjoy.
Just as everyone that ventures into an AYCE joint for the first time needs an experienced guide – “Don’t bother with salad! Go after the crab legs!” – I don’t want you trying to navigate this weekend’s selections without a little help, so here are my thoughts on the key fights to catch on Saturday.
The Great Soup That Gets Things Started: Leslie Smith vs. Jessica Eye (UFC 180)
Experienced buffeteers know that you have to start with the soup – it’s how you formulate your expectations for the meal and kick off your night. Smith and Eye should pair to be that really great starting point for the evening as both are allergic to being in boring fights and will be looking to position themselves for bigger opportunities heading into 2015.
The Hot One That Sneaks Up on You: Melvin Manhoef vs. Joe Schilling (Bellator 131)
There is always one dish where you’re like, “That’s not bad” and then all of a sudden the heat kicks in, leaving you grabbing for your water glass and wondering how you didn’t see that coming. That’s this fight, which is essentially a kickboxing bout masquerading as an MMA fight. Manhoef has been around for years and is an elite bringer of violence, while Schilling is a Muay Thai practitioner who has gone 4-3 fighting for Glory over the last year and change. Consider yourself warned.
The Standout Everyone Skips Over: Jessica Aguilar vs. Kalindra Farai (WSOF 15)
Season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter will crown the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion and the collection of talent being assembled on the UFC roster is really good, but the best fighter in the division is WSOF champ Jessica Aguilar. She’s stuck in the unenviable position of being locked into a contract and lacking challengers, which leads to “JAG” getting skipped over when discussions about the division take place.
The Favourite You Just Can’t Walk Away From: Muhammed Lawal vs. Joe Vedepo (Bellator 131)
You know there are other choices – better choices – but for some reason, you just keep going back to that same tray because, screw it, you really like it! “King Mo” hasn’t really lived up to the (admittedly excessive) hype that surrounded his signing with Bellator and he’s come up short in his biggest opportunities, but the promotion keeps rolling him out there in high profile positions and they always will.
The Sneaky Good One Nobody Seems to Be Talking About: Ricardo Lamas vs. Dennis Bermudez (UFC 180)
You love it, but no one else has even mentioned it. It’s clearly one of the best options and yet people are acting like it doesn’t exist. Are you missing something? Are they? That’s what Saturday’s featherweight pairing between Lamas and Bermudez is – a tremendous scrap between two fighters ranked in the Top 7 that people just aren’t talking about. While it has the potential to be a grind-fest, it could also be fireworks and at the absolute worst, it’s a pivotal contest in a deep and intriguing division.
The Good, Not Great Option: David Branch vs. Yushin Okami (WSOF 15)
There is always one dish you try and think, “Yeah, it’s okay, but it’s not great.” You finish what you took, but you don’t go back for more. The WSOF 15 middleweight championship main event fits that description. It should be a solid fight and it’s definitely worth watching, but there are a bunch of other fights that are far more intriguing on the menu.
The One You Loved Last Time and Look Forward to Again: Will Brooks vs. Michael Chandler (Bellator 131)
Back in May, “Ill Will” stepped up on short notice and picked up a split decision victory over Chandler to claim the interim lightweight title. It was a fun back-and-forth that had the potential to be even better and now six months later, they’ll do it again for the undisputed title. Chandler has been ultra-consistent on the entertainment front since debuting with Bellator way back in September 2010 and Brooks is far better than people understand or acknowledge. This fight really should be getting top billing on Saturday’s Bellator card.
The One No One is Sure About: Jake Ellenberger vs. Kelvin Gastelum (UFC 180)
It could be great. It could be bad. It could land anywhere in between and you’re not going to know until you’ve just given it a try.
On paper, the UFC 180 co-main event is a tremendous fight – a chance to see if Gastelum is ready to be a contender and if Ellenberger is capable of bouncing back from two-straight losses. Of course, Ellenberger’s last two fights looked great on paper and he froze up in each of them, while Gastelum missed weight and looked sluggish before rebounding to decision Nico Musoke.
The “Let Me Find Out For Myself” Option: Justin Gaethje vs. Melvin Guillard (WSOF 15)
Everyone is raving about it and their praise is probably justified, but you’re not going to be sold until you try it yourself. That’s kind of where Justin Gaethje stands right now and it’s why his matchup this weekend with Melvin Guillard is important. Even though he’s not an elite fighter, the longtime UFC veteran is the best fighter Gaethje has faced yet and helps gauge where the unbeaten WSOF lightweight champ stands in the 155-pound division overall. Chances are he’s as good as advertised – maybe even better – but we’ll have a better idea after sampling his skills again on Saturday.
The One You’re Really Excited About That Could Go Either Way: Fabricio Werdum vs. Mark Hunt (UFC 180)
Without fail, there is always one item that you’re stoked to dive into when you walk through the door – Crab legs! Sushi! Desserts galore! – but it comes with the potential to disappoint.
Werdum and Hunt battle for the interim UFC heavyweight title on Saturday and it should be great – the former has been lights out since returning to the Octagon and the latter has the ability to turn anyone’s lights out with a single well-placed cinder block to the dome. But they’re fighting at crazy elevation in Mexico City and Hunt is stepping in on short notice, so it could also turn sluggish and sloppy.
Here’s hoping this one lives up to its potential.
The One That Has Been Under the Heat Lamps for Too Long: Tito Ortiz vs. Stephan Bonnar (Bellator 131)
A trumped up feud that has featured some of the most comically bad trash talking and promotional spots in quite some time, Saturday’s Bellator main event is that one piece of chicken that has been sitting out for far too long. This fight wasn’t relevant or meaningful three years ago, which is when Bonnar last picked up a victory, and it’s neither of those things now.
You can try it, but chances are you’re going to regret it.