The MMA schedule for May is an odd one (Mr. Grinch) in that while there are four UFC events on the calendar, three of them come in the final eight days of the month.
In a “Five Saturday” month where only three are occupied by the biggest brand in the sport, there are ample opportunities for some regional promotions and the UFC’s chief rival to make a little noise and generate some attention of their own.
Here’s a look at the events those companies have planned for the month ahead and the fighters you should keep an eye on.
One FC 15: Rise of Heroes (Friday, May 2)
Who to Watch: Bibiano Fernandes, Ana Julaton
Fernandes is arguably the best bantamweight competing outside the UFC today, sporting a 15-3 record, a seven-fight winning streak, and just a single loss since beginning his career at 1-2 with losses to Urijah Faber and KID Yamamoto. “Bibi” defends his bantamweight title against 18-2-2 veteran Masakatsu Ueda, who has gone 3-0 in One FC after losing in the opening round of a Bellator tournament two years ago.
With all the attention that has been given to Holly Holm, I would be remiss not to mention the professional MMA debut of Julaton, the former WBO super bantamweight and IBA super bantamweight world champion. The 33-year-old Filipino-American takes on Aya Saeid Saber in the second bout of the evening.
Bellator 118 (Friday, May 2)
Who to Watch: Joe Warren vs. Rafael Silva, Andrey Koreshkov, Liam McGeary
With bantamweight champ Eduardo Dantas sidelined, Friday’s main event between Warren and Silva has become an interim title bout. Silva is an intriguing fighter because he’s only lost once in his last 21 appearances and has both knockout power and a crafty submission game, but Warren is the one to really keep an eye on here.
One of Bellator’s bigger names, the former featherweight champion and Fight Master series coach has been nursed back to contention following his consecutive concussive defeats to Alexis Vila and Pat Curran a couple years ago. But at 37, how many more miles does the self-proclaimed “Baddest Man on the Planet” have left on his tires?
As for the others, Koreshkov was supposed to fight last month, but was sick, pushing his bout with Sam Oropeza back to this weekend, while McGeary is an unbeaten light heavyweight prospect with six finishes in six fights, facing the toughest test of his career to date in the form of Mike Mucitelli.
Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 68 (Saturday, May 3)
Who to Watch: Danny Roberts, Ronnie Mann
Roberts has won four straight and 10 of 11 overall heading into his main event matchup with rugged veteran “Judo” Jim Wallhead.
While the 30-year-old Wallhead remains one of the top welterweights on the European circuit, he seems to have peaked already, but the same can’t necessarily be said for Roberts. This is a chance to get a better read on “Hot Chocolate” and see if he has the potential to be the next CWFC alum to move on to bigger and better in the future.
Mann has most likely peaked as well, but I’m a sucker for watching the 27-year-old bantamweight fight. He’s earned back-to-back wins under the Cage Warriors banner since returning from Bellator, but draws a tough assignment with Brazilian veteran Marcelo Costa, who is coming off a win over former UFC/WEC competitor Damacio Page.
MFC 40: Crowned Kings
Who to Watch: Tom Gallicchio, Victor Valimaki
Gallicchio faces off with Kurt Southern for the second consecutive appearance, as their last bout was rescheduled as a three-round non-title affair when Gallichio failed to make weight. Thought he won handily in the first meeting, the more interesting battle might be with the scale and the potential of seeing Mark Pavelich blow a gasket.
As for Valimaki, consider this a “Call Me Skeptical” inclusion, as the 32-year-old has been scheduled to return to action several times over the last two years, but has yet to make it to fight day. Will it happen this time?
Bellator 119 (Friday, May 9)
Who to Watch: Tournament finals
Here’s the thing: this is Bellator’s return to Casino Rama and features the finals of the abbreviated middleweight and featherweight tournaments. Brett Cooper is always fun to watch, and the 145-pound bout between Daniel Weichel and Desmond Green should be a good scrap.
The big thing here is that there is a lot of good, not great talent on the card, including Marlon Sandro, Raphael Butler, Shahbulat Shamhalaev, and many others. So if you’re in the area, it should be worth the price of admission.
Titan Fighting Championship 28 (Friday, May 16)
Who to Watch: Kalib Starnes, Gleristone Santos
There is a bunch of former UFC talent on this card, but the most interesting to me is Starnes, who will take on fellow UFC cast-off Dave Herman in a heavyweight contest. The former TUF contestant has won four straight and is an interesting matchup for the mercurial Herman.
While there are plenty of recycled names to keep tabs on, one newcomer to watch is Santos, whom many consider one of the top prospects competing outside the Octagon. The 25-year-old Brazilian featherweight is 25-4 and has won seven straight heading into his bout with veteran journeyman Alvin Robinson.
Bellator 120 (Saturday, May 17)
Who to Watch: Lots of People!
I crack on Bellator a lot, but this card—their second attempt at their first ever pay-per-view event—is stacked with the biggest names in the company.
Headlined by Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler’s third encounter and the “we worked hard to make this happen” bout between Rampage Jackson and Mo Lawal, this should be the biggest show in Bellator history, by far, and is worth checking out.
I’m so interested in this event that I promise to cover it in greater detail once it gets closer.
One FC 16: Honor & Glory (Friday, May 30)
Who to Watch: Ben Askren
Allowed to walk by Bellator and turned away by the UFC, this is Askren’s first chance to show both companies they made a mistake. Facing off with 11-2 Bakhtiyar Abbasvo, “Funky” needs a dominant finish in order to remain the face of the “What do you mean he’s not good enough for the UFC?” collective.