Christmas has come early for mixed martial arts fans in the form of November 15. This coming Saturday night features three cards from the three biggest North American promotions in the sport; all on the same night — UFC 180, Bellator 131, and WSOF 15. With five title bouts planned across the UFC, Bellator and the World Series of Fighting, all three cards present some interesting action and compelling reasons to watch. Some fights will feature names that mainstream fans recognize, while others will not be as popular. However, all three events will have some points that will make them worth the time to view. Fight fans should have their computers and televisions ready to go to catch all that MMA has to offer Saturday night.
Of course there is the interim heavyweight title bout at UFC 180 between Mark Hunt and Fabricio Werdum. Yet another injury has sidelined Cain Velasquez and brought the future of his career into question. However, inserting Hunt into this main event sparked interest in his group of cult followers. On paper, this looks like a fight that Werdum should win, but we’ve seen Hunt’s power blow expectations out of the water before, so we should not be surprised if we see the same occur in Mexico.
A victory for either man opens up the most stagnant division in the sport and creates the possibility for some captivating fights in the future. Beyond that, this fight should be seen as a fun stand-in until the true champion returns.
Main event aside, UFC 180 features two other fights that should captivate hardcore fight fans. Kelvin Gastelum has been a diamond in the rough of The Ultimate Fighter franchise, and his UFC 180 opponent Jake Ellenberger is the exact type of test he needs at this point. Is Gastelum an eventual contender who can elicit excitement, or is he going to be knocked down a few pegs by the fringe contender that is “The Juggernaut?” Then there is the featherweight fight between Ricardo Lamas and Dennis Bermudez. Both of these men are flying under the radar in the featherweight division thanks to a particular Irishman named Conor McGregor. Bermudez especially needs this win, because pushing his winning streak to eight would make his argument for being named the top contender that much stronger.
In contrast, the Bellator 131 presents a card that is more spectacle than sporting event. Just one look at the main event between two less than relevant light heavyweights will prove that point. Stephan Bonnar and Tito Ortiz are selling a rivalry that is as hard to believe as the idea that they are still viable athletes at this point in their careers. Still, the promotion has worked hard to push them to the forefront for this event.
The fight that should be the main event is between Will Brooks and Michael Chandler as they battle for the promotion’s 155-pound title. This is a rematch from their fight at Bellator 120 this past May. That outcome was very controversial and the rematch makes every bit of sense at this time, as Brooks and Chandler are still stuck under the shadow of Eddie Alvarez, but this fight gives the winner the opportunity to secure his position as one of the faces the promotion should build around.
And while World Series of Fighting 15 may struggle to gather viewers when going against the big two, their card actually boasts more worthwhile fights than the Bellator 131 event.
David Branch defends his title against Yushin Okami. While both of these men were jettisoned from the UFC, there is still a sentiment that Okami did not deserve to be cut. If Branch can defeat Okami, this will be the biggest win of his career and support the argument that he may deserve a second chance in the Octagon. WSOF and the UFC seem to have a close enough working relationship that a vicory could lead to such a development for the Renzo Gracie competitor.
Justin Gaethje is in a similar position against Melvin Guillard. Guillard poses a threat to his title, but Gaetje has the tools to get this much needed win. WSOF may already be considered a major promotion in the sport of MMA, but the organization still needs its homegrown fighters to win bouts such as these to create some legitimacy. Gaethje is fighting to defend his title, but a win has value to both his career and the promotion as a whole.
Then there is Jessica Aguilar and her contest to defend the women’s strawweight belt against Kalindra Faria. This is a fight worth catching, not because Faria presents a challenge to the champion, but because Aguilar is considered by many to be the best 115-pound female fighter in the sport. And while the UFC continues a season of The Ultimate Fighter designed to crown its first 115-pound champion, Aguilar remains the elephant in the room, regardless of waht happens this season.
If you think he sport of mixed martial arts is become oversaturated, then Saturday, November 15 will be a tough night to make it through. Thirty-six fights are planned for the big three promotions in the sport. Sitting through them will be a daunting task for any fan of the sport, but looking at each card, there are fights worth watching on all three. It’s a night worth staying in and watching the storylines continue to develop within the cage.
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Bellator 131: Tito vs. Bonnar takes place on November 15, 2014 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
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UFC 180: Werdum vs. Hunt formerly (UFC 180: Velasquez vs. Werdum) is due to take place on November 15, 2014 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico.
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