Fight Fixin’ is a fantasy matchmaking article that comes out after every major event and features possible matchups for main card winners and/or losers from the previous event.
Tito Ortiz
In the main event of Bellator 131, Tito Ortiz improved to 2-0 in the Bellator cage with a split decision victory over Stephan Bonnar. Ortiz looked good for a 39-year-old fighter, landing powerful left hooks and overhand rights throughout the match, and even scoring some takedowns as well. Beating Bonnar isn’t a great achievement at this point of his career, but it’s still another notch in the W column for Ortiz, who is one of Bellator’s most marketable stars.
Bellator has to keep using Ortiz in big-money fights and one of its other big draws is also a light heavyweight: Rampage Jackson. The two were supposed to fight at the first Bellator PPV, which was cancelled due to an Ortiz injury, but now that he’s healthy again, the promotion would be smart to match them up and have them headline one of Bellator’s marquee events in 2014. The winner of the fight could even get a title shot.
Fight to make: Tito Ortiz vs. Rampage Jackson
Will Brooks
In the co-main event of Bellator 131, Will Brooks proved he is a better fighter than Michael Chandler, as he claimed the Bellator lightweight championship with a fourth-round TKO over the former titleholder. Brooks now has two wins over Chandler, and those victories have inserted him into the conversation of the best lightweight fighter in not just Bellator, but in all of MMA.
For his first title defence, it’s a no-brainer for Brooks to take on Dave Jansen, a tournament winner who recently returned from a long layoff to defeat Rick Hawn in one-sided fashion. Brooks vs. Jansen is a battle of two wrestlers with solid striking skills, and it makes for a very credible world title fight in the Bellator lightweight division.
Fight to make: Will Brooks vs. Dave Jansen
Joe Schilling
In a middleweight match, kickboxer Joe Schilling improved his MMA record to 2-3 with a brutal one-punch KO over Melvin Manhoef. It was Schilling’s first win in an MMA fight in over six years, and since it came against an opponent the quality of Manhoef, it’s a win that is expected to elevate Schilling quite a bit in the shallow Bellator middleweight division.
For his next fight, I’d like Schilling to fight Tamdan McCrory, the UFC vet who recently returned from a five-year layoff to knock out Brennan Ward in impressive fashion. Two huge middleweights both coming off of impressive wins following long layoffs — the recipe is ripe for this fight to be made, and Bellator would be silly to go any other route.
Fight to make: Joe Schilling vs. Tamdan McCrory
Mike Richman
In a bantamweight bout, Mike Richman once again showed he’s one of the most powerful 135-pounders out there, as he knocked Nam Phan into tomorrow in the first round with some brutal punches. Richman is now 2-0 as a bantamweight in Bellator, and in a shallow bantamweight division, is easily one of the top title contenders the promotion has.
After the fight, Richman called out Bellator bantamweight champion Joe Warren, and Warren accepted his challenge. However, Warren already has a fight booked. So Richman needs to stay busy. There aren’t many bantamweights in Bellator, but one that is solid is LC Davis, a WEC vet who is 2-0 in Bellator. I say have Richman fight him to stay busy, and if he wins that fight, give him the next title shot.
Fight to make: Mike Richman vs. LC Davis
King Mo
In the opening main card bout, King Mo picked up another dominant win in the Bellator cage, this time defeating an overmatched Joe Vedepo via third-round TKO. Mo looked really good in this fight, but in a shallow light heavyweight division in Bellator, the win over Vedepo likely won’t result in a huge step up for him.
For Mo’s next fight, let’s have him fight Houston Alexander. This is more-or-less a stay-busy fight for Mo, and one he should win, but with Alexander’s knockout power and Mo’s questionable chin, an upset is possible (though not likely). There aren’t many other options for Mo, sadly, and it’s a shame he’s not in the UFC, because there would be much better matchups for him there.
Fight to make: King Mo vs. Houston Alexander
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Bellator 131: Tito vs. Bonnar took place on November 15, 2014 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
Click the stars to rate how good you think Bellator 131 was.
