Preview
The Spike/Paramount/DAZN saga is over.
Bellator is now streamlining distribution and shall be centered on staging presentations on Showtime (with prelims on YouTube) in the United States. Working deals in other hotspots equivalent to Eire and the UK has led to more balance than they’ve had in a truly long time for followers to build up admission to their product, even though as soon as in a while (love in he BBC iPlayer disaster) it’ll also merely outcome in some minor quibbles.
All of this blended with a lengthy hiatus has allowed for the company to reorganize and emphasize on what makes them mountainous, and their 2021 debut on Showtime is a considerable opportunity to space a fresh tone.
There is doubtless to be no better manner for them to manufacture that than this card. From a purely action standpoint, that is determined to lift. From a benefit and competitors standpoint? It’s furthermore factual as upright and factual as compelling.
The major tournament is no longer most efficient a rematch between longtime workhorse Emmanuel Sanchez (20-4) and dual champion Patricio Pitbull (31-4), nonetheless the winner meets AJ McKee for match supremacy and the million greenback jackpot. Sanchez has long gone 3-0 since his resolution loss to Pitbull, with mountainous victories over Georgi Karakhanyan, Daniel Weichel and a sensational submission prefer over Ty-Wan Claxton. Pitbull’s won six in a row, including demolishing Pedro Carvalho and a knockout over fresh UFC title contender Michael Chandler.
Sanchez is unexcited a proficient striker from differ that’s in a position to procedure close apart opponents with high and low mixups and pretty loads of patience. His defensive grappling is upright, and his takedown protection is mostly very upright as well. He withstood the massive power in their first battle, nonetheless need to ideas his reveal of open station and quit getting crowded as soon as as soon as more. If Pitbull manages to lower him off and press against the cage, it’s going to be laborious for Sanchez to set any settle on with the judges.
Neiman Gracie (10-1) has won every battle other than one by submission, including his heel hook attain of Jon Fitch in his final day time out. He now meets Jason Jackson (13-4), who’s racked up three in a row with resolution wins against Benson Henderson, Jordan Mein and Kiichi Kunimoto.
Tyrell Fortune (9-1, 1 no contest) returned from his knockout loss to Timothy Johnson to face Jack Will also, nonetheless that battle resulted in a no contest attributable to accidental low blows. A resolution prefer over Stated Sowma put him reduction in the prefer column, nonetheless now he’s up against Will also (11-7) in a rematch after Fortune’s long-established opponent Matt Mitrione needed to withdraw. We factual hope this doesn’t proceed the vogue Eric Prindle and Thiago “Massive Monster“ Santos’ series did.
Japan’s Kana Watanabe (9-0, 1 procedure) has been a surprise on the Jap scene whereas combating for DEEP JEWELS and RIZIN. Her Bellator debut had her controlling and displaying a shining amount of her well-rounded sport. Her opponent this time will doubtless be weak title challenger Alejandra Lara (9-3), who has most efficient lost to weak champ Ilima Lei-MacFarlane, fresh champ Juliana Velasquez and the UFC’s Sabina Mazo. With reduction to reduction wins and a sparkling putting sport in her pocket, this need to be an fabulous stylistic matchup with the winner presumably getting at title shot.
Usman Nurmagomedov (11-0) hopes to handle the family name in upright standing as he faces Mike Hamel (7-4). Meanwhile, weak ACB bantamweight champ Magomed Magomedov meets Cee Jay Hamilton (15-7) in a battle that had hilariously lopsided odds earlier in the week.
Tristar’s Mandel Nallo (7-1) returns in conjunction with his fun action vogue against Brazil’s Ricardo Seixas (9-2), whereas weak MMA poster boy Roger Huerta (24-12, 1 procedure) is reduction against Team Alpha Male’s Chris Gonzalez (5-0).
One which goes beneath the radar is Khalid Murtazaliev (14-2) taking up Fabio Aguiar (17-1), a battle that truly may per chance also merely unexcited be showcased on the key card. Every are ready for prime time with Murtazaliev lights up the Russian scene at Combat Nights Global (and his one-time UFC look against CB Dollaway) whereas Aguiar has been sneaky upright on the Brazilian circuit.
Right here’s the weigh-in video for Bellator 255, which had a small bit more color and flair than frequent:
Right here’s the weigh in outcomes themselves:
Patricio Pitbull (144.1) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (144.5) – Featherweight title bout
Neiman Gracie (170) vs. Jason Jackson (170.9) – Welterweight
Tyrell Fortune (251.2) vs. Jack Will also (264.3) – Heavyweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (155.2) vs. Mike Hamel (155) – Gentle-weight
Alejandra Lara (124.2) vs. Kana Watanabe (124.8) – Flyweight
Magomed Magomedov (135) vs. Cee Jay Hamilton (134.4) – Bantamweight
Mukhamed Berkhamov (173.8)vs. Herman Terrado (169.5) Welterweight, cancelled
Mandel Nallo (154.9) vs. Ricardo Seixas (154.9) – Gentle-weight
Fabio Aguiar (187.7)vs. Khalid Murtazaliev (183.6) – Catchweight
Roger Huerta (159.4) vs. Chris Gonzalez (159.2) — Catchweight bout, 160lbs
Jose Augusto (203.2) vs. Jonathan Wilson (204.2) – Gentle heavyweight
Roman Faraldo (171.1)vs. Trevor Gudde (170) – Catchweight
Jordan Newman (185.1) vs. Branko Busick (183.8) – Middleweight
All combatants indicated with an asterisk neglected weight. A bout between Herman Terrado and Mukhamed Berkhamov was cancelled after Berkhamov neglected weight as well.
Bellator 255 begins the fresh Showtime generation this Friday evening with the prelims beginning at 6: 00pm on YouTube and the key card airing completely on Showtime at 9: 00pm.