For the first time since being bought by the PFL, Bellator is holding an event of its own. Like a lot of events in recent years, this one is taking place on a Friday in the United Kingdom. The prelims are what they are, but the main card is legitimately good. The main card, which will be the first Bellator event to stream on HBO Max, is highlighted by a pair of title fights. In the main event, former Light Heavyweight title challenger Corey Anderson will face hometown contender Karl Moore for the vacant Light Heavyweight title.
The co-main event will be a Featherweight title bout between Patricio Freire and Jeremy Kennedy, while the featured bout will be a Middleweight title eliminator between top-ranked contender Fabian Edwards and fourth-ranked Aaron Jeffery. If that's not enough, the main card also includes a Featherweight bout between former Bantamweight title challenger Leandro Higo and longtime fan favorite James Gallagher, as well as an opening bout between English MMA veteran Tim Wilde and unbeaten Brazilian finisher Manoel Sousa.
All things considered, it's a very good card for a regional show. Bellator's Ireland/Northern Ireland shows have largely featured one-sided matchups with a notable main event, but this card is legitimately good. As for whether or not it'll deliver, we'll find out in a few hours.
Bellator 302 Main Card (4/3c, HBO Max)
Tim Wilde (17-4-1) vs. Manoel Sousa (10-0)
In the first Bellator bout of the HBO Max era, Brazilian finisher Manoel Sousa will take on English veteran Tim Wilde. Sousa's finished nine of his ten pro bouts, has beaten some quality competition in his last few fights and is looking to start his Bellator career with a splash. Wilde is his toughest competition yet, possessing quality striking as well as reliable cardio. Wilde has only lost once in the last six years, and that was against former champion Brent Primus in 2019. He's gone the distance in five of his six fights since that loss, meaning Sousa might have to go into deep waters to beat him. This feels like a coin flip, and one where Wilde could sneak away with a close decision. I'll pick the unbeaten prospect, but this one could go either way. Prediction: Sousa via decision.
James Gallagher (12-2) vs. (6-BW) Leandro Higo (22-6)
Grapplers take the stage, as Irish fan favorite James Gallagher takes on former Bantamweight title challenger Leandro Higo. Higo's quietly won four of his last five fights, while Gallagher has only fought three times since 2019 due to fight postponements and cancellations. Gallagher is seven years younger than Higo, but I think Higo is the better grappler and is definitely the better striker. The size differential favors Higo too. The odds are near even, but I feel like this is Higo's fight to lose. If Higo fights the way he's capable of, he should definitely come away with the victory. Prediction: Higo via decision.
(1) Fabian Edwards (12-3) vs. (4) Aaron Jeffery (14-4)
In the featured bout, top-ranked Middleweight contender Fabian Edwards will face fourth-ranked Aaron Jeffery. It's a Middleweight title eliminator, so the winner will garner a title shot. It's an interesting situation for Edwards, who got finished by Johnny Eblen in a title fight last September. Known by many as UFC Welterweight Leon Edwards' younger brother, this fight gives him a chance at a title shot after just one win. He's got a balanced skillset, but he's only got one finish since 2019 and has gone the distance in six of his last eight fights. If he wins this fight, it's probably going the full 15 minutes.
Jeffery isn't as well-known as Edwards is. but he's had a quality career of his own. The former CFFC Middleweight champion has gone 3-1 since joining Bellator, with his lone loss being against former Bellator Middleweight title challenger John Salter. He's got good power, can strike with the majority of the division and has the skills to make it tough for Edwards to win. I think Edwards will win a decision, but this fight could get interesting as it goes on. Prediction: Edwards via decision.
Bellator Featherweight Championship: (C) Patricio Freire (35-7) vs. (3) Jeremy Kennedy (19-3, 1 NC)
In the co-main event, reigning three-time Bellator Featherweight champion Patricio Freire will defend his title against Jeremy Kennedy. Freire, one-half of the Pitbull brothers, has one of the most decorated resumes in Bellator. He's been with the promotion for nearly 14 years, has fought 30-times since joining the company and has been involved in 16 title fights over the past decade. He's also a former double champion, is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, has double-digit knockout and submission wins apiece and has only been finished three times in his 42-fight career. That said, he turns 37 in a few months, and he's lost two in a row for the first time in his career. In previous years, this fight would feel like a surefire win for him. Now, there's reasons for uncertainty.
For Kennedy, this fight is a chance to achieve a landmark highlight in an interesting career. He entered the UFC with an 8-0 record and a regional title to his name, won his first three UFC fights via decision, then left the UFC after getting finished by eventual Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in early 2018. He joined Brave CF, won a pair of fights there, then went 2-1 with a no contest in the PFL. He joined Bellator late 2020, has gone 4-1 since joining the company and has a chance to become a champion in a major organization. He's best known for his striking and cardio, but also has decent grappling chops.
Even though Kennedy has the momentum going into this fight, I still don't think he has much for Freire. Freire may be getting up there in age, and he's been through a ton of wars, but I still think he's one of the best fighters on the roster. I don't know if he'll make an example out of Kennedy, but I do expect him to win the fight. Prediction: Freire via submission, round 4.
Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship: (1) Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) vs. (4) Karl Moore (12-2)
In the main event, Belfast's own, Karl Moore, will face top-ranked Corey Anderson for the vacant Light Heavyweight title. Moore is a former Cage Warriors Light Heavyweight champion with quality grappling and cardio, and is 4-0 in Bellator, so it's fair for him to get this opportunity. That said, it's fair to wonder if he can hang with Anderson.
Anderson is 8-2 with a no contest over the last six years. He ended his UFC career with wins in four of his final five fights, and has gone 4-1 with a no contest since joining Bellator. The no contest was a Light Heavyweight title bout against longtime champion Vadim Nemkov, in a fight that Anderson was winning before the ending. The loss was in a rematch to Nemkov, who just vacated the title last month and moved up to Heavyweight. Anderson is undoubtedly the top contender for the title. He's got the resume, he's got good wrestling, he's a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and he's got very good power that he needs to utilize more often. If he loses this fight, it's fair to wonder if he'll ever get his moment. I can't see him losing though, and him winning something bigger than an Ultimate Fighter final is long overdue. Prediction: Anderson via tko, round 3.
No comments:
Post a Comment