Bellator-RIZIN Cross Promo + Cage Warriors 148 + Weekly MMA News
There is no UFC until January 14th, but no worries, it is well known that Japan makes New Year’s Eve spectacles. This year, Cage Warriors joined the Rizin and Bellator, so the fans of the fastest-growing sport in the world might enjoy December 31st!
Image source: @BellatorMMA Twitter
Bellator and Rizin will let their best warriors take part in squared ring combat. Every single huge name of Bellator will meet the great RIZIN opponent, but the rules are different – no elbows, soccer kicks are allowed, and no cage work, old-school PRIDE FC rules – this is going to be a great way to remember good old times!
In the main event of the evening, the Bellator 155-pound division king AJ McKee will try to defeat grappling phenom, Roberto de Souza. This is going to be a knockout victory for McKee or a submission stoppage for de Souza.
Prediction: the fight will not go the distance
The co-main event of the evening brings another striker vs grappler match-up, as heavy-handed Bellator knockout artist Patricio Pitbull meets Kleber Koike Erbst, known for great submission switches and chain wrestling.
Prediction: the fight will not go the distance
You can take a look at the full card here.
Lightweight: AJ McKee Jr. (19-1-0) vs. Roberto de Souza (14-1-0)
Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull (34-5-0) vs. Kleber Koike Erbst (31-5-1)
Flyweight: Kyoji Horiguchi (30-5-0) vs. Hiromasa Ougikubo (25-6-2)
Bantamweight: Juan Archuleta (26-4-0) vs. Soo Chul Kim (18-6-1)
Bantamweight: Koji Takeda (15-3-0) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (18-4-2)
Here are my predictions for the upcoming Bellator vs Rizin cross-promo event.
But that’s not all ladies and gentlemen! If you live in Europe, you can celebrate a New Year with a great Cage Warriors 148 card, headlined by the 205-pound title combat between the former UFC name Modestas Bukauskas and dangerous American Chuck Campbell. The event kicks off at 7 PM UK time, and you can follow it at UFC on Fight Pass.
Image source: Cage Warriors Twitter
Modestas is a way better striker but Campbell might try to drag the fight to the canvas and control the first-ever Lithuanian UFC name. Modestas is back from the knee surgery, he is stronger than ever thanks to his everyday gym sessions, and he’s coming fresh off a victory against Luke Chadwick, so this should be his fight. He’s been Cage Warriors champ once, he can do it again!
Prediction: Modestas Bukauskas to win
In the co-main event of the evening, the reigning defending champion Christian Leroy Duncan will try to extend his winning streak against TUF 25 champion Jesse Taylor. Duncan’s timing, reactions, and lateral moves are out of this world, this guy is ready to shine in the UFC. His rope sessions turned him into one of the greatest cardio machines, so this should be his night.
Prediction: Leroy Duncan to win inside the distance
Here is a look at the Cage Warriors 148 full fight card.
CWFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Modestas Bukauskas (12-5-0) vs. Chuck Campbell (5-1-0)
CWFC Middleweight Championship: Christian Leroy Duncan (7-0-0) vs. Jesse Taylor (33-16-0)
CWFC Flyweight Championship: Sam Creasey (16-4-0) vs. Shajidul Haque (14-5-0)
Bantamweight: Tuomas Gronvall (10-4-1) vs. Wilson Reis (25-12-0)
Featherweight: Damon Wilson (5-0-0) vs. Tobias Harila (10-3-0)
Middleweight: Darren Stewart (12-9-0) vs. Guilherme Cadena (30-19-0)
Welterweight: Helio Hernandez (1-1-0) vs. Chasen Blair (2-1-0)
Middleweight: Dario Bellandi (3-1-0) vs. Justin Barry (3-0-0)
Featherweight: Emrah Sonmez (13-4-0) vs. Adam Meskini (6-1-0)
Bantamweight: Nathan Fletcher (6-1-0) vs. Alessandro Giordano (6-1-0)
Featherweight: Orlando Wilson Prins (3-1-0) vs. Samuel Bark (7-1-0)
Here are my predictions for the whole card:
Let’s go lads, this is going to be one of the best no-UFC weeks ever, don’t miss those events!
