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BELLATOR FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 44 TELEVISED CARD PREVIEW

A Bellator champion and a tournament final will be taking place on Saturday Night as Bellator 44 airs live on MTV2. BFC Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard will be competing in a non-title fight and Patricky Freire meets Michael Chandler in a BFC Lightweight Tournament Final. Also, two tournament qualifiers will take place in both the middleweight and bantamweight divisions.

Headlining this card is a non-title fight as BFC Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (28-2-1) takes on Falaniko “Niko” Vitale (29-9-0). Hector Lombard has been dominant since winning the inaugural BFC Middleweight Tournament, including a victory over UFC veteran Jay Silva. Falaniko Vitale enters the fight riding a three fight winning streak, which includes a victory over UFC veteran Kalib Starnes. While Falaniko Vitale is a top notch competitor, Hector Lombard should carve a path over him to victory.

The co-main event is the BFC Lightweight Tournament Finals as Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (9-1-0) takes on Michael Chandler (7-0-0). Patricky Freire earned his spot in the finals by defeating both Rob McCullough and Toby Imada in tournament action. Michael Chandler got his spot in the finals by defeating both Marcin Held and Lloyd Woodard in tournament fights. This is going to be an interesting styles clash, but it will be the more dynamic Patricky Freire earning the win.

Up next is a Bellator season five middleweight tournament qualifier as Brett Cooper (13-6-0) faces off with Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (38-7-0). Brett Cooper enters the fight riding a two fight winning streak, which includes a victory over Matt Major at Bellator 29. Alexander Shlemenko won the last Bellator Middleweight Tournament, but lost to Hector Lombard in his title opportunity. This is going to be a battle of two excellent strikers, but it will be Alexander Shlemenko returning to the tournament.

Kicking off the evening will be a season five bantamweight tournament qualifier as Bryan Goldsby (13-13-0) faces Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-10-0). Bryan Goldsby has only won one of three in Bellator, but that one victory was an upset over UFC veteran Jeff Curran. Anthony Morrison has competed in the now defunct WEC, where he suffered defeats in his two appearances. This fight is going to be a war of attrition, but it will go to Anthony Morrison due to his big fight experience.

You can contact David Tees at bigteesps3@yahoo.com

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