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This is one of the biggest weekends of MMA action this year, with four huge events taking place from the UFC, Invicta FC, Legacy FC and of course Bellator MMA. Bellator 134, although the card was hampered by injuries, is still being headlined by a light heavyweight title bout as Emanuel Newton defends against Liam McGeary. Also, Paul Daley makes his Bellator MMA return and King Mo returns to heavyweight as he faces Cheick Kongo.
Main Card
Main Event
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Emanuel “The Hardcore Kid†Newton (25-7-1) (Champion) vs. Liam McGeary (9-0-0)
Newton will be making the fourth defense of his championship, last defending it against Linton Vassell at Bellator 130. McGeary earned the title shot after winning the final tournament in Bellator MMA history, defeating Kelly Anundson in the finals. Newton also holds the Bellator MMA record for most finishes via spinning back fist, with two of them coming by that way. Since joining Bellator MMA in April 2013, McGeary has yet to see any of his fights go past the opening round. McGeary has yet to be truly tested in the Bellator MMA cage and Newton has fought some of the best fighters not under a UFC deal, Newton catches an overzealous McGeary in the second round to get the knockout.
Co-Main Event
Bellator MMA Welterweight Division Fight
Paul “Semtex†Daley (35-13-2) vs. Andre “Chatuba†Santos (37-9-0)
Daley will be returning to Bellator MMA after a two-plus year absence, going 5-1-0 in between promotional appearances. Santos is a late replacement for welterweight champion Douglas Lima, who was forced to pull out of the fight due to injury. Daley has primarily competed in the United Kingdom since his last Bellator MMA appearances, competing in BAMMA and Cage Warriors respectively. Santos does enter this fight on a six fight winning streak, which includes a win over UFC veteran Chad Reiner. Daley has seemingly not lost any power in his hands after fifty fights and he will use his superior striking to knockout Santos in the first.
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Division Fight
Cheick Kongo (22-9-2) vs. Muhammed “King Mo†Lawal (14-4-0-1NC)
Kongo is a UFC veteran who has won four of five fights in Bellator MMA and he was the winner of a four man heavyweight tournament in the promotion. Mo will be returning to the heavyweight division for the first time in six years, as his last heavyweight appearance was a win over UFC veteran Mark Kerr at M-1 Global: Breakthrough. Mo’s wrestling skills are going to be kryptonite to Kongo as Mo outwrestles Kongo to get the decision victory.
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Rameau “The African Assassin†Thierry Sokoudjou (16-12-0) vs. Linton “The Swarm†Vassell (14-4-0-1NC)
Sokoudjou has gone undefeated thus far under the Bellator MMA banner and neither of his fights went past the second round. Vassell will be competing for the first time since losing to Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton at Bellator 130. Sokoudjou is not facing subpar competition this time around as Vassell is a dangerous opponent, Vassell finishes Sokoudjou in the first.
Bellator MMA Welterweight Division Fight
Curtis “Curtious†Millender (7-0-0) vs. Brennan “The Irish Bad Boy†Ward (9-3-0)
Millender is set to make his Bellator MMA debut in this fight, after spending his entire career in the Fight Club OC promotion. Ward is taking the fight on less than a week’s notice after Michael Page was pulled from the fight via an injury. Ward would be the obvious pick if he had more time to prepare, but Millender will grind out a decision win here.
Preliminary Card
Matt Bessette over Josh LaBerge
Randy Costa over Carlos Hernandez
Josh Diekmann over Raphael Butler
Tamdan McCrory over Jason Butcher
Neiman Gracie over Bobby Flynn
Marvin Maldonado over Blair Tugman
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