What do sites for betting do when UFC has the week off? Talk about Bellator, of course. The promotion’s 179th show is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2017 at the SSE Arena in London, England. The main event even features two former UFC fighters!
Rory MacDonald vs. Paul Daley
The ‘Red King’ MacDonald main-evented two Fight Night shows; 54 which was his last MMA win so far (a TKO over Tarec Saffiedine on October, 2014), and 89 where he lost Stephen Thompson by unanimous decision on June, 2016. In between those two bouts MacDonald failed to take the Welterweight Championship away from Robbie Lawler in the 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Match of the Year. This will be MacDonald’s Bellator debut.
Daley is a journeyman fighter who has plied his tread for UFC, Cage Rage, Final Fight Championship, Strikeforce, EliteXC, ShoXC, BAMMA, Cage Warriors, Cage Contender, Shark Fights, Pancrase, and Impact FC. He seems to have found a niche in Bellator, where he has fought his last five fights – accruing a 4-1 record. Daley bounced back from a decision loss to Douglas Lima at Bellator 158 on July 16th, 2016 with a knockout of Brennan Ward at 170 on January 21st.
Liam McGeary vs. Linton Vassell
Former Light Heavyweight Champion McGeary is probably gearing towards a title rematch with Phil Davis – against whom McGeary had his first career loss, a unanimous decision at Bellator 163 on November 4th, 2016 – and if that’s the case he got off to a good start with a TKO win over Brett McDermott at 173 on February 24th. Sites for betting like him on this one, but he shouldn’t expect any favors from his friend Linton.
‘The Swarm’ Vassell – whose body is sadly not entirely composed of bees surrounding his skeleton – was the Ultimate Challenge MMA Light Heavyweight Champion before signing with Bellator, where he is 6-2. Vassell’s two losses have come in a title match to Emanuel Newton, and the Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal against King Mo. So the good news is that he has lost only when there is something tangible on the line, and not just pride, honour, or respect. But what about friendship? “Sorry Liam! You’re going to try to take food out of my mouth (and) I want that belt,” Vassell told MMA Mania.com. “I want that belt. I’ve got to finish him. I want to get paid, and I want that belt, simple.” So does that mean he’s going to finish him with a Friendship as opposed to a Fatality?
Cheick Kongo vs. Augusto Sakai
Perhaps Kongo is shooting for another Comeback of the Year award because the 41 year old is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. The French brawler won the Bellator Season 9 Heavyweight Tournament and unsuccessfully challenged for the heavyweight title in 2013-14, and then he’s just kinda been there. Maybe he’s the Bizarro Mark Hunt.
Kongo is going to have his hands full, though, with the much younger, much more undefeated Sakai who is 9-0-1. Notwithstanding that, sites for betting favour Kongo to give Sakai his first professional defeat.
