Bellator is serving up a double helping of MMA action this weekend as Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., plays host to back-to-back shows on consecutive nights with Bellator 231 and Bellator 232.
The first of the two events features a main event between two of the most experienced members of the Bellator heavyweight roster, while a former world champion looks to move one step closer to his old title and a clutch of rising contenders aim to position themselves for bigger things ahead.
Here are five burning questions ahead of Friday night’s fights.
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Will Frank Mir or Roy Nelson bounce back into the win column?
The Bellator 231 headliner sees two of the most recognizable names on the roster go head to head in a battle of seasoned veterans as former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir takes on big-bearded, heavy-handed Roy Nelson.
Both men are in the twilight of their respective careers and struggling for form inside the cage, with Mir (18-13 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) suffering a four-fight losing streak and Nelson (23-17 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) on a three-fight skid. The matchup offers a chance for one of them to right the ship, score a notable victory over a fellow big name and perhaps position themselves for another run towards the top of the division.
But which man is best equipped for the job? Can Mir drag “Big Country” down and unleash his renowned finishing skills on the mat, or will Nelson keep the action on the feet and connect with another of his famed overhand rights?
Whoever prevails, Bellator will have a big-name heavyweight to throw back into the mix at the sharp end of a fight card in early 2020.
Can Phil Davis put himself right back into the title mix?
Former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis lost the title to current belt-holder Ryan Bader via an agonizing split decision and has found the road back to a rematch to be a tricky one.
“Mr. Wonderful” (20-5 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) rebounded with back-to-back wins, only to suffer another split decision loss, this time to fellow contender Vadim Nemkov, at Bellator 209. Davis then reasserted his title credentials with a victory over another former champ, Liam McGeary, and now he faces another stiff test as he looks to position himself for a long-awaited rematch with Bader.
On Friday night, Davis takes on Swedish contender Karl Albrektsson, who arrives in Uncasville for his Bellator debut riding a three-fight winning streak. The 26-year-old has claimed seven of his nine career wins inside the distance and also holds a win over Davis’ nemesis, Nemkov, from back in 2016 in Rizin.
If Davis can score an impressive win over the Swede, he’ll have a strong case for a shot at Bader. But Albrektsson (9-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has title aspirations of his own. It should make for a fascinating contest.
Will Ed Ruth’s MMA evolution continue?
Ed Ruth might have suffered his first career defeat against eventual tournament finalist Neiman Gracie in last year’s Bellator welterweight grand prix, but his impressive response – a second-round TKO of Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 224 – showed his continued growth and evolution as a mixed martial artist.
The three-time NCAA Division I champion wrestler returns to action at Bellator 231 against Jason Jackson looking to showcase the latest stage of his progression as he takes on a man on a strong run.
Jackson (10-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has won his last three bouts and captured the LFA welterweight title in his last outing to earn himself a recall to the Bellator roster for his second fight with the promotion. A win over a highly touted prospect like Ruth would be the perfect springboard for a run towards the top of the division.
Meanwhile, for Ruth (7-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA), the matchup offers a tough test against a man who knows what it takes to win a championship. If he can secure another impressive win, people will start to get very excited about the former Penn State wrestling standout as a title threat in 2020.
Can Bec Rawlings rediscover that winning feeling?
“Rowdy” Bec Rawlings is bidding to kick off a fresh new chapter of her MMA career as a Bellator fighter, and the Australian will make her promotional debut in Uncasville against a fellow newcomer in Brazil’s Ilara Joanne.
Rawlings’ UFC stint ended after four consecutive losses, but she recently picked up a big victory in a different sport as she made a successful debut as a bare-knuckle boxer at BKFC 4 back in February.
But when she steps into the Bellator cage on Friday night, Rawlings (7-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will be competing in an MMA bout for the first time in over 18 months as she looks to pick up her first MMA victory in more than three-and-a-half years.
Joanne (8-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is certainly in better MMA form. The Brazilian heads into the contest riding a two-fight win streak, but when she steps into the cage to face Rawlings it will come exactly a year after her last appearance.
Can Rawlings use her bare-knuckle success as a springboard to launch her Bellator career on a winning note, or will Joanne extend her winning run to three in a row with a victory over the former TUF graduate?
Will Jake Hager continue his heel persona against Anthony Garrett?
Given his previous day job, it was inevitable that whatever Jake Hager did in MMA would attract both attention and criticism. But his apparent unwillingness to release his arm-triangle choke of T.J. Jones at Bellator 221 did him no favors in the eyes of the hardcore MMA fanbase. His pro wrestling style post-fight interview, however, certainly made the wrestling world sit up and take notice.
Now with a pair of wins under his belt, Hager (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) heads into Bellator 231 looking to complete a hat trick of victories under the Bellator banner when he takes on Anthony Garrett. The Missouri native (4-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has six wins to his name, two as an amateur and four as a pro, with all but one of them coming inside the first round.
That, on paper at least, makes him a dangerous test for Hager, who has looked solid, if unspectacular, as he makes his first tentative steps into MMA under the glare of the TV lights.
Will Hager deal with Garrett and make it three in a row? Will he cut another wrestling-style promo if he wins? And will he address the challenge laid down by Bellator lightweight Aaron Chalmers, who has called for an openweight clash with the former WWE superstar at Bellator Japan?
We should get all the answers on Friday night.
