On Saturday, Scott Coker presents the second installment of the Bellator featherweight grand prix at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., which will feature dual champion Patricio Freire defending his 145-pound title amidst the mayhem of a 16-man tournament.
Considering that I’ve already given Freire’s fight with Juan Archuleta the in-depth treatment, I thought this would be an opportunity to highlight some of the other talents who will represent one of Bellator’s premiere weight classes this weekend.
Sure, the UFC might still carry more valuable commodities division for division, but its long-questioned ranking system and rigorous, year-around schedule make it difficult for new blood to break through. And though all promotions fall victim to polluting their matchmaking with politics, throwing things back to similar grand prix formats of old allows for organic story lines to unfold, all while giving chances for contenders to shine against name fighters who can share their value.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the dark horses in this installation of the tournament who I believe should be on your radar.
No. 1: Henry Corrales
Record: 17-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA
Next matchup: Darrion Caldwell
Why he should be on your radar: If you’re a fan of blood-and-guts fighters who keep it real, then Henry Corrales is your guy.
Stepping onto the Bellator scene as an undefeated prospect from King of the Cage (where he earned titles at both bantamweight and featherweight), Corrales was fed to the wolves in regards to his strength of schedule, facing the likes of Patricio Freire, Daniel Straus and Emmanuel Sanchez.
Since then, the hard-hitting fighter from California moved shop to Arizona, amassing a five-fight winning streak that has established him as a top player in the division. Initially working with The MMA Lab, Corrales has followed long-time striking coach Eddie Cha to the Fight Ready Gym (home of UFC dual champ Henry Cejudo), as he appears to be in the shape of his life heading into this contest.
Corrales faces former bantamweight champ Darrion Caldwell, who should provide a stern stylistic challenge for the savvy slugger. But Corrales is not limited to his striking sensibilities and has shown solid counter-wrestling improvements in recent years.
Should Corrales’ 69 percent takedown defense rating hold up against Caldwell’s takedown accuracy (66 percent on paper), then we could be in store for some serious momentum swings in this matchup. Regardless of whether or not I pick Corrales to win, I don’t think I can ever bet against this man after the quote he left us with during his last post-fight interview:
“At my best, I’ve lived a mediocre life, and I’m ready to die in this motherf*cker.”
No. 2: A.J. McKee
Record: 14-0 MMA, 14-0 BMMA
Next matchup: Georgi Karakhanyan
Why he should be on your radar: Given his undefeated record and (deserved) promotional push, A.J. McKee is probably on your radar already. But if you’re not aware of this dark horse yet, then you’ll likely be more familiar with him by the time the dust settles in this featherweight grand prix.
A well trained prospect under the tutelage of father Antonio McKee (who also fights on this card), A.J. has all the makings of a formidable title threat.
One of the taller and longer competitors in this tournament, Mckee wields a slick striking game from his southpaw stance. The 24-year-old talent can either hit pinpoint counters down the pipe or come forward in combination, punctuating his presence with hard kicks.
Mckee is also a skilled submission grappler who understands wrestling for MMA, displaying the ability to chain takedowns accordingly and transition intelligently within scrambles. He has a sharp game from the front headlock position and appears to be no slouch off of his back, either, though seldom seen there.
Georgi Karakhanyan, a talented veteran who has seen many of the fighters in this grand prix, should prove to be a solid measuring stick to further see where the skills of McKee lie. The Team Bodyshop product has long called for this level of opposition, and he’ll get his chance to prove himself once again on Saturday night.
No. 3: Saul Rogers
Record: 13-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA
Next matchup: Daniel Weichel
Why they should be on your radar: An English prospect whose long been on the cusp to break through to bigger audiences, Saul Rogers will be afforded a chance to take another step in the right direction on Saturday.
An athletic featherweight who took naturally to wrestling and submission fighting, Rogers has been able to accrue experience at both 145 and 155 pounds. Rogers also had a notable stint on “The Ultimate Fighter: Season 22” back in 2015, where the Englishman ran the table (going 4-0) on the show before running into visa issues that ultimately got him released from the promotion.
Since then, Rogers has fought in the Russian market overseas, as well as earned himself a dominant decision under the Bellator banner earlier this year. Spending a good portion of his career training under/being affiliated with the Straight Blast Gym (SBG), the 29-year-old appears to be well trained in regards to his transitional savvy.
Recently, Rogers has shifted his training camps to the U.S., working with Henri Hooft in South Florida to help sharpen his striking (which is probably not the worst idea considering the Dutch coach’s experience when it comes to equipping pressure-grapplers with fundamentals on the feet).
Rogers has a stiff test ahead of him when he steps up another level to face Daniel Weichel. The former Bellator title challenger is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who carries an 86 percent takedown defense rating on paper, which means we may get a good look at Rogers’ recent striking work.
Rogers, akin to Kevin Lee (a fighter I can’t help but compare him to), has all the potential in the world; it’s just hard to get a beat on where exactly he’s heading. Either way, I’m in for the ride.
