Bellator postponed three additional events from its May calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bellator 232 (San Jose, Calif.) on May 9, Bellator Europe 8 (London) on May 16 and Bellator 243 (Temecula, Calif.) on May 29 were all pushed back due to safety concerns over the ongoing crisis, causing more than 30 matchups to fall apart.
There were certainly some matchups of significance and great intrigue on the docket, too, but which fight is the biggest loss from our upcoming watchlist? MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Dave Doyle, and Farah Hannoun give their opinions in the latest edition of Triple Take.
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Mike Bohn: James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor
It’s not difficult to understand why James Gallagher is a polarizing figure. Many aren’t fans of his, and only tune in out of hope he gets his trademark pre-fight talk flipped on him like we saw Ricky Bandejas do in Gallagher’s only career loss.
Still, though, it’s hard not to feel for Gallagher (10-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) in this scenario. With his fight at Bellator Europe 8 in London postponed, Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor has now been canceled a whopping three times over an eight-month stretch. I don’t believe in curses, but it certainly seems like a higher power doesn’t want these two matched up.
The pair were supposed to fight at Bellator Europe 4 in September, but Ellenor (8-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) had to pull out at the last minute when his medicals revealed a brain abnormality that required further examination. He overcame the issue and received clearance to return, and the fight was rescheduled for Bellator Europe 7 in February.
Gallagher sustained a back injury during the final stages of his preparation, though, and had to pull out of the main event bout with Ellenor in his native Ireland. He said he was “heartbroken,” but remained determined to make the contest happen.
It seemed the third time was going to be the charm with Bellator Europe 8, but then the coronavirus pandemic derailed the matchup once more.
On paper, the fight is Gallagher’s to lose. He’s been a sizable betting favorite each time he’s been matched up with Ellenor, who feels he has the tools to expose Gallagher. Hopefully the fight can come together one day, though, because both men have put enough time and effort into preparation that they deserve the payoff.
Next page: Dave Doyle on Liz Carmouche’s Bellator debut
Dave Doyle: Liz Carmouche vs. Mandy Bohm
There were plenty of interesting fights on Bellator’s May docket, but the one which intrigued me the most was Liz Carmouche’s promotional debut in the main event of Bellator 243.
It might seem like a lifetime ago, but it was only four months ago that Carmouche (13-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was notified by the UFC that she was released while she had traveled across the country to do PR work for them. Bellator wasted little time scooping her up, and for good reason: This is a fighter who still has something more to give.
Sure, Carmouche lost to Valentina Shevchenko last time out, but who hasn’t? The two-time UFC title challenger had won four of her previous five, with the only other loss a debatable split decision to Alexis Davis.
Bellator 243 was scheduled for Temecula, Calif., in the San Diego area, which is Carmouche’s home base. It’s the home base, too, for Bellator flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. The duo share a gym and, unlike nearly everyone in that situation, they’re openly talking about wanting to meet each other in a friendly rivalry. That’s a new twist, and a win here would surely have facilitated such a fight.
But that brings us to the final piece of the puzzle. Bellator is notorious for bringing in fighters who are the equivalent of jobbers on 1980s pro wrestling TV shows on situations like these. A name fighter will go up against someone with a 2-3 pro record and then you’ll never hear from them when they lose.
Mandy Bohm (6-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) doesn’t appear to fit that mold. I’m not going to pretend to have studied hours of tape on her, but she trains at SBG Ireland under John Kavanagh, so her lineage is legit, and she has finished four of her six career wins, including her last two. Whenever this fight gets rescheduled, if Carmouche is going to get to that Macfarlane fight, she’s going to have to earn it.
Next page: Farah Hannoun on a huge middleweight title fight
Farah Hannoun: Gegard Mousasi vs. Douglas Lima
Prior to the enforced postponements, Bellator was all set to deliver one of the best matchups in the promotion’s history at Bellator 242.
Bellator 170-pound champion Douglas Lima was scheduled to face former middleweight champ Gegard Mousasi for the vacant 185-pound title in the co-main event, where Lima (32-7 MMA, 14-3 BMMA) was attempting to join a select group of fighters to hold two major titles simultaneously.
Lima re-captured his 170-pound belt last October when he avenged his loss to Rory MacDonald in the welterweight grand prix finals in January 2018. The Brazilian is widely considered to be one of the best welterweights in the world and, after capturing the title for the third time, the opportunity emerged for him to take on former champ Mousasi (46-7-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) for the vacant title in the biggest fight of “The Phenom’s” career.
After losing his title in an upset loss to Rafael Lovato Jr., Mousasi rebounded with a win over former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. But, after Lovato was forced to relinquish his belt due to ongoing medical issues, Mousasi was handed an opportunity to regain his title in a matchup between two of the very best fighters in the promotion.
Bellator may have received criticism for certain matchups in the past, but there is no doubt that, in terms of sheer quality, Lima vs. Mousasi is as good a fight as any bout any promotion could possibly put together in 2020.
