Bellator 149: Celebrating Greatness

Shamrock. Gracie. Two names synonymous with MMA. Kimbo. Dada. Two names synonymous with the streets. Never before have four legends in their respective battlegrounds been paired up to do battle under one roof. But all that changes on Friday night.

Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie have done battle before. Most recently in 1995, a 36-minute classic that ended up in a draw as neither man was willing to admit defeat and before judges were around to get things wrong. It was their second meeting, the first coming at UFC 1, a submission victory by Gracie. Meeting for a third time in 20+ years just goes to show the long history and deep rivalry between these two warriors.

Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000 have never met in the ring. But they’ve met on the streets. Lifelong friends, the two had falling out when Kimbo went on to reach fame and fortune in EliteXC and the UFC. Kimbo’s story is that Dada became jealous of his fame and tried to ride his coattails as the next great street fighter turned MMA success story. Dada’s story is that Kimbo held him back on the streets and forgot about his friends when he reached new heights. The truth will finally come out on Friday.

Shamrock vs. Gracie will be a grappling masterpiece. A high-level chess match pitting two masters who use their brain over their brawn. Gracie is the most famous grappler in the sport. His family invented Gracie jiu-jitsu and are the minds behind just about every submission move you see in MMA. Not to be out done, Shamrock is a wrestler and a leg lock guy. A powerful powerhouse who will no doubt be just fine on the ground with Gracie, using his strength and grip to combat Gracie’s skill and technique.

Kimbo vs. Dada will be a punching clinic. Two guys who throw technique out the window in favor of one-shot, fight ending strikes. Kimbo is the more technical and experienced of the two. He’s been on the big stage before, defeating legends like Tank Abbott and Ken Shamrock along with feared strikers James Thompson and Houston Alexander. What Dada lacks in technique, he makes up for in power. With a perfect record and a 100% KO rate, Dada isn’t afraid to take a few to give a few. Both of these men throw punches in bunches and could very well set the record for most punches thrown per second.

It’s rare that four men with such distinct styles and personalities are able to share the same card, but we must give Bellator and Scott Coker a ton of credit for making it happen.

While Dana White and the UFC are busy bowing down to the wishes of Conor McGregor, Scott Coker is recognizing those who paved the way for McGregor. Without Gracie, there would be no UFC 200 this summer. Without Shamrock, there would be no CM Punk debut in the near future. Without Kimbo, there would be no McGregor making a ton of money even though everyone says he’s been protected. Without Dada, there would be no Ronda Rousey getting all this media attention even though Gina Carano did it all first.

And while you think that Coker is relying too much on the past, lest you forget that he shaped the UFC’s current landscape and gets almost no credit for it. Who booked current UFC Heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum to submit Fedor for Fedor’s first decisive MMA loss? Who allowed current UFC Light Heavyweight Daniel Cormier into the greatest heavyweight tournament of all-time? Who discovered current UFC Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and signed him after a loss, showing the utmost faith in the young fighter? Who put current UFC Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in the main event of a CBS show when everyone thought that was a bad idea? Scott Coker helped build and mold the MMA you see today yet never gets the recognition he deserves. So who can blame him for booking superstars of the supposed past when the future is constantly stolen from him.

Recognize Bellator 149 for what it is. A celebration of mixed martial arts featuring four of the greatest fighters to ever step foot on God’s green earth and a celebration of the greatest mind MMA has ever known.