Bellator 180 Shaping Up To Be Biggest Night in MMA

The biggest MMA event of all-time is upon us. This Saturday night, Bellator will grace us with a pay-per-view worthy of the term “stacked.”

In the main event, Wanderlei Silva battles Chael Sonnen is a fight almost four years in the making. Fedor Emelianenko makes his much-anticipated return against Matt Mitrione. There are two title fights that no one really cares about because legends take precedents. And there’s one title fight on free TV that pits Ryan Bader against Phil Davis in a rematch of their 2015 Fight of the Decade candidate.

If that’s not enough, we get the MMA commentary return of the most famous voice in MMA history, Mike Goldberg.

While UFC fighters would rather partake in boxing bouts and the rest of the MMA world crumbles, Bellator rises above the competition by giving fans the fights and moments we crave.

Wanderlei Silva vs. Chael Sonnen

Never mind the fact that these two have four fights and one win between them since the start of 2013. Never mind the fact that both guys are 40-years-old. And never mind the fact that Wanderlei wants Chael to “suck his balls” prior to the fight. This is the grudge match that we’ve been waiting for.

Chael is the most decorated wrestler in MMA history. He beat up Anderson Silva for 24-minute before Anderson illegally wrapped his legs around Chael’s neck and then the referee called a tap as Chael tried to brush a fly away. He disfigured Jon Jones’ toe so bad that Jones never fought a 185-pound fighter again. He’s the only man in MMA history with almost wins over two of the three best fighters of all-time. And if Georges St-Pierre had learned to put weight on the right way during his prime, I’m sure Chael would have almost beaten his as well.

Wanderlei is the most feared striker in MMA history. He knocked out heavyweights, light heavyweights, middleweights, and welterweights. You know the guy who made the Gracie’s look like chumps? Wanderlei knocked him out. Three times. You know that Shinsuke Nakamura guy in wrestling? Well, Wanderlei knocked out Kazuhiro Nakamura. Chuck Liddell was so afraid of the fucking that Wanderlei wanted to lay on him that Chuck avoided him for years.

This is the greatest wrestler vs. striker match we’ve ever seen in the sport. Which discipline is the ultimate discipline in 2017? The winner of this fight will give their background bragging rights for years to come. Anytime we ever have another wrestler vs. striker match-up presented to us, we’ll be forced to side with the discipline determined by the winner of this bout. That’s how important this main event is to the history of MMA.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione

In the co-main event, we’re getting two guys just as old and just as decorated. Fedor, 40, is the greatest heavyweight of all-time. Mitrione, 38, was on the institution known as ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ when it was still somewhat relevant and beat Kimbo Slice.

These two were supposed to meet months ago, but Fedor was so scared of Mitrione that he poisoned his food. Mitrione would have delivered a Jordan Flu Game-like performance, but MMA is a much tougher sport than basketball and he wasn’t allowed to compete with food poisoning.

Both of these guys are power punchers and we’re likely going to see a highlight reel knockout. Fedor has destroyed elite strikers such as Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, and Brett Rogers. Mitrione has decimated elite strikers like Kimbo Slice and Marcus Jones. These are two guys who aren’t afraid to throw hands.

Hearing Mike Goldberg yell, “AND IT IS ALL OVER!” and one man falls to the ground, unconscious, will be one of the greatest moments in MMA history.

The Other Three Fights

On the undercard, Michael Chandler defends some belt against the guy who does the ‘South Park’ and Douglas Lima defends another belt again Lorenz Larkin.

Titles are not important in Bellator. No one really knows why these fights are on this card. Fans are mainly disappointed that BJ Penn is competing on Saturday’s UFC card and not on Saturday’s Bellator card. How come they couldn’t work out a trade?

Also, Aaron Pico makes his MMA debut. He’s some wrestler guy who can knock you out if you talk about him.

These fights are more important to Bellator’s long term success and will likely be the best fights on the card. But they don’t feature 40-year-olds so no one really cares.

Phil Davis vs. Ryan Bader

Because Bellator is a company for the people, they’re giving us Davis vs. Bader free on SpikeTV.

Here’s an experiment for you to try: throw a party on Saturday night. Put on Davis vs. Bader and force all of your friends to watch. When it’s over, ask your friends, “Guys, we can watch more of THAT for only (whatever Bellator is charging for the pay-per-view). WHO’S IN?!?!?”

Enjoy having no friends.

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