Two months into 2015 and it has already been an insane year for mixed martial arts, even by MMA standards.
We get back at it this weekend as Invicta, Bellator and the UFC all roll out some of the best they have to offer.
Below are the 5 most intriguing bouts taking place over the weekend.
5. Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino vs. Charmaine Tweet – Invicta 11
Cyborg is the most intriguing woman fighter outside of the UFC and when she fights, people watch. She hasn’t fought in the Invicta cage in roughly 20 month and the last time we saw her compete she was getting thrashed in Muay Thai. Tweet is a formidable foe who has taken on some respectable veterans. However, the reason this fight makes the list is solely due to the potential violence from Cyborg and the subsequent Rousey superfight talk that will ensue.
4. King Mo Lawal vs. Cheick Kongo – Bellator 134
This fight follows the blueprint of Scott Coker’s Bellator to a T. Both met are a bit of a crossroads in their careers and respective divisions, so when each were left without an opponent, it made sense to match the two together. King Mo has found success at heavyweight in the past; but he has never looked the same since his debilitating knee injuries. Kongo has made himself a bit more relevant during his time with Bellator as he made himself more of an action fighter, albeit against generally lesser competition. This fight will likely come down to whether the smaller Lawal will attempt to wrestle Kongo or if he chooses to remain standing with the former kickboxing standout. The winner will likely set himself up for other “money” fights in the future
3. Tony Ferguson vs. Gleison Tibau – UFC 184
The UFC’s resident lightweight division gatekeeper Tibau takes on another rising contender in Tony Ferguson. Ferguson has won 4 in a row and 7 of 8 inside the octagon while Tibau is a three fight streak of his own. Tibau also has a quick turnaround from defeating Norman Parke roughly 6 weeks ago. This bout should serve as an excellent measuring stick for where Ferguson is in his career. A win likely guarantees a top 15 opponent next time out.
2. Emanuel Newton vs. Liam McGeary – Bellator 134
The Bellator light heavyweight title is on the line Friday night at Mohegan Sun. McGeary has finished each of his 9 professional opponents and is one of the most dynamic finishers on the Bellator roster. However, Newton is a giant step up in competition. The champ has won 7 in a row and is a difficult fighter to game plan for with his awkward striking style and movement. McGeary is an offensive-minded, pressure fighter who will like to disrupt the attacks of Newton. Based on the Bellator careers of each man, it is likely this fight will not last long.
1. Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano – UFC 184
Simply put, Rousey and Zingano are the two best bantamweight female fighters in the world. This fight is a long time coming after being delayed on a couple of occasions. Zingano is the most dangerous and resilient fighter Rousey has faced in her career. If Zingano wants to have any chance of unseating the champ, she needs to overcome her tendency to start slow. In her two previous UFC appearances, she came back to finish her opponents after being down early. Rousey will afford Zingano no such opportunity, as her killer instinct is what has gotten her she is.