By Alex Dillon
@ADillon_This weekend sees various MMA events take place across the globe from the UFC, WSOF, Bellator and Cage Warriors. Each card has an array of good fights but there are three real solid ones that stand out for me this Saturday.
Dennis Bermudez (14-3) vs Ricardo Lamas (14-3)
For me, this is the big fight that has gone under the radar amongst the many that take place this weekend. In my opinion, this has fight of the night written all over it for UFC 180. Both guys are contenders in the UFC’s featherweight division and a win would put either in the title frame. Bermudez is currently on a seven fight win streak with his most recent win being a submission victory over the tough Clay Guida. Lamas has challenged Aldo for the belt before, coming up short in a Unanimous Decision loss but bounced back with a decision victory of his own against Hacran Dias back in June. Both guys have the potential to finish this fight and both guys will want to, there’s a lot on the line particularly for Bermudez who said this week that he’s the number 1 guy in the division and deserves a title shot with a win. What’s more is both fighters trashed Conor McGregor during media day which of course boosts their stock a little more and a win Saturday could potentially set up a future number 1 contender fight with him. For Lamas if he loses, it would be a long road back to title contention and for Bermudez, this fight is the one which can shoot him into title contention if he knocks off a legit ranked featherweight. We shall find out who can prove their worth Saturday night in Mexico.
Saul Rogers (8-1) vs Mick Sinclair (12-4)
Make no mistake about it, Cage Warriors 74 has a stacked card full of potential classics but this lightweight showdown stands out to me. It’s two talented lightweights going head to head and I am 50/50 the whole way with it. It can be argued that either winner could get a shot at Stevie Ray’s title with an impressive win which makes this clash even better. Rogers who trains out of SBG Mainline last defeated former UFC fighter John Maguire at Cage Warriors 65 and at only 24 years of age he has shown impressive skills with a current record of 8-1, six of the eight wins have come via submission. Sinclair is well regarded in the Cage Warriors ranks and has finished 10 of his 12 wins which makes this fight a potential barnburner. Sinclair has had injury problems over the last few years which many would say have drastically hampered his growth and affected his potential but you can bet he’ll be fired up for this one. What’s better is he trains out of the other big gym in Manchester, Predators MMA, so in essence, it’s a battle of the North West with the winner edging closer to that coveted gold strap.
Melvin Manhoef (29-11-1) vs Joe Schilling (1-3)
Sticking with the ‘fights under the radar’ topic in this week’s article, this bout has been over shadowed somewhat by Tito Ortiz vs Stephan Bonnar and Will Brooks vs Michael Chandler II on the Bellator 131 card. First things first, don’t be fooled by the two fighter’s records. Both are high level K1/ Muay Thai fighters with a lot of KO’s on their records. Make no mistake about it these two will stand and bang, it’s in their DNA to do so. It’s fair that Ortiz/Bonnar and Brooks/Chandler II has taken more of the limelight ahead of the card but in truth, Bellator could have promoted this one just as much. Manhoef is coming off an impressive KO victory over Doug Marshall at Bellator 125 where as Schilling comes in on the back of two submission losses. It has all the makings of a classic because it’s a hard one to call with either guy possessing the power to put the other out cold. The feeling is, someone is getting KO’d come fight night.
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