The Bellator Featherweight tournament continues in Inglewood, California. Pitbull looks to open the tournament with a title defense, and the other contenders in the 145 division will get to work as well. We also have a pivotal Middleweight clash between two legends in the sport in the main event spot. This is one of the most stacked Bellator cards of the year and should deliver fireworks.

Prelims
Catchweight (165): Emilio Williams (4-2) vs Ian Butler (6-6)- Williams Unanimous Decision

Middleweight: Andre Walker (5-2) vs Osman Diaz (2-1)- Walker TKO

Catchweight (130): Benji Gomez (8-12) vs Johnny Santa Maria (3-4)- Gomez TKO

Bantamweight: Adrian Najera (1-0) vs Jason Edwards (2-0)- Najera Submission

Lightweight: Joshua Jones (8-4) vs Dominic Clark (14-8)- Clark Unanimous Decision

Catchweight (133): James Barnes (11-4) vs David Duran (8-5)- Barnes Split Decision

Featherweight: Weber Almeida (2-0) vs Castle Williams (4-2)- Almeida TKO

Featherweight: Leandro Higo (18-5) vs Shawn Bunch (9-3)- Higo Split Decision

Catchweight (175): Michael Jasper (13-5) vs Johnny Cisneros (12-7)- Jasper TKO

Catchweight (165): Antonio McKee (29-6-2) vs William Sriyapai (13-8)- McKee Unanimous Decision

Women’s Strawweight: Ava Knight (0-0) vs Shannon Goughary (3-3)- Knight TKO

Featherweight: AJ Agazarm (1-1) vs Jonathan Quiroz (2-3)- Agazarm Submission

Main
Featherweight: Daniel Weichel (39-11) vs Saul Rogers (13-2)- Weichel Split Decision
Weichel is a very skilled striker with a muay thai background, and a ton of MMA experience. Weichel is very technical on the feet, and loves to incorporate his kicks targeting the legs. Weichel is a strong wrestler as well, and has a high level submission game along with his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has won the majority of his fights by submission, and has been fighting since 2002. Rogers was a finalist on the Ultimate Fighter season 22, but was unable to compete because of visa issues. Rogers is a impressive athlete, and big for the Featherweight division. Rogers is a standout wrestler who can land takedowns in space or in the clinch. Rogers is very slick in terms of submissions, and wins the majority of his fights with chokes. Rogers is a respectable striker, but doesn’t standout on the feet like he does on the mat. This is old school versus new school to open up the card. I am going to lean towards Weichel in a very close fight because he can hang with Rogers on the ground, but has the advantage on the feet. I believe his experience will factor in as Rogers has not faced the an opponent of Weichel’s caliber in his career.

Featherweight: Darrion Caldwell (13-3) vs Henry Corrales (17-3)- Caldwell Unanimous Decision
Caldwell is a former Bellator Bantamweight champion who moves up a weight division after the weight cut became too much for him. Caldwell is a standout athlete who is very unorthodox on the feet. He tends to lead with his kicks, but prefers to use his wrestling background to secure wins inside the cage. Caldwell is a former Division I at the University of North Carolina State, and briefly tried out for the 2012 Olympic Games in wrestling. Caldwell has a long frame and reach, and uses his wrestling to break his opponents. He has solid ground and pound, and uses his long limbs to sink in chokes as well. Cardio has been a problem for Caldwell in the past, but the move up to Featherweight should negate this issue of depleting his body from the weight cut. Corrales is a dark horse in this tournament, and has a significant advantage on the feet in this one. Corrales is a crafty striker, and has shown legit knockout power in his hands his last two fights. Corrales can strike in the pocket, but can also strike from distance with his heavy leg kicks. Corrales is an average wrestler, and has improved his takedown defense over the years. Corrales is an underrated grappler, but the majority of his losses have come against strong wrestlers or submission artists. Corrales is tough as nails, but I like Caldwell in his move back up to Featherweight. I believe he will lean on his wrestling to negate Henry’s striking, and grind out a decision victory Saturday.

Featherweight: A.J. McKee (14-0) vs Georgi Karakhanyan (28-9-1)- McKee Unanimous Decision
McKee is a budding superstar that has future champion written all over with his impressive rise as a contender. McKee is a very technical striker who mixes up his attacks with his hands, kicks, and knees. His father has trained him in MMA since he could walk and ironically will actually be competing on the preliminary card. Mckee is a standout wrestler and grappler as well showing a well rounded arsenal. He uses his physical gifts and athleticism to overwhelm his opponents as well. McKee just seems to get better with each fight, and dominated former Bellator champion Pat Curran in his last fight. Karakhanyan is an experienced martial artist who can do it all. Georgi is also a technical striker, and tends to push the pace with his pressure striking. He loves to use his kicks to soften up his opponents, and will transition to takedowns off of his striking. Georgi is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has won the majority of his fights by submission. At times Georgi tends to struggle against fighter who strike from a distance and pick him apart from the outside. He also has had issues against offensive wrestlers as well. I am going to pick McKee in this fight, because he has the youth and athletic advantages. McKee hasn’t been through the wear and tear of Karakhanyan, and seems to be the next big thing in MMA. McKee just has all the tools to be a future champion, and I believe he puts it all together better than Georgi.

Featherweight: Patricio Freire (29-4) vs Juan Archuleta (23-1)- Archuleta Unanimous Decision
Freire is a two division champion currently holding the Featherweight and Lightweight Bellator belts. “Pitbull” is small in stature but possesses fight changing power in his hands. Freire is a solid boxer who is very aggresive on the feet throwing with fight ending intentions with every shot. He does have solid leg kicks, but tends to lean on the hands in terms of striking. Freire is a legit black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well with high level submission skills. His one weakness in the past has been against strong wrestlers that take him off of his feet. Patricio doesn’t stay stagnate on the mat, and works very hard to get back to his feet. He has been on a roll of late, and his confidence is at an all time high. Archuleta has long been a top level fighter that no one knows on the regional circuit. Archuleta is super aggressive on the feet, and loves to blitz his opponents with his hands and kicks. At times, he puts himself in danger leaving himself exposed by being too reckless in terms of striking. “The Spaniard” is a standout wrestler who can explode into power doubles from the outside. He is very good with his top pressure once he gets the takedown, and can wear his opponents out with his ground and pound. Archuleta has a non stop motor as well, and doesn’t get discouraged if he fails on the initial shot. He isn’t much of a threat in terms of submission, but has power on the feet and pressure on the mat. The biggest question will be how does he handle the major step up in competition. He has yet to fight anyone with the one punch power of Freire, and like I mentioned earlier leaves himself open for counter strikes. I am going with the upset here picking Juan Archuleta. I believe he will use his forward pressure and wrestling to keep “Pitbull” off balance. If Archuleta leans on his wrestling he could sap some of the energy, power, and explosiveness out of “Pitbull”. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Freire end this fight early with a knockout blow if Juan doesn’t keep his guard high.

Middleweight: Lyoto Machida (26-8) vs Gegard Mousasi (45-7-2)- Mousasi Split Decision
Machida is a former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, and has long been considered one of the best to ever do it. Machida is a very skilled striker with a karate base, and lulls his opponents to sleep before blitzing them with kicks or his piston like left hand. Machida has great footwork, and rarely puts himself in harms way using superior head movement to avoid big shots. Machida has solid takedown defense, and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, he barely uses his ground game and prefers to strike on the feet. Machida has a wide arrange of kicks, and fight ending power in every limb. Machida’s chin has failed him recently, and isn’t able to wear a shot as well as he used to. At times he can be too patient, and gives away rounds allowing opponents to control the center of the cage. Mousasi is a former Bellator Middleweight champion returning after losing his belt to Rafael Lovato Jr. in a close decision. Mousasi has a Dutch Kickboxing style, and is very skilled in terms of striking. He likes to push forward, and has legit power in both of his hands. Mousasi will use heavy leg kicks to soften up his opponents before letting go of his powerful hook combinations. Mousasi is a skilled wrestler as well with an ability to take his opponents down from distance or in the clinch. Mousasi has a Sambo background, and is very skilled on the ground. He is vicious with his ground and pound, and has a suffocating top pressure once he drags it to the mat. Mousasi has had issues in the past against superior wrestlers, but shouldn’t have to worry about this against “The Dragon”. Mousasi will look to even the score after losing to Machida by decision in 2014. I am going to lean towards Mousasi in this fight in a closely contested bout. I believe he is good enough to compete on the feet, and will look to wear out Machida in the clinch with his chain wrestling. Mousasi has to stay focused because one mistake could lead to a knockout loss against the precise striking of Machida.

Photo Credit: https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/9/29/20888851/bellator-228-live-blog-lyoto-machida-vs-gegard-mousasi-2