https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQfsN2l-7Qk
What’s up, punching and kicking enthusiasts? It’s the end of another week, which can mean only one thing – COMBAT SPORTS! There’s a solid triple-shot of fights this weekend, with a few world titles at stake. Let’s take a look at who’s fighting, when it’s going down, and how to watch all of that glorious violence.
FRIDAY
Good gravy, this card is stacked! Bellator MMA is bringing a ton of awesome fights on Friday night. The prelims, as always, are online at Bellator.com and Spike.com starting at 6:45 p.m. ET. Also as always, the main card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Spike TV. There’s so much fun stuff here, it’s kind of ridiculous. Bobby Lashley has finally stopped ducking THE COLOSSUS, and will test himself against James Thompson once again. Big JT took a decision victory in India’s Super Fight League, despite landing multiple groin shots on Lashley throughout the fight, each of which Bobby required the full five minutes to recover from.
The rest of the Bellator main card is one of the best they’ve put on. Lightweight champ “Ill” Will Brooks defends his title against young leglock specialist, Marcin Held (I like to call him Pole Harris!) in the co-main event. In the main event we’ve got a featherweight title fight, as Patricio “Pitbull” Freire takes on Daniel Straus for the third time. Interestingly, Brooks and the Freires allegedly got into an altercation on Wednesday at the fighter hotel. Brooks claims he was sneak attacked while talking to his mom on the phone, while Patricio and Patricky say that Brooks attacked first and Patricio dropped him with one punch.
SATURDAY
Glory kickboxing is back with a new TV deal. Glory 25 will be live on ESPN 2 at 1:30 a.m. ET. I know that’s super early in the morning (or super late at night), but anytime is the right time for kickboxing. The co-main event is a legend in Giorgio Petrosyan taking on Josh Jauncey, while the main event sees Robin Van Roosmalen face off against Sittichai Sitsongpeenog. My prediction for those bouts: VIOLENCE, WOO!
UFC returns to Brazil with a good card, featuring the third bout between Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort. The prelims start at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fight Pass, with some decent prospects trying to establish themselves. The regular prelims will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, while the main card stays on FS1, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. The main event is what should be the final bout between Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort. Henderson took a decision win back in PRIDE, while Vitor knocked out Hendo in the UFC a few years ago. Now, with therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy long gone, both men, who are among the oldest active competitors, will face each other to determine which old man is the best.
Join the Uproxx Sports family for a fun weekend of fights and talk about every punch, kick, submission and slam with us!
