MMA Fights To Look Forward To In October 2017

MMA Fights To Look Forward To In October 2017
September 30, 2017
By Ryan Porzl

Note that at the time I release these, the full card of certain events have not been released so there may be other fights I would recommend but aren't announced until after I complete this. Also, card subject to change.



Will Brooks vs. Nik Lentz (UFC 216, 10/7/17)- Brooks is currently riding a two fight losing streak with his recent loss being to Charles Oliveira by submission at UFC 210 back on April 8th. Lentz is coming off a loss to Islam Makhachev by unanimous decision at UFC 208 on February 11th. This is likely do or die for Brooks. After having dominated in Bellator, left while still the champion, and win his debut, Brooks has been in a slump as he's currently in the first losing streak of his career. The UFC had to have had big expectations on Brooks giving his success in Bellator and can't be happy with his recent performances. Should Brooks lose again, it would be three in a row which results in most fighters getting cut from an organization. Worse of all, the UFC could view Brooks as a failed experiment. For Lentz, this would be one of, if not, his biggest win of his career or at least his biggest win in a long time despite Brooks' recent slump.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Derrick Lewis (UFC 216, 10/7/17)- Werdum is coming off a loss to Alistair Overeem by majority decision at UFC 213 on July 8th. Lewis is coming off a loss to Mark Hunt by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt on June 11th. At 40 years old with fifteen years of fighting, Werdum is nearing the end of his career and like many in position wants one more run before hanging it up but to do that, he can't afford another loss. Even worse is that Werdum has never gone on a losing streak before so if he loses here then it will be his first which can have many questioning his future especially with his age and mileage. Lewis has been considered one of the UFC's top prospects at Heavyweight especially after racking up a six fight win streak over the likes of former M-1 Heavyweight Champion Damien Grabowski, former UFC Title contender Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson, and Travis Browne before suffering the upset loss to Mark Hunt. The loss along with injuries resulted in Lewis contemplating retirement though he later changed his mind. Now back, Lewis has an incredible opportunity. Should he win, he would score the biggest win of his career by far and would all but guarantee him a title eliminator fight in his next fight. A loss would also result in the first losing streak of his career and have people questioning if Lewis will take that next step.

Lyoto Machida vs. Derek Brunson (UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Brunson, 10/28/17)- This is Machida's return fight after a suspension due to a failed test and a two year absence. Machida is currently riding a two fight losing streak with his most recent loss being to Yoel Romero by KO at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero on June 27, 2015. Brunson is coming off a win over Dan Kelly by KO at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt on June 11th which snapped a two fight losing streak. Well, where do I begin with Machida? The MMA legend and former Light Heavyweight Champion was once one of the best fighters in the world but things have never been so bad for him. Along with his current losing streak, Machida is also coming off a long lay off due to drug test failure which has hurt his reputation, and his two losses to Rockhold & Romero were crushing. With these factors as well as the fact that he's nearly 40 years old, it's clear that Machida's best days are likely done but an impressive win could prove he still has some gas left in his tank while a loss could mean that his career could be done. Despite Machida's absence and age, a win would be the biggest of Brunson's career to date. A loss would sting very bad especially since he's already lost earlier this year to Machida's team mate and friend Anderson Silva this year in close fashion as well as to Robert Whittaker so the last thing he needs is to lose to another big name when he's trying to move up the ladder. He won't be given many opportunities against big name fighters if he keeps coming up short.

Eduardo Dantas vs. Darrion Caldwell (Bellator 184, 10/6/17)- For the Bellator Bantamweight Championship. This fight was originally set for Bellator 177 back on April 14th. Dantas is currently riding a four fight winning streak with his recent win being over Leandro Higo by split decision at Bellator 177 on April 14th. Caldwell is coming off a win over Joe Taimanglo by unanimous decision at Bellator 167 on December 3rd which was a bounce back from a loss to Taimanglo which was the first loss of his career. A lot is on the line here with one being the Bantamweight Championship which is a big honor but it's bigger as Dantas is the defending champion and would love to remain champion while this is Caldwell's first title shot and could lead to his first title win of his MMA career. A win for Dantas could likely mean he could potentially mean that he'll be on top for a long time having already got wins over Joe Warren, two over Marcos Galvao, and Higo. Caldwell has been considered one of Bellator's biggest prospects since signing in 2014 and a win would not only give Caldwell his first championship but prove he's been worthy of the hype. Also, like Dantas, Caldwell could also rule for a long time if he wins here.

Daniel Straus vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (Bellator 184, 10/6/17)- Straus is coming off a title loss to Patricio Freire by submission at Bellator 178 on April 21st. Sanchez is currently riding a two fight win streak with his recent win being over Marcos Galvao by unanimous decision at Bellator 175 on March 31st. This is old guard vs. new blood with Straus being a former two time champion, a former tournament winner, and one of Bellator's most decorated featherweights while Sanchez is one of Bellator's featherweight prospects. Straus is coming off a title loss and a win over Sanchez would get him back on track and possibly the title mix especially if Freire loses the title to Daniel Weichel in November. A loss would be a big set back for Straus as this would send him further down the ladder and given he's already coming off a title loss and missed all of 2016 due to a hand injury as well as mileage would have people question if time has passed Straus by and his days as a top Bellator featherweight are over. Though Sanchez is coming off wins over Galvao and Georgi Karakhanyan, a win over Straus would be the biggest win of his career to date and would be almost guaranteed a title eliminator fight in his next fight while the win would also break him out. A loss would hurt as it snaps his win streak and having already suffered decision losses to Pat Curran and Weichel, it looks like a loss to Straus would be another case of Sanchez being so close and being so far while again coming up short in breaking the glass ceiling.

Pat Curran vs. John Teixeira (Bellator 184, 10/6/17)- This fight was originally set for Bellator 167 back on December 3rd. Curran is currently riding a two fight win streak with his recent win being over Georgi Karakhanyan by unanimous decision at Bellator 155 on May 20, 2016. Teixeira is coming off a loss to Daniel Weichel by split decision  at Bellator 177 on April 14th which snapped a ten fight unbeaten streak (nine wins, one draw). Curran has been one of Bellator, if not, MMA's all time greats in Featherweight but has been struggling with injuries that have kept him out for a long time. Despite being on a win streak, Curran still needs a good win here to prove he's still a threat in the division. A win, especially a decisive one since Teixeira's two losses are split decisions, would prove Curran is back and a force to be reckoned with while a loss can have some thinking the injuries and the mileage have caught up with him and that his best days are behind him. Teixeira has been one of Bellator's up and comers but suffering that close loss to Weichel has set him back a bit. A win over Curran would get him right back on track and could potentially see him get a title eliminator fight next time. A win would also allow him to break the glass ceiling as it gets him a top name on his resume. A loss would be his first losing streak and set him back even further.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Alexander Shlemenko (Bellator 185, 10/20/17)- This is Mousasi's Bellator debut. Mousasi is currently riding a five fight win streak with his recent win being over Chris Weidman by TKO at UFC 210 on April 8th. Shlemenko is unbeaten in seven fights (six wins, one no contest) with his recent fight being a win over Brandon Halsey by submission at M-1 Challenge 79 on June 1st. Given where both men are, this is likely a title eliminator fight as the winner is all but confirmed to challenge the winner of the Rafael Carvalho/Alessio Sakara title fight in December. Mousasi is coming in a lot of hype and a successful UFC run. Not to mention everybody would love to make a great first impression. The last thing Mousasi wants is to come in the way he is and stumble out in his debut fight. However, an impressive win over a former Bellator Middleweight Champion would not only be a perfect way to debut but punch his ticket to a title shot in 2018. For Shlemenko, this is one of the biggest fights of his career. Given he's one of Bellator's biggest "creations", a legend as far as in the promotion, and one of the people who have been there since the beginning while helping to build it, he doesn't want to be seen as nothing more than a welcome mat for Mousasi. On the other hand, a win would probably be his biggest to date and get his name out there to the casuals who probably don't know him given Mousasi is considered a top ten Middleweight and left the UFC on a high note & on his terms. Like Mousasi, Shlemenko would also position himself as number one contender and get another attempt at the belt he held years ago in 2018. This fight is also recommended as it should be exciting with both men not afraid to go for finishers and can be considered a "dream fight".

King Mo Lawal vs. Liam McGeary (Bellator 185, 10/20/17)- Lawal is coming off a win over Rampage Jackson by unanimous decision at Bellator 175 back on March 31st. McGeary is coming off a loss to Linton Vassell by submission at Bellator 179 back on May 19th. Despite McGeary's recent setback, a win over him would do Lawal a world of good especially if he intends to return to Light Heavyweight. Lawal hasn't fought in Light Heavyweight in over a year since his loss to Phil Davis so a win over McGeary gets him back in the swing of things in Light Heavyweight. McGeary needs a win as he's been yo-yoing in his last three fights after previously winning the Light Heavyweight Championship and the 2014 Summer Series Tournament with a title loss to Phil Davis, a bounce back over Brett McDermott, and his recent loss to Linton Vassell. McGeary needs a good win to prove he's still a force to be reckoned with and not a fighter who only had fifteen minutes of fame. A loss would result in the first losing streak of his career and can lead to Bellator officials losing confidence in him.