It’s an MMA fan’s utopia. The game’s three biggest promotions will be hosting live events on the same day, at the same time.
One will be a pay-per-view broadcast, while the other two are of the $FREE.99 variety.
Although”UFC 180: Werdum vs. Hunt” costs $54.95, it contains the most significant scrap of all the events with an interim heavyweight title tilt between Fabricio Werdum (pictured) and Mark Hunt. “Bellator: Ortiz vs. Bonnar” features a guilty pleasure grudge match between UFC Hall of Famers Tito Ortiz and Stephan Bonnar.
“World Series of Fighting 15: Branch vs. Okami” will likely serve as Plan C for most despite the fact three titles will be on the line.
How is a fan to choose?
Well, DVR is the easy answer. But which show will be watched live?
Is seeing if Hunt can become a champion at the tender age of 40 worth your $55? The rest of the main card is decent, but certainly isn’t box office.
Bellator did a solid job of stacking their main card, which airs on Spike TV.
Here is what’s on deck this Saturday (A big BOO to the UFC and WSOF for not having their official lineups set four days before showtime):
UFC 180:
Preliminary Card:
(Fox Sports 1 8PM ET/5PM PT)
Gabriel Benitez vs. Humberto Brown
Marco Beltran vs. Marlon Vera
Henry Briones vs. Guido Cannetti
Jessica Eye vs. Leslie Smith
Alejandro Perez vs. Jose Quinonez – “TUF: Latin America” bantamweight final
Main Card:
(Pay-Per-View 10PM ET/7PM PT)
Edgar Garcia vs. Hector Urbina
Chris Heatherly vs. Augusto Montano
Ricardo Lamas vs. Dennis Bermudez
Jake Ellenberger vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Fabricio Werdum vs. Mark Hunt (for UFC heavyweight interim title)
Bellator 131:
Preliminary Card:
(5thRound.com 7PM ET/4PM PT)
Ian Butler vs. Joao Faria
Rolando Perez vs. Mark Vorgeas
Andy Murad vs. Bubba Pugh
Matt Ramirez vs. Nick Garcia
Jordan Bailey vs. Alex Higley
Ron Henderson vs. Jonathan Santa Maria
AJ Matthews vs. Kyle Bolt
Main Card:
(Spike TV 9PM ET/PT)
Nam Phan vs. Mike Richman
Melvin Manhoef vs. Joe Schilling
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal vs. Joe Vedepo
Michael Chandler vs. Will Brooks (Bellator interim lightweight champion) (for vacant Bellator lightweight title)
Stephan Bonnar vs. Tito Ortiz
WSOF 15:
Preliminary Card:
(7PM ET/4PM PT)
Hector Ochoa vs. Robert Reed
Frederico Moncaio vs. Tony Way
Ryan Keenan vs. Jose Cortez
Anderson Hutchinson vs. Troy Gerhart
Maurice Salmon vs. David Mundell
Reggie Pena vs. Joe Johnson
Jorge Patino vs. Eric Reynolds
Main Card:
(NBC Sports 9PM ET/6PM PT)
Kalindra Faria vs. Jessica Aguilar (WSOF strawweight champion)
Melvin Guillard vs. Justin Gaethje (WSOF lightweight champion)
Yushin Okami vs. Dave Branch (WSOF middleweight champion)