By Hunter Homistek
 
Streaming LIVE on FloCombat, Next Level Fight Club 5 will take over the Raleigh Convention Center on Saturday, May 21.

Quickly becoming North Carolina's premier MMA promotion, Next Level Fight Club has gained a reputation for putting on high-energy, exciting fights since its inaugural event in February 2015.

Here's why you'll want to log into your FloPro account to pull up the promotion's next effort Saturday.

1. Keith Bell

Why is a 7-8-1 fighter the No. 1 reason to watch Next Level Fight Club 5? Because, ladies and gentlemen, Bell is a regional MMA hero. He's the heavyweight we need, and, arguably, the one we deserve.

At 6-3 and 260 pounds, Bell is massive and undeniably powerful. Bell's willingness to take two shots to deliver one is Diego Sanchez-esque. He has never fought to the final bell in his 21-fight combined professional/amateur career. His "finish or be finished" attitude makes him one of the most exciting fighters on the regional circuit (and beyond), and I get the feeling his main event opposite Allen Crowder isn't going to the judges' scorecards, either.

2. Speaking of Allen Crowder…

Standing 6-2 and weighing 250 pounds, Crowder is virtually identical to Bell in terms of physical stature and nearly his equal on the entertainment scale.

In 16 combined professional and amateur bouts, Crowder's been to a decision just twice. His most recent bout at Next Level Fight Club 4 against Lorenzo Hood ended disappointingly as a no-contest, so expect him to be motivated to showcase his skills and get back on the winning track. It's all but guaranteed somebody is going down in this one—don't miss it!

3. Michael Darcy

We all love a nice underdog story, and perhaps no fighter on earth is more of an underdog than Darcy. His 2-20 record spans back to June 2008, but that doesn't really tell the story.

In 2008 and 2009, Darcy fought 20 times—nearly one fight per month for two years. That's remarkable. Granted, he only won two of those bouts, but his sheer activity is a thing of wonder. Saturday at Next Level Fight Club 5, Darcy will look to notch his third victory as a professional. He'll face Daniel Branch, a man who lost his professional debut in June 2014 at The Rock at the Dock 8 via decision.

Somebody's fate is going to change. Or maybe they'll fight to a draw. That's why we watch.

Log into your FloPro account Saturday to see what happens.