European MMA 2017 Preview: Fights Happening and Fights We Want to See
European MMA 2017 Preview: Fights Happening and Fights We Want to See
Official preview of what is on deck for European MMA in 2017.
What a year of 2016 has been for MMA in Europe.
From Conor McGregor's continued rise, to the first ever all-European UFC title fight of all time and the continued success of promotions such as BAMMA, ACB etc, it's been a year to remember, but 2017 promises a whole lot more.
Here is a rundown of fights both already happening and ones we'd love to see happen in 2017.
Let us know what you think over @Flocombat if you think we've missed anything out.
Fights Already Happening
ACB: Supersonic is set for March 11 at the Manchester Arena and one fight already announced is the main event--a champion versus champion showdown featuring two of Europe's finest.
Venator FC middleweight champion Luke Barnatt is set to take on the KSW middleweight champion, Mamed Khalidov and both fighters are currently on fantastic runs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/LukeBarnatt/status/802197932225294336" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Barnatt has been on a tear since leaving the UFC. He's taken fights in three different promotions, become champion of Italian promotion Venator FC while leaving opponents to waste in BCMMA and RXF.
'Bigslow' is on a roll, but if he's to punch his ticket back into the big time he must overcome the Polish king Mamed Khalidov who is unbeaten since 2010 and has eleven straight wins.
This fight is as big as it comes in Europe so do not miss it.
Mark this one in the calendar because this lightweight bout is one not to miss.
The main event of BAMAM 28 in Belfast, Northern Ireland was officially announced at BAMMA 27 in December and it will take place on February 24 at the SSE Arena.
This is one of the biggest fights to ever land in Dublin, featuring two former UFC fighters who have returned to action since with wins.
Parke defeated Andrew Fisher at ACB: Braveheart in October, while Redmond beat Chris Stringer in similar fashion weeks earlier at BAMMA 26.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BAMMA/status/811656656786313216" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Both men are bigtime players on the 155lbs scene in Europe, but only one can have their hand raised on February 24--there's only one way to find out who it will be.
Brendan Loughnane vs Mike Wilkinson -- ACB: Supersonic
The only thing bigger than the main event of ACB: Supersonic in March is the co-main event--Brendan Loughnane versus Mike Wilkinson.
This is a rematch of their 2012 fight in the UFC where Wilkinson got his had raised with the decision victory. Loughnane never fought in the UFC again, but has since gone unbeaten apart from a sole loss to Tom Duquesnoy that many called controversial.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/MMA_Jim/status/805103327889473537" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Wilkinson himself hasn't enjoyed the best of times since their first showdown having gone 1-3. Both men need a big win on a big stage if they are to remain relevant at 145lbs in Europe and when the two meet in the cage on March 11, they get the opportunity to do just that.
Fights That We Want To See …
Talk of this fight has been rumbling for the past six months, but at least for the minute it doesn't look like happening. As the current holder of the Cage Warriors 145lbs belt, Pimblett is exclusive to the promotion so the only hope of it going ahead is under the Cage Warriors banner.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/784445090156556288" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Loughnane seems adamant not to sign himself away to the promotion so for the minute at least, we must live with the fact that the two best fighters at 145lbs here in the U.K. will not meet in the cage.
Who knows, smarter heads may prevail in 2017--I wouldn't bank on it though. Whatever Cage Warriors do with Paddy next the one thing I know is that we will all be watching.
The first fight between these two at ACB 32 was nothing short of an all-time classic.
It was a five-round war where everything you can possibly imagine happened. Heavy hitting, near submissions, fouls and even a drama filled final ten seconds where a fight changing yellow card was awarded.
It was a breathless twenty-five minutes and a potential second bout between the two could well happen early on in 2017. We will be sure to let you know when it goes down.
Prior to Bellator 169, this isn't a fight you would ever have thought would happen, but now a week on from the event it's a fight that make sense.
Else wasn't even booked on BAMMA 27 one week out from the show, but with fights falling by the wayside his last-minute replacement fight with SBG Ireland's Dylan Tuke got bumped up to the Bellator 169 opening slot.
It took the Englishman just 20-seconds to silence the rampant Dublin crowd when he sent Tuke down hard to the mat following a left and right hook combination.
With Gallagher also dispensing of American Anthony Taylor in the third round of his co-main event fight, It didn't take long for Else to send out the challenge to Gallagher to avenge his teammate's loss.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/811970010998444032" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Ever since the event, Else has been vocal asking for the fight, but the Gallagher camp remains silent. The man from Strabane isn't one to back down from a challenge though the decision may be out of his hands with Bellator seemingly having plans in place for him before he even stepped foot in front of his home fan at Bellator 169.
The likelihood of this one perhaps isn't that strong, a nice alternative for Else could be a fight with Alan Philpott at bantamweight.
If Saul Rogers is to ever make his way back to the UFC, he needs to prove he's the best lightweight in Europe.
No better way to do that would be to take out the ACB lightweight champion Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov who is unbeaten since 2011, on a winning streak of 13 and widely regarded as one of the best lightweights fighting outside of the UFC right now.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Saul_Rogers/status/791961249944772609" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Rogers is expected to be in action early on in January under the Absolute Championship Berkut banner. Should he win, it could well set up this fight for March 11 in Manchester, England at ACB: Supersonic.
Watch this space.
From Conor McGregor's continued rise, to the first ever all-European UFC title fight of all time and the continued success of promotions such as BAMMA, ACB etc, it's been a year to remember, but 2017 promises a whole lot more.
Here is a rundown of fights both already happening and ones we'd love to see happen in 2017.
Let us know what you think over @Flocombat if you think we've missed anything out.
Fights Already Happening
Luke Barnatt vs Mamed Khalidov -- ACB: Supersonic
ACB: Supersonic is set for March 11 at the Manchester Arena and one fight already announced is the main event--a champion versus champion showdown featuring two of Europe's finest.
Venator FC middleweight champion Luke Barnatt is set to take on the KSW middleweight champion, Mamed Khalidov and both fighters are currently on fantastic runs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/LukeBarnatt/status/802197932225294336" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Barnatt has been on a tear since leaving the UFC. He's taken fights in three different promotions, become champion of Italian promotion Venator FC while leaving opponents to waste in BCMMA and RXF.
'Bigslow' is on a roll, but if he's to punch his ticket back into the big time he must overcome the Polish king Mamed Khalidov who is unbeaten since 2010 and has eleven straight wins.
This fight is as big as it comes in Europe so do not miss it.
Paul Redmond vs Norman Parke -- BAMMA 28
Mark this one in the calendar because this lightweight bout is one not to miss.
The main event of BAMAM 28 in Belfast, Northern Ireland was officially announced at BAMMA 27 in December and it will take place on February 24 at the SSE Arena.
This is one of the biggest fights to ever land in Dublin, featuring two former UFC fighters who have returned to action since with wins.
Parke defeated Andrew Fisher at ACB: Braveheart in October, while Redmond beat Chris Stringer in similar fashion weeks earlier at BAMMA 26.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BAMMA/status/811656656786313216" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Both men are bigtime players on the 155lbs scene in Europe, but only one can have their hand raised on February 24--there's only one way to find out who it will be.
Brendan Loughnane vs Mike Wilkinson -- ACB: Supersonic
The only thing bigger than the main event of ACB: Supersonic in March is the co-main event--Brendan Loughnane versus Mike Wilkinson.This is a rematch of their 2012 fight in the UFC where Wilkinson got his had raised with the decision victory. Loughnane never fought in the UFC again, but has since gone unbeaten apart from a sole loss to Tom Duquesnoy that many called controversial.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/MMA_Jim/status/805103327889473537" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Wilkinson himself hasn't enjoyed the best of times since their first showdown having gone 1-3. Both men need a big win on a big stage if they are to remain relevant at 145lbs in Europe and when the two meet in the cage on March 11, they get the opportunity to do just that.
Fights That We Want To See …
Paddy Pimblett vs Brendan Loughnane
Talk of this fight has been rumbling for the past six months, but at least for the minute it doesn't look like happening. As the current holder of the Cage Warriors 145lbs belt, Pimblett is exclusive to the promotion so the only hope of it going ahead is under the Cage Warriors banner.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/784445090156556288" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Loughnane seems adamant not to sign himself away to the promotion so for the minute at least, we must live with the fact that the two best fighters at 145lbs here in the U.K. will not meet in the cage.
Who knows, smarter heads may prevail in 2017--I wouldn't bank on it though. Whatever Cage Warriors do with Paddy next the one thing I know is that we will all be watching.
Petr Yan vs Magomed Magomedov II
The first fight between these two at ACB 32 was nothing short of an all-time classic.
It was a five-round war where everything you can possibly imagine happened. Heavy hitting, near submissions, fouls and even a drama filled final ten seconds where a fight changing yellow card was awarded.
It was a breathless twenty-five minutes and a potential second bout between the two could well happen early on in 2017. We will be sure to let you know when it goes down.
James Gallagher vs. Cameron Else
Prior to Bellator 169, this isn't a fight you would ever have thought would happen, but now a week on from the event it's a fight that make sense.
Else wasn't even booked on BAMMA 27 one week out from the show, but with fights falling by the wayside his last-minute replacement fight with SBG Ireland's Dylan Tuke got bumped up to the Bellator 169 opening slot.
It took the Englishman just 20-seconds to silence the rampant Dublin crowd when he sent Tuke down hard to the mat following a left and right hook combination.
With Gallagher also dispensing of American Anthony Taylor in the third round of his co-main event fight, It didn't take long for Else to send out the challenge to Gallagher to avenge his teammate's loss.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/811970010998444032" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Ever since the event, Else has been vocal asking for the fight, but the Gallagher camp remains silent. The man from Strabane isn't one to back down from a challenge though the decision may be out of his hands with Bellator seemingly having plans in place for him before he even stepped foot in front of his home fan at Bellator 169.
The likelihood of this one perhaps isn't that strong, a nice alternative for Else could be a fight with Alan Philpott at bantamweight.
Saul Rogers vs Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov
If Saul Rogers is to ever make his way back to the UFC, he needs to prove he's the best lightweight in Europe.
No better way to do that would be to take out the ACB lightweight champion Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov who is unbeaten since 2011, on a winning streak of 13 and widely regarded as one of the best lightweights fighting outside of the UFC right now.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Saul_Rogers/status/791961249944772609" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Rogers is expected to be in action early on in January under the Absolute Championship Berkut banner. Should he win, it could well set up this fight for March 11 in Manchester, England at ACB: Supersonic.
Watch this space.