5 Fights Outside The UFC To Watch In May
5 Fights Outside The UFC To Watch In May
FloCombat writer James Lynch provides a list of must watch fights outside of the UFC for the month of May.
It's officially May, and the stacked UFC 211 fight card draws ever closer. As we anticipate that May 13 mega show, it's easy to forget how many phenomenal matchups are happening this month and here at FloCombat we've got you covered.
Here are five fights in May outside the UFC that you don't want to miss.
In a matchup that could produce the next Bellator welterweight title challenger, former UFC contender MacDonald makes his Bellator debut in the main event against Paul Daley.
MacDonald finds himself in unfamiliar territory, as the 27-year-old fighter heads into his promotional debut off two-straight losses for the first time in his career. "Red King" holds wins over current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and top contender Demian Maia. Daley, meanwhile, is coming off a highlight-reel flying knee knockout win over Brennan Ward at Bellator 170 and has won six of his last seven fights—five coming via KO/TKO.
The pressure is on MacDonald to not only perform well—being one of Bellator's biggest free agent signings—but if the promotion ever ventures into the Canadian market again, the Tristar product would be a huge selling point for fans in the "Great White North." For Daley, a win would open a fast track to a title shot while a loss would undoubtedly set him back in one of the promotion's deepest divisions.
Undefeated Titan FC flyweight champion Torres looks to make history as he aims to be the first two-division champion in the promotion's history when he takes on current 135-pound titleholder Sharipov.
Torres is coming off the biggest win of his career in his last fight, stopping UFC veteran Pedro Nobre in under two minutes at Titan FC 43 back in January. The 24-year-old scrapper is one of TJ Dillashaw's main training partners at Elevation Fight Team and has won three of his four career fights by stoppage. Sharipov has won three of his last four fights, including a unanimous decision victory over Andrew Whitney at Titan FC 42 to capture the vacant title which was left by Brett Johns when he signed with the UFC.
Should Torres improve to 5-0, it's possible we could see the Chicago native in the UFC very soon.
Tumenov makes his ACB debut against The Ultimate Fighter Season 21 competitor Alfaya in a welterweight affair. "Einstein" heads into this matchup off back-to-back submission losses to Gunnar Nelson and Leon Edwards. Prior to those setbacks, the 25-year-old was on a five-fight winning streak, including a split-decision victory over current Bellator title challenger Lorenz Larkin at UFC 195.
Alfaya is a 37-year-old veteran who competed against the likes of Jake Ellenberger, Jon Fitch and current Titan FC welterweight champion Jason Jackson.
Coming off back-to-back victories, the Brazilian looks for his first three-fight win streak since 2009.
Askren makes his highly anticipated return to the cage when he takes on 21-year-old Malaysian prospect Thangalapani. The former Bellator and current ONE welterweight champion has won all 15 of his professional fights and hasn't faced a fellow undefeated fighter since he took on Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 97.
Thangalapani has fought all of his matchups under the ONE banner and has finished all of his opponents. The Monarchy MMA fighter made his professional MMA debut in March of 2015 and has only been to the second round twice in his career.
The "Funky" one's return bout will also mark the debut of ONE Championship streaming live in North America right here on FloCombat.
The UFC veteran Parke takes on undefeated KSW lightweight champion Gamrot May 29 at KSW 39: Colosseum. The 29-year-old former TUF winner has won back-to-back fights since his UFC release last year, taking out Andrew Fischer and fellow UFC vet Paul Redmond at BAMMA 28 in his last fight. Parke looks for his first three-fight winning streak since 2013.
Gamrot competes for the first time this year and has won seven of his 12 career matchups by finish. This isn't the first time the 26-year-old has faced a former UFC fighter, as he took out Andre Winner by unanimous decision back at KSW 24 in 2013.
Here are five fights in May outside the UFC that you don't want to miss.
Rory MacDonald (18-4) vs. Paul Daley (39-14-2) -- Bellator 179, May 19
In a matchup that could produce the next Bellator welterweight title challenger, former UFC contender MacDonald makes his Bellator debut in the main event against Paul Daley.
MacDonald finds himself in unfamiliar territory, as the 27-year-old fighter heads into his promotional debut off two-straight losses for the first time in his career. "Red King" holds wins over current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and top contender Demian Maia. Daley, meanwhile, is coming off a highlight-reel flying knee knockout win over Brennan Ward at Bellator 170 and has won six of his last seven fights—five coming via KO/TKO.
The pressure is on MacDonald to not only perform well—being one of Bellator's biggest free agent signings—but if the promotion ever ventures into the Canadian market again, the Tristar product would be a huge selling point for fans in the "Great White North." For Daley, a win would open a fast track to a title shot while a loss would undoubtedly set him back in one of the promotion's deepest divisions.
Farkhad Sharipov (17-7) vs. Jose Torres (4-0) -- Bantamweight championship -- Titan FC 44, May 19
Undefeated Titan FC flyweight champion Torres looks to make history as he aims to be the first two-division champion in the promotion's history when he takes on current 135-pound titleholder Sharipov.
Torres is coming off the biggest win of his career in his last fight, stopping UFC veteran Pedro Nobre in under two minutes at Titan FC 43 back in January. The 24-year-old scrapper is one of TJ Dillashaw's main training partners at Elevation Fight Team and has won three of his four career fights by stoppage. Sharipov has won three of his last four fights, including a unanimous decision victory over Andrew Whitney at Titan FC 42 to capture the vacant title which was left by Brett Johns when he signed with the UFC.
Should Torres improve to 5-0, it's possible we could see the Chicago native in the UFC very soon.
Albert Tumenov (18-4) vs. Marcelo Alfaya (18-7) - ACB 61: Balaev vs. Bataev, May 20
Tumenov makes his ACB debut against The Ultimate Fighter Season 21 competitor Alfaya in a welterweight affair. "Einstein" heads into this matchup off back-to-back submission losses to Gunnar Nelson and Leon Edwards. Prior to those setbacks, the 25-year-old was on a five-fight winning streak, including a split-decision victory over current Bellator title challenger Lorenz Larkin at UFC 195.
Alfaya is a 37-year-old veteran who competed against the likes of Jake Ellenberger, Jon Fitch and current Titan FC welterweight champion Jason Jackson.
Coming off back-to-back victories, the Brazilian looks for his first three-fight win streak since 2009.
Ben Askren (15-0) vs. Agilan Thangalapani (6-0) -- Welterweight championship -- ONE: Dynasty of Heroes, May 26
Askren makes his highly anticipated return to the cage when he takes on 21-year-old Malaysian prospect Thangalapani. The former Bellator and current ONE welterweight champion has won all 15 of his professional fights and hasn't faced a fellow undefeated fighter since he took on Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 97.
Thangalapani has fought all of his matchups under the ONE banner and has finished all of his opponents. The Monarchy MMA fighter made his professional MMA debut in March of 2015 and has only been to the second round twice in his career.
The "Funky" one's return bout will also mark the debut of ONE Championship streaming live in North America right here on FloCombat.
Norman Parke (23-5-1) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (12-0) -- KSW 39: Colosseum, May 29
The UFC veteran Parke takes on undefeated KSW lightweight champion Gamrot May 29 at KSW 39: Colosseum. The 29-year-old former TUF winner has won back-to-back fights since his UFC release last year, taking out Andrew Fischer and fellow UFC vet Paul Redmond at BAMMA 28 in his last fight. Parke looks for his first three-fight winning streak since 2013.
Gamrot competes for the first time this year and has won seven of his 12 career matchups by finish. This isn't the first time the 26-year-old has faced a former UFC fighter, as he took out Andre Winner by unanimous decision back at KSW 24 in 2013.