Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event. Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring Bellator 45.
The Event: Bellator 45, currently scheduled for May 21, 2011 at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The main card is set to be televised live on the MTV2 network starting at 9:00 PM ET.
Why You Should Care: The event features not one but two Bellator Season Four Tournament Finals, the two remaining finals of Bellator’s fourth season. When the dust settles, we’ll have finally found all four of the next challengers to Bellator’s reigning kings, all of which are formidable fighters. For the Light Heavyweights, heavy-handed Christian M’Pumbu faces the man who gave Bellator its second Inverted Triangle, Richard Hale. Since Bellator has no Light Heavyweight Champion, the two will be competing for the inaugural 205 belt. For the Featherweights, knockout artist Patricio Freire will take on the “dark horse” of Season Four, the hard-working and incredibly tough Daniel Straus.
What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: At first glance, Christian M’Pumbu is a strange fighter to most people. He considers cutting weight a strange idea, and he doesn’t see backing away constantly in order to fully gauge an opponent a sign of weakness. But M’Pumbu has something that all MMA fans can respect: one-hit knockout power. Meanwhile, Richard Hale is unbeaten in his last four fights with three stoppages, including the now-famous Inverted Triangle on Nike Fekete in the Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals. There are so many ways this fight could turn out that we’re almost guaranteed a good fight so long as both men actively look for the finish.
What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: I can’t say enough good things about Daniel Straus, I really can’t. His work ethic and humility is incredibly refreshing. He was the tournament’s “dark horse”, and yet through sheer determination, preparation, and willpower he has fully earned his shot in the finals. Meanwhile, Freire has earned his shot in a much more simpler fashion: whoever faces him gets KTFO’d. I think Freire can be beat and can wilt under Straus’ unrelenting pace, but Freire hits so hard that I think Straus could go out if he gets caught solidly. I’ll be on the edge of my seat for this one, and it should be an amazing fight.
Why You Should Watch This Card: If you’re like me and came into Bellator thanks to their partnership with MTV2, this event has got to be mandatory viewing. In one single season, I’ve gone from having only the faintest clue what Bellator is and who fights in it… to doing my absolute best to not miss a single show. Sometimes the shows were underwhelming, sometimes the fights ended controversially or didn’t live up to their potential or were even boring. But that’s the nature of the fight game. If you’re a Bellator fan, you owe it to yourself to see the official end of Season Four. Period.
Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: The only reason I see to not watch this Bellator event is if you have no interest in Bellator whatsoever. And even so, this is just the kind of event that seems tailor-made to appeal to a large majority of people. It’s two great fights featuring four great fighters, and I think we’ll be in for a real treat with this show. I encourage you not to miss it, fans and friends.
Closing Thoughts: I honestly feel a little weird knowing that Bellator’s Season Four is about to come to a close. The last time a promotion grew on me this quickly was the WEC, which I considered one of the greatest and most under-rated fighting promotions of all time. I know Bellator isn’t for everyone, and I can respect that. But me, personally? I have to say, fans and friends… even though they’ll be back on in a month, I’m going to miss me some Bellator.
And what about you, fans and friends? Anybody out there looking forward to Bellator 45?
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Comments
Hi, Oliver. With regard to: “Christian M’Pumbu is a strange fighter to most people. He considers cutting weight a strange idea, and he doesn’t see backing away constantly in order to fully gauge an opponent a sign of weakness.”
When I read that the other day I knew I’d have to watch this Bellator. How could I not watch a fighter who fights at his own walk around weight (like fighters all should) and who fights for his height instead of for points. Taller fighters are supposed to keep shorter fighters out of range which means either retreating or kicking the knee to keep the short person from closing.
So based on your excellent convincing, I just finished watching this week’s Bellator. The first thing I noticed is they tuned down the music and screaming, and I could hear what the announcers were saying (big plus).
The first two out of three fights were rather distressingly uninteresting to watch. In the first match I HATED Smiling Sam as a fighter (no opinion as a human). I was very sad to see the judges give him the win, though I understood it as his opponent lost all his aggression the second two fights (not that Sam had any aggression).
The second fight was torture. I almost didn’t make it to the third fight, but I’m so glad I did.
You’re so right about M’Pumbu. I very much respect the guy coming in at 199 1/2 pounds to fight the 230/240 pound opponent. And his fighting style was something I spent the first two rounds trying to place. It had elements of fencing (he blocks with his forearms but from all angles as if he were weilding his forearms like blades), and he attacks from all angles. And he fights for his height. He’s not an idiot who stands and trades blows, particularly against a shorter opponent.
Side note, if I had to hear the stupid announcer complain one more time about M’Pumbu not attacking enough and not counter punching enough I was about to book a plane and punch the announcer myself for his stupidity. That announcer has no business commenting on a fight since he clearly has no knowledge about tactics and martial arts. Has he ever even been in a real fight? M’Pumbu’s style is one useful for real fights. The announcer doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Anyway, by the end of the second round I’d finally placed where I’d seen his fighting style before. It’s my girlfriend’s fighting style exactly *laughs*. It’s a style I like very much and similar to my own, except mine’s more sideways and right handed. I block in a fashion very similar to M’Pumbu, too (being trained first in fencing before open hands).
Anyway, the final verdict on this Bellator was it was definitely worth watching for the M’Pumbu fight, though the commentator needs to take a long walk on a short pier.