5 Reasons To Watch Bellator 46

On June 25, 2011, upstart promotion Bellator FC will holds its forty-sixth event, featuring their return to the MTV2 network and the start of their “Summer Series”. The “Summer Series” centers around an eight-man Featherweight tournament with some of Bellator’s biggest names and some of its hottest prospects. The first round gets underway at Bellator 46, but still, some fans may be asking themselves: what are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: 5 reasons to watch Bellator 46.

5. To see if Nazareno Malegarie can reclaim his status as a can’t-miss prospect.

For the first round of his three-round war against Daniel Straus, Nazareno Malegarie looked every bit the unstoppable can’t-miss prospect that a record of 19-0 entails. Malegarie’s cardio wavered a bit in the later rounds, but he did look very good for most of his Bellator debut, and he did lose to an eventual tournament finalist. At Bellator 46, Malegarie gets to try it all again and assert himself in Bellator’s crowded Featherweight division. Seeing him try to do so should make for one of the night’s most entertaining fights.

4. The return of Ronnie Mann.

Ronnie Mann is riding a pretty big wave of momentum heading into Bellator 46. Mann is a veteran of over twenty fights and has lost only twice. He’s had successful runs in the Sengoku and Cage Rage promotions, and he looks poised to take Bellator by storm. If he wins his fight at Bellator 46, and I have a strong feeling that he will, Mann will emerge as one of the favorites to win the entire tournament.

3. The return of Bellator in general.

I kid you not, fans and friends: this time last year, I had very little idea of what Bellator was. In fact, I remember talking to a patron about MMA at the job I worked at, and when he mentioned Bellator, I could only shrug and admit that I had heard of it but didn’t feel any great need to watch it. Flash forward to the current day, and I honestly think Bellator is one of the best promotions in the world. And now that they’ve taken a small hiatus, I realize how much I’ve missed Bellator. Simply getting to see Bellator return is a big reason to watch this event.

2. The Bellator debut of Marlon Sandro.

Much like Ronnie Mann, Marlon Sandro is also riding a wave of momentum thanks in part to his efforts in the Japanese Sengoku organization. In fact, Sandro is a former Sengoku Featherweight Champion. Also like Ronnie Mann, Sandro has only lost twice in his career. Sandro is facing a tough opponent, but if he wins he’s also going to become one of the early favorites to make a deep run in this “Summer Series” Featherweight Tournament.

And the number-one reason to watch Bellator 46 is…

1. The return of Pat Curran.

Pat Curran is the favorite to win this tournament before a single fight has even taken place. I say that with full confidence, and honestly, how can you not? Curran went undefeated in Bellator before eventually losing to Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez. He beat Toby Imada and Roger Huerta, two of the best Lightweights Bellator had to offer. Only the best beat Pat Curran, and unless the cut to Featherweight results in a completely different fighter, Curran should dominate at Bellator 46 and it should be a great fight.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see Bellator 46.