So at this point the FW division is all Bellator has left. It is the best division outside the UFC, and has tons of potential. A great mix of top level guys, mid level guys and prospects. So let's play match maker in the Bellator FW division.
Top Level: Pitbull (C), Curran, Straus
Just below: Frodo, Georgi, Weichel (Tourney champ with owed title shot)
Mid level: Guerreiro, Wilcox, Nunes, Sandro
Top Prospects: Bubba, Goiti, Caldwell, Neves, Teixeira
Other interesting fighters: Cleve, Besette, Will Martinez Jr, Poppies
BW that could/should move up to FW: Emerson, Galvao
1) Pitbull (C) vs. Weichel. Get this title fight out of the way. I actually think Weichel has a decent shot but Pitbull should win this.
2) Curran vs. Pitbull/Weichel (C) Winner.
3) Straus vs. Georgi. Should be a fun fight. Throw Georgi right into the fire. Keeps Straus busy while the above title fights are taking place.
4) Besette vs. Nunes 2. A lot of fans thought Diego won the first fight so give him a rematch. Plus the first fight was very exciting.
5) Frodo vs. Ivan Buchinger or Shamalaev in Russia. Who knows if Frodo will ever make it back into the US. His visa issues have gone on for way tooooooo long. He's still listed on the Bellator site and is one of their best fighters. Do a co-promotion with M-1 so he can fight Buchinger (one of my favorite fighters outside Bellator/UFC. His sub game is insane) or they could do their own show and bring back Sham so they could fight. If he does get his visa issue resolved a fight vs. Sandro or Wilcox would be a solid welcome back. With all the time off he should get 1 or 2 fights in before fighting Curran/Pitbull/Straus.
6) Guerreiro vs. Wilcox. Both are solid mid-level guys right now with Guerreiro having a very bright future. Only 24 he has time to grow into the top level category. Both have 2 loses in Bellator they were all against top level comp (Pitbull x2, Frodo and Straus)
7) Goiti vs. Sandro. Veteran vs. up-and-coming future star. Time for Goiti to take a step up and prove his worth against a legit veteran. This also gives Sandro a chance to jump back into the mix.
8) Neves vs. Cleve. Looks like they are taking the slow route with Neves. Cleve is still a solid step up in competition for Neves though.
9) Caldwell/Dizy winner vs. Will Martinez Jr.. I expect Caldwell to beat Dizy. But either way both are 5-0 (6-0 for the winner) and Will Martinez would be a solid step up for the winner.
10) Bubba vs. Emerson or Galvao. Time for Bubba to take a big step up in competition. There is really nothing left for either fighter at 135 and either one could move up to 145 to take this fight.
So those are my 10 fights for the Bellator FW division. Let me know what you think and add your own match making if you'd like. IF WSOF is done as it appears, I would like to see Bellator add Cody Bollinger and keep him at 145 (he really shouldn't be trying to make 135). If the UFC doesn't pick up Glenn then Bellator should be all over him. Lance Palmer would be a solid addition as well.
Top Level: Pitbull (C), Curran, Straus
Just below: Frodo, Georgi, Weichel (Tourney champ with owed title shot)
Mid level: Guerreiro, Wilcox, Nunes, Sandro
Top Prospects: Bubba, Goiti, Caldwell, Neves, Teixeira
Other interesting fighters: Cleve, Besette, Will Martinez Jr, Poppies
BW that could/should move up to FW: Emerson, Galvao
1) Pitbull (C) vs. Weichel. Get this title fight out of the way. I actually think Weichel has a decent shot but Pitbull should win this.
2) Curran vs. Pitbull/Weichel (C) Winner.
3) Straus vs. Georgi. Should be a fun fight. Throw Georgi right into the fire. Keeps Straus busy while the above title fights are taking place.
4) Besette vs. Nunes 2. A lot of fans thought Diego won the first fight so give him a rematch. Plus the first fight was very exciting.
5) Frodo vs. Ivan Buchinger or Shamalaev in Russia. Who knows if Frodo will ever make it back into the US. His visa issues have gone on for way tooooooo long. He's still listed on the Bellator site and is one of their best fighters. Do a co-promotion with M-1 so he can fight Buchinger (one of my favorite fighters outside Bellator/UFC. His sub game is insane) or they could do their own show and bring back Sham so they could fight. If he does get his visa issue resolved a fight vs. Sandro or Wilcox would be a solid welcome back. With all the time off he should get 1 or 2 fights in before fighting Curran/Pitbull/Straus.
6) Guerreiro vs. Wilcox. Both are solid mid-level guys right now with Guerreiro having a very bright future. Only 24 he has time to grow into the top level category. Both have 2 loses in Bellator they were all against top level comp (Pitbull x2, Frodo and Straus)
7) Goiti vs. Sandro. Veteran vs. up-and-coming future star. Time for Goiti to take a step up and prove his worth against a legit veteran. This also gives Sandro a chance to jump back into the mix.
8) Neves vs. Cleve. Looks like they are taking the slow route with Neves. Cleve is still a solid step up in competition for Neves though.
9) Caldwell/Dizy winner vs. Will Martinez Jr.. I expect Caldwell to beat Dizy. But either way both are 5-0 (6-0 for the winner) and Will Martinez would be a solid step up for the winner.
10) Bubba vs. Emerson or Galvao. Time for Bubba to take a big step up in competition. There is really nothing left for either fighter at 135 and either one could move up to 145 to take this fight.
So those are my 10 fights for the Bellator FW division. Let me know what you think and add your own match making if you'd like. IF WSOF is done as it appears, I would like to see Bellator add Cody Bollinger and keep him at 145 (he really shouldn't be trying to make 135). If the UFC doesn't pick up Glenn then Bellator should be all over him. Lance Palmer would be a solid addition as well.
