The Ohio Valley is littered with fighters in the world’s largest organizations, including the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. While we here at BluegrassMMA typically focus on the local scene, we always like to check in with what fighters from the area who have graduated to the next level are up to.
Here’s your big show news roundup for November:
#AndNew
Daniel Straus is the new Bellator featherweight champion, but his unanimous decision victory over Patricio “Pitbull” Freire at Bellator 145 didn’t come without a price. The Cincinnati native broke his hand in one of the worst breaks that many doctors are saying they’ve ever seen.
There’s already talk that his first title defense could come in the form of a fourth matchup against Pitbull, and we’re not going to complain if that happens.
.@DanielStraus vs. @PatricioPitbull 3 was another epic battle! Full fight: https://t.co/3GGr2DeT0v #Bellator145 pic.twitter.com/lFKJPOOZip
— Spike Sports (@SpikeSports) November 9, 2015
Brown and out
Matt Brown has been injured and was forced out of his UFC Fight Night 78 headliner against Kelvin Gastelum. It’s a tough loss for Brown, who injured his ankle in training for the fight. Brown was replaced in the headliner by Neil Magny.
Pulling out of the bout puts Brown in a tough spot. He already was nearing gatekeeper status with a bout against a guy who needs to be tested like Gastelum, but now other, younger fighters will have an opportunity to pass him in the pecking order in a very deep 170-pound division.
Stipe getting some fans
Stipe Miocic was also forced to withdraw from his last bout, but he’s already got another one planned, as he’ll face former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski in the co-main event at UFC 195 on Jan. 2. This is actually a better fight for Miocic, who was slated to take on Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 76 in a bout that would have aired on UFC Fight Pass.
Now, he’ll get an opportunity to compete in a co-main event on a pay-per-view, and a win over a former champion like Arlovski could easily put him in line for a title shot. UFC president Dana White said he needed to get more popular, and what better way than to co-headline a card that is anchored by welterweight champion Robbie Lawler defending against Carlos Condit against a UFC legend?
The Party is set
Former Ohio State wrestler Lance Palmer has the next defense of his World Series of Fighting featherweight title set, as “The Party” will take on Alexandre Capitao at WSOF 26 on Dec. 18 in Las Vegas. Capitao earned a title shot with a first round submission over Saul Almeida in his debut at WSOF 24 last month.
Palmer, who is 10-1 and trains with Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, successfully defended his title for the first time with a first round submission over Chris Horodecki at WSOF 21 in June after winning it with a submission over Rick Glenn last December.