Last week it was all about boxing. But this weekend, combat sports’ big little brother, mixed martial arts, gets top billing.
Friday, May 13th 2016
Dusty Hernandez-Harrison vs. Mike Dallas, Jr.
The nations capital keeps the gloves laced as boxing returns to the D.C. Armory. Washington, D.C.s undefeated Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 KOs) faces off against Bakersfield, Californias Mike The Silent Assassin Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 KOs).
Both journeymen have been looking for a big name win and the roads that lead to each other are merely to keep themselves busy. Beyond the lack of buzz around the affair, the results from their most recent fights could spell a knockout for one of them.
Both are coming off consecutive knockout victories in their last two outings and are looking to make bigger waves in the super welterweight division. After working as a sparring partner for Saul Canelo Alvarez and also being a part of the Roc Nation Sports roster, Hernandez-Harrison is looking to climb the ranks and make a bigger impact in a division that is starting to heat back up.
I may have gotten in the best sparring that any fighter has ever gotten [for a fight], said Hernandez-Harrison. I went from [sparring with] Canelo and came home to spar with Demetrius Hopkins, Austin Trout and Lamont Peterson. I dont know if theres better sparring than that.
Catch the pugilistic action of throne boxing live on BET and Tidal.com at 10pm EST.
Saturday, May 14th 2016
Bellator 154: Phil Mr. Wonderful Davis vs. Muhammad King Mo Lawal
Last September during the Bellator Light Heavyweight tournament, it seemed inevitable that King Mo (19-4) and Phil Davis (15-3) would meet up.
Davis was fresh out of his UFC contract after losing to Ryan Bader in January 2015 and was trying to knock the dust off in a new organization. At Bellator Dynamite 1, in the one-night tournament, Davis submitted former Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton and then knocked out former UFC fighter Francis Carmont to earn the #1 contender spot.
However, current Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Liam McGeary has been injured, so a fight against King Mo was offered and accepted.
King Mo was also on the Dynamite 1 card, but after a unanimous decision victory over Linton Vassell, he was unable to compete due to a rib injury. Lawal eventually healed and won the Rizin Fighting Federation Heavyweight Grand Prix where he fought three men in two days, knocking out two of the three in first round of the Japanese promotion.
Davis is a former Penn State Wrestling standout and Lawal, who has a Big 12 Conference Champion and Division I All-American in 2003 from Oklahoma State University, could make for a grappling fest.
However, King Mo, who has 13 of his wins by knockout, will probably look to finish Phil and change the dynamic for current Bellator champ McGreary.
Catch Bellator 154 from the SAP Center in San Jose, California live on Spike at 8pm EST
UFC 198: Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic
Since 2012, Brazilian Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) has been dominant, leading him to knockout Mark Hunt for the UFC Heavyweight belt. After submitting former champion Cain Velasquez, Werdum looks to extend his six-fight unbeaten streak to seven when he faces Stipe Miocic (14-2).
Miocic is on a two-fight winning streak with back-to-back knockout victories over Mark Hunt and Andrei Arlovski. The Ohioan trains with Muay Thai boxer Dorian Price and is known for his striking prowess.
Werdum, who also has submission wins over Antonio Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko, could look for his grappling edge to offset the potential KO power of Miocic.
In addition, UFC 198 features the Featherweight debut of feared womens striker Cristiane Cyborg Justino (15-1), who faces a brave Leslie The Peacemaker Smith (8-6-1). After much speculation of whether she would get in the UFC and possibly drop into the Bantamweight division and face Ronda Rousey, Cyborg has fulfilled one dream and that is her entrance into the UFC.
Catch all the action live starting with the prelims on Fox Sports 1 at 8pm EST and the main event, live on pay-per-view at 10pm.
