Here’s the breakdown for Saturday’s Bellator 232 main card, including short notice matchup Paul Daley vs. Saad Awad in the co-main event.
The second act of Bellator’s doubleheader kicks off tonight with the Bellator 232 main event will enjoying a high stakes rematch between the current king, Rory MacDonald, and the former champ, Douglas Lima. That mega-matchup will get its own separate preview post as this write up will cover the rest.
For now, take a look at the rest of the main card, starting with Paul Daley locking horns with short notice replacement Saad Awad in the co-main event. After getting out-grappled in back to back outings, Daley made a return to the win column with a unanimous decision win over Erick Silva. The heavy handed Daley was originally slated to meet Sabah Homasi, who is known to throw down on the feet, but after an injury pullout — Awad has stepped up to the plate to fill in. Awad just fought earlier this month, falling short to Goiti Yamauchi via armbar. It’s rare for Awad to get out-grappled. Yamauchi is an exception, so don’t be surprised to see Awad look to take that route against a lethal Daley. Awad is a generalist, and will have to put together a crafty outing to get past his knockout artist of an opponent.
Before that, the 16-2 Nick Newell is set for his sophomore outing with Bellator when he meets the 10-6 Manny Muro. Newell is known for overcoming the odds, and has only fallen short to Justin Gaethje, and then Alex Munoz on the Dana White Contender Series — both by decision. He’s currently riding a two-fight winning streak, finishing both bouts by first round submission. Muro isn’t exactly a world beater. He’s lost three of his last four, getting finished in each of those losses. He has won his lone Bellator match, picking up a decision win over Emmanuel Rivera back in 2017. Perhaps he will have something for Newell?
Opening the Bellator 232 main card, undefeated prospect Patrick Mix will mix it up with the 9-3 Isaiah Chapman. Mix is a submission machine. He’s sub’d seven of his eleven victims, including his Bellator debut opponent, Ricky Bandejas. Mix’s opponent Chapman is tough to submit, though. He put up a valiant effort against Timur Valiev in a WSOF fight back in 2014, refusing to give up the tap. With a Judo and Tae Kwon Do background, Chapman just might be a tough test for a flawless Mix. On a depressing note, former GLORY kickboxing featherweight champ, Robin van Roosmalen, was scheduled to make his Bellator debut on this card. He was pitted against the 5-2 Cris Lencioni, but then missed weight by an astonishing 9.5 pounds. Subsequently, the bout was cancelled.
Main card: (10 PM ET, DAZN)
Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima: Welterweight Title
Paul Daley vs. Saad Awad: Welterweight
Robin van Roosmalen vs. Cris Lencioni: Featherweight
Nick Newell vs. Manny Muro: 160 pounds
Patrick Mix vs. Isaiah Chapman: Bantamweight
Prelims: (7:15 PM ET, Online)
Devin Powell vs. Marcus Surin: Lightweight
Zarrukh Adashev vs. Tevin Dyce: Flyweight
Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Dominic Jones: Lightweight
John Douma vs. Jornel Lugo: Bantamweight
Tom Connolly vs. Ryan Hardy Evans: Welterweight
John Lopez vs Dan Cormier: Flyweight
Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. Craig Campbell: 160 pounds