While there were plenty of serious battles in the cage, titles won and legacies secured, the really fight Saturday night was taking place on television sets across the world.
In one corner was the defending champion and kleenex of MMA—the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Practically synonymous with the sport since its debut in 1993, the promotion is the home to most of the world’s best fighters, the best television deal and an infrastructure that puts most to shame.
In the other corner is the upstart Bellator promotion. Now headed by former Strikeforce boss Scott Coker, the promotion has taken UFC’s place on Spike TV and, after biding their time for years, is finally ready to compete with the big dogs.
Normally it wouldn’t be fair to compare these competing cards. The UFC, after all, was on pay-per-view. Bellator was free on cable. Surely you’d expect more from the card that cost $54.95?
Yet, on paper, Bellator and Spike were delivering a better product. Did they win the first real competition between the two groups destined to be bitter rivals? Let’s look at the main cards fight by fight and find out.
Disagree with our ratings? Share your thoughts in the comments.