Bellator make their first venture into Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, and also make roads into the pay-per-view market for the first time under the leadership of Scott Coker.
The card is headlined by a years-in-the-making bout between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva. The UFC alumni look set to finally clash under the Bellator banner just under three years after they were scheduled to collide at UFC 175. They were also due to meet at UFC 173 and UFC Fight Night in 2014.
Madison Square Garden also plays host to the Bellator debut of one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, 'The Last Emperor' Fedor Emelianenko taking on Matt Mitrione in a heavyweight bout.
Advert
We also have the small matter of three title fights with Douglas Lima defending his welterweight crown against ex-UFC star Lorenz Larkin whilst Michael Chandler defends his lightweight title against the unbeaten Brent Primus. Phil Davis and Ryan Bader also rematch for Bellator light-heavyweight gold.
Aaron Pico makes his first outing in mixed martial arts with considerable hype around the youngster. The twenty-year-old is an accomplished wrestler and came nail-bitingly close to become the first ever teenager to represent the United States wrestling team at the Olympic Games in 2016. The hype around Pico is so large, that bookmakers offer him at 1/5 despite taking on Zach Freeman, who holds an 8-2 record in MMA.
Our man Darren Russell (@DRussellMMA) looks at the bets to make on a historic night for Bellator.
How to Watch
Advert
UK - Bellator NYC (PPV Portion) is available to purchase on YouTube for £14.99 (3AM UK Time). Bellator 180 will air on Monday night at 9PM on Spike UK.
Ireland - James Gallagher vs. Chinzo Machida will air on Bellator's YouTube Channel at approximately 11PM. Bellator NYC is not available to purchase.
James Gallagher vs. Chinzo Machida
Advert
A product of the infamous Straight Blast Gym in Dublin, Ireland, James Gallagher aims to follow in the footsteps of stablemate Conor McGregor in raising the Irish flag in Madison Square Garden as he takes on the brother of former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida.
'The Strabanimal' looks to continue his perfect mixed martial arts career on the biggest stage, with a perfect 5-0 amateur record followed up by a 6-0 professional record including two co-main event victories over Kirill Medvedovski and Anthony Taylor on Bellator's last two visits to the London and Ireland. Cornered by John Kavanagh, the man behind Conor McGregor's meteoric rise looks to develop another featherweight sensation.
Chinzo Machida is double the age of Gallagher at forty-years-old and will look to make it three wins in three Bellator outings in New York. The bookies have Gallagher as the favourite at 4/9 with Machida priced as high as 15/8.
The value here would be to pick Gallagher, who for a fighter so young has such a high level jiu-jitsu game to submit Machida inside three rounds. Five out of his six professional victories have come by way of submission. Look out for that rear-naked choke!
Advert
James Gallagher to win by submission - 15/8 at BetVictor
Phil Davis vs. Ryan Bader
Ryan Bader has won seven of his last eight bouts, stretching back to December 2013 with the sole loss coming to knockout specialist Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson. He edged a narrow split decision victory over Phil Davis in Stockholm, Sweden in January 2015 and will look to win light heavyweight gold on his promotional debut this evening.
Advert
'Mr Wonderful' Phil Davis joined Bellator from the UFC after that night in Stockholm and has gone on to win all four fights since joining the rival promotion, most recently sealing the 205-pounds title after outpointing previously unbeaten Englishman, Liam McGeary in November 2016 at Bellator 163.
Both men are considered to be two of the best light heavyweights in the world and whilst Davis has never been stopped in his twenty professional appearances, both men certainly have a track record for leaving the fights in the hands of the judges.
Either to win by decision at 4/7 isn't an awful bet, but I think Bader will again outpoint Davis, but over five rounds.
Ryan Bader to win by decision - 9/4 at BetVictor
Michael Chandler vs. Brent Primus
This match looks like a complete mismatch with Chandler considered probably the best lightweight outside of the UFC against the relatively unknown entity of the unbeaten Brent Primus.
Chandler won the lightweight crown for the second time in November 2016, outpointing Benson Henderson in a thrilling fight in San Jose, California. He has also shared the cage for fifty minutes in two of the best lightweight fights you'll ever see.
Primus seemingly has secured a shot at Chandler due to a lack of depth in the division after two narrow decision victories over Gleristone Santos and Derek Anderson respectively. Primus holds four submission victories over his seven professional appearances.
An upset here seems incredibly unlikely, but in mixed martial arts anything can happen!
Michael Chandler to win in Round 2 - 5/1 at BetVictor
ODDSbible's Accumulator
Emelianenko (to beat Mitrione), Larkin (to beat Lima), Pico (to beat Freeman), Gracie (to beat Morfone)
Featured Image Credit: