MMA: Bellator vs Rizin Should be the Event of the Year

In the world of MMA, one promotion has grown bigger than its competition and overtaken the market as the premiere MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is known as the best promotion in the world, having the best fighters in the world under contract, and more importantly, it’s the promotion that every fighter has their eyes set on when it comes to career aspirations.

However, it’s not the only MMA promotion in the world, and people often forget that there are plenty of other fighting promotions that have some of the world’s best fighters under contract. In an attempt to both grow their fan bases and visibility worldwide, two of these promotions will be holding a crossover event on New Years’ Eve in what should be the event of the year, if not the decade: Bellator vs. Rizin. With the Champions of each promotion meeting in the cage, it will be a great test for each fighter to see where they stack up against talent from around the world. This has endless potential, especially as an ongoing trend, but this card needs to succeed, so what better time to start hyping up some of the matchups than the present?

Patricio Pitbull vs Kleber Koike Erbst

This has the makings to be one of the greatest fights outside of the UFC ever, as two champions of different promotions get into the cage together. Kleber enters the fight with 27 submission wins. The walking definition of a submission artist Kleber has only 2 decisions in his 31-win career so far and will look to take on Patricio Pitbull, who has a stellar submission game himself coming in with 12 submission wins in his career. Patricio has a great stand-up game as well and has proven his durability having 11 decisions and 11 KOs on his record and looks to be Kleber’s biggest challenge yet. This is such an insane match-up that no one knew they wanted because we, as MMA fans, dared not to dream that it’d be possible now that we have it, I’m counting down the days, and if you aren’t as well, you’re a fake fan.

AJ McKee vs. Roberto De Souza

When it comes to submission games, this is another amazing match-up. McKee is a former Bellator Champion, and De Souza is a current Rizin Champion. None of Souza’s fights have ever reached a decision having 10 submission wins and 4 KOs while being KO’d once. McKee has had 7 fights go the distance, including his only loss, which was to Pitbull earlier this year. McKee also has 7 submissions and 6 KOs to his name, making him the pinnacle of a balanced overall fighter. This has the makings of being complete fireworks with nonstop action, constant submission attempts, and scrambles. As these two try to show the world that there is plenty of talented MMA fighters outside of the UFC.