HOMETOWN HERO DAVE RICKELS SET FOR ACTION AGAINST MELVIN GUILLARD IN CO-HEADLINER
Raug Monica, California. (Lub rau hli ntuj 1, 2016) – Bellator MMA returns to Kansas with a pivotal matchup between undefeated phenom, Darrion "Tus Hma" Caldwell (9-0) thiab Joe Taimanglo (22-6-1) to determine the No. 1 contender for the Bantamweight Title in the main event of "Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” Lub Xya hli ntuj 22 inside Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas.
In the co-main event of the evening, local hometown hero Dave “Caveman” Rickels (17-4) yuav ua tau raws li Melvin "Tus Hluas neeg tua neeg" Guillard (32-16-2) in a lightweight matchup that will surely provide fireworks. Ntxiv kev sib tw yuav tsum tau tshaj tawm sai.
"Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” airs nyob rau ntsia hlau loj ntawm 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. I, thaum ua ntej bouts yuav kwj nyob rau Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App pib thaum 7 p.m. THIAB.
Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim pib thaum nyuam qhuav $27 thiab mus rau ntawm kev muag Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 4, and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, KansasStarEventCenter.com. Qhov rooj rau cov kev tshwm sim qhib 5:30 p.m. CT local time and the first preliminary bout will commence one hour later.
Ntawm 28 xyoo, “The Wolf” may very well be the brightest young star in Bellator MMA’s deep bantamweight division. The New Jersey native has begun his career with nine consecutive victories, including five blistering first round finishes. Caldwell will be tasked with the headlining role for the second consecutive time after an impressive first outing at "Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell” in which he had his way with former two-division Bellator champion Joe Warren, winning via rear-naked choke submission. The former NC State standout wrestled to a National Championship and two All-American accolades before joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2014. The undefeated Caldwell is reinvigorated after recently re-signing a seven-fight contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion. For a closer look at Caldwell’s most recent technical submission victory over Joe Warren in the main event of“Bellator 151,” nyem no.
A native of Yona, Guam, Taimanglo has emerged as one of the most prolific bantamweight fighters in MMA. Having gone 13-2 over his last 15 bouts dating back to 2009, it’s difficult to find a fighter more consistent than “The Juggernaut.” Since signing with Bellator in 2013, Taimanglo has accumulated a 5-2 record including a current string of three consecutive victories. Standing at 5’4,” Taimanglo will once again be squaring off against a much taller opponent in the 5’10’’ Caldwell. Nyem no to see exclusive footage of Taimanglo’s unanimous decision win over Sirwan Kakai ntawm “Bellator 151.”
As is usually the case when Bellator rolls through Kansas, Rickels will be the center of attention when he fights Guillard on July 22. “The Caveman” delivered the proverbial “Fight of the Night” back in February with a first-round knockout of Bobby Cooper during the co-main event of "Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Spartan.” A native of Derby, Kansas, Rickels will be making his 17th appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, a promotion with which he has accrued 11 victories over the course of a six-year period. The 27-year-old recently re-signed with the Scott Coker-led promotion, ensuring his exciting fighting style will be seen exclusively in the Bellator cage for years to come.
Nrog 52 career fights under his belt, 33-year-old Melvin Guillard will have a lot to prove when he takes on “The Caveman.” Guillard seems to have made a full recovery from his brutally broken hand that occurred during his Bellator MMA debut last year. Throughout his MMA tenure, “The Young Assassin” has displayed a knack for ending fights early, nrog 23 ntawm nws 32 professional victories coming before reaching the judges’ scorecards. Nyob rau lub Xya hli ntuj 22 the New Orleans native will have an opportunity to take down another experienced lightweight in Rickels and reassert himself as a top 155-pounder.
Tshiab “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” Card:
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (9-0) vs. Joe Taimanglo (22-6-1)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Co-Main Event: Dave Rickels (17-4, 1 NC) vs. Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 2 NC)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Middleweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Manny Meraz (8-2) vs. Trey Ogden (4-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Chris Harris (6-0) vs. Matt Foster (6-8)