On May 17, a Bellator tournament will be held in Paris, which will be headlined by a title fight in the bantamweight category. Champion Patrick Meeks will face Russian fighter Magomed Magomedov, and this is his second fight under the organization’s auspices.
Meeks is one of the most exciting fighters in his weight class outside of the UFC. Patchi’s level is very high, something he has already confirmed more than once. At one point, the American already became the King of the Cage champion, once performed in Rizin and is now a full-fledged Bellator star. The promotion, as you know, was under the wing of the PFL, but Mix does not participate in the Grand Prix for a very simple reason: there is no bantamweight there. The fighter also had to miss the big Bellator vs PFL tournament, where there were simply no opponents for him.
This season, PFL broadcasts are available on OKKO.
However, this does not prevent Patrick from being heard. At the end of last year, as interim champion, he strangled Sergio Pettis and unified the titles, after which he proclaimed himself the strongest fighter in his weight: “I should have proclaimed myself champion three years ago in a fight with Juan Archuleta. It was necessary to cut off his hand and finish it off. But after a while I went back for my belt. Whats Next? I don’t mind. I am the best bantamweight in the world. Even if he was locked in a cage with King Kong, he would kick his ass.”
It’s important to note here that Mix, en route to the title, absolutely outclassed all of the division’s best Bellator fighters: Kyoji Horiguchi, Magomed Magomedov and Raufon Stotts. All victories are early. It is no coincidence that PFL owner Don Davis believes that Mix is capable of facing UFC champion Sean O’Malley: “Mix can beat O’Malley. He doesn’t have that kind of hair, but he fights better. I think “Most people think this is a good fight and Patrick is a slight favorite. But it’s a very good fight.”
Sean O’Malley
Photo: Getty Images
Mix is open to all challenges: ready to fight anyone who offers him the promotion and ready to take revenge on anyone he has already defeated. In general, this is how the second fight with Magomedov arose. Magomed is familiar to fans not only because of his performances in Bellator. There was a time when he performed in both M-1 and ACB, where he became champion and, for example, inflicted Petr Yan with the first defeat of his career. And this is perhaps a good challenge for Mix.
The only thing that bothers Patrick now is the lack of recognition: “I’m not considered the best just because of the letters that appear in front of my name. It doesn’t say UFC, that’s the only reason. Look at me and who is considered the best bantamweight in the world. Look at O’Malley’s and my accomplishments: I faced equally tough competition. I have more early wins, he lost more rounds than me. If it weren’t for one round, he would now be on a 31-game winning streak: 11-0 as an amateur and 20-0 as a pro. And Sean barely edged out Andre Soukhamtath. Andre kicked this guy in the leg and almost had to be airlifted out of the cage.
Look what little Peter Yan did to him, how close this fight was. Look how Magomed Magomedov fought with Yan and how I sent Magomed to bed. I’ll send Ian, O’Malley and everyone else to bed the same way. There is no one who can compete with me. I think the most difficult opponent for me would be Merab,” Mix said.
Peter Yan still cannot return to the octagon due to injury:
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The nod to Merab is more of a tribute to a teammate. Mix is really a very strong fighter, who I would like to see under the auspices of the best promotion in the world. Patrick has an excellent fight and knows what to do on the ground: 13 submission victories confirm this. Additionally, Meeks is quite tall for his division and increasingly enjoys his leverage advantage. A balanced, strong fighter who is at his best. Patchy is capable of giving problems to absolutely every fighter of his weight in the world.
Maybe Corey Sandhagen or Umar Nurmagomedov can pick up the keys from him, but right now Meeks looks powerful. Very soon, Patrick will simply run out of calls in Bellator, and the lack of fighters in his weight class in the PFL will push the American to move to the UFC. And there will be an opportunity to receive new challenges, recognition and, possibly, a new title.
