This is among the most anticipated Saturdays of 2024 on the planet of fight sports activities. If you happen to’re within the Japanese Time Zone, run, don’t stroll, if you get up on Saturday morning to go downstairs and placed on a pot of espresso. You’re going to wish to devour each final drop of the stuff to get you thru one other a type of marathon days you spend all yr dreaming about.
To kick it off, the MMA world tour makes a cease in the UK, the place London is the host metropolis for the fifth Bellator MMA occasion this yr. One week faraway from a visit to San Diego and Pechanga Area for Bellator Champions Sequence 4, the promotion heads to OVO Wembley to kick off the second half of its schedule this season.
Bellator Champions Sequence 5 begins Saturday afternoon at 12 midday ET/ 9 am PT on MAX (previously often called HBO MAX) inside america. For these of you watching within the UK, DAZN will carry the present reside at 5 pm native time Saturday night.
Restructured Important Occasion Takes Place Saturday in London
Similar to the San Diego card that preceded it, Bellator Champions Sequence 5 options 10 MMA bouts on the itinerary, however there’s been an adjustment to the struggle order for Saturday. Initially, the Bellator MMA Middleweight Championship was to have been contested in the principle occasion between incumbent titleholder Johnny Eblen (15-0 MMA, 10-0 Bellator) and challenger Fabian Edwards (13-3 MMA. 9-3 Bellator).
This contest was postponed forward of the present as a consequence of undisclosed causes, with Bellator meaning to rebook this rematch between Eblen and Edwards for an additional card. In that struggle’s stead, what was initially booked because the co-main occasion has been moved as much as the Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion at girls’s featherweight.
Leah McCourt (8-3 MMA, 7-2 Bellator) meets up with undefeated Sara Collins (5-0 MMA, 2-0 Bellator) within the new Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion. Its winner turns into the highest contender within the division. Provided that this was initially slated to have been the co-main occasion, it is a three-round affair at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
#BellatorLondon Battle Card Replace
Subsequent week’s Bellator Champion Sequence: London major occasion rematch that includes Johnny Eblen (15-0) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-3) Middleweight World Title struggle has been rescheduled. A brand new struggle date can be introduced within the coming days. The September… pic.twitter.com/sTe2Yzf2S2
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) September 3, 2024
Bellator Champions Sequence 5 Important Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Heading into the Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion on Saturday afternoon, Leah McCourt stands because the taller combatant at 5-foot-10, in comparison with the 5-foot-7 body of Sara Collins. McCourt owns a half-inch attain benefit (69 inches even to 68 1/2 inches) over Collins.
At the moment, the oddsmakers have Sara Collins put in as a -120 favourite on the cash line, whereas Leah McCourt counters as a +100 underdog. If you happen to plan on betting on this or another struggle in MMA and/or fight sports activities this weekend, please wager responsibly.
McCourt Returns After Damage Hiatus
Leah McCourt enters the restructured Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion on Saturday afternoon having posted a 3-2 mark in her final 5 fights. Most just lately, she scored a first-round knockout as a consequence of floor and pound strikes towards Sara McMann (14-7 MMA, 1-1 Bellator) throughout the landmark Bellator 300 on Oct. 7, 2023.
Following that victory, McCourt was alleged to make her return within the Bellator cage throughout Bellator Champions Sequence 1 in Belfast this previous March, solely to be sidelined by a rib damage that postponed a struggle towards Sinead Kavanaugh. Again in Could, she talked about her damage with Kaz Crossley.
“I used to be sparring. It was, like the primary week of my struggle camp,” McCourt recalled. “It was an accident. My coaching associate, we have been scrambling and sparring. I slipped they usually landed on me with their knee on my rib. It was an entire break and it tore my indirect (muscle), as effectively, so I couldn’t eat, or sleep, or breathe for weeks.”
With McCourt cleared to return, will she keep within the win column after the Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion? Tune in and discover out.
Collins Will get First Bellator Important Occasion in Third Battle with Promotion
Within the different nook, Sara Collins has but to lose to this point in her MMA profession. Just below a yr in the past, she battled Sinead Kavanaugh (9-7 MMA, 6-7 Bellator) to a break up resolution victory after three rounds. Very like McCourt, Collins additionally has had a prolonged hiatus in-between fights.
She was scheduled to have fought Olena Kolesnyk (9-6, 1 NC MMA) in what was to have been the latter’s Bellator debut this previous June earlier than she suffered an damage. To have been booked in a co-headlining affair in her third struggle underneath the Bellator MMA banner is little doubt a powerful feat for Collins and her staff.
It’s much more superb since Collins’ tilt versus McCourt is now elevated to the headlining affair, one thing that she realized whereas scrolling by means of social media final week. Solely time will inform how she handles the stress.
Evaluation, Movie Examine, and Prediction
Anticipate a traditional power versus power matchup within the Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion. Who will emerge victorious?
Leah McCourt Can Flip the Script
Leah McCourt has been recognized to finish the dramatic comebacks in her profession. Simply watch the tape of the second spherical of her 2021 struggle vs. Janay Harding.
Throughout that spherical, Harding seized management of the competition with livid floor and pound photographs. When it appeared that McCourt was in peril from the underside place, she related on an up kick to start turning the tide in her column.
From there, she rapidly went to work on an arm-triangle choke, rolling over and forcing Harding to faucet out. Ought to Leah McCourt discover herself underneath a state of duress within the Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion, she has the talents to show issues round.
Collins Equally Adept at Submissions
Within the different nook, of her 5 skilled wins, Sara Collins has received two by submission, together with her Bellator promotional debut versus Pam Sorenson final yr.
In the course of the first spherical of a scheduled three, Collins dropped Sorenson and softened her up with floor and pound photographs. From there, it was solely a matter of time earlier than Collins had the armlock wrapped up due to her tight squeeze on her opponent.
Search for Sara Collins to shoot for the takedown as quickly as doable within the Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion. If Collins is ready to drop McCourt, she’ll have this one within the bag.
Closing Ideas
Whereas it received’t be the headliner that Bellator had initially deliberate for Saturday night time, there are nonetheless excessive stakes available within the Bellator Champions Sequence 5 major occasion.
Prediction: Sara Collins by First-Spherical Submission.
