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#4. Spike Carlyle could be a star for Bellator
Another takeaway from Bellator 272 is that Spike Carlyle could become a fan favorite for Bellator. The goal for all MMA promotions is to have somebody on their roster that fans can rally behind. Bellator may have just that with Carlyle after this past Friday’s event.
Carlyle wasn’t originally scheduled to compete at Bellator 272. His opponent, Dan Moret, had two different opponents withdraw. ‘The Alpha Ginger’ was the latest to step in, and on less than a week’s notice.
Carlyle vs. Moret was an entertaining prelim bout that saw Moret get the better of most of the exchanges. Moret bloodied Carlyle with powerful ground and pound strikes to end the second round. It looked like Moret would be closing in on a finish after taking Carlyle down at the beginning of the third round. However, Carlyle scrambled off his back and submitted Moret with a rear-naked choke at 2:58 to earn a third-round submission win.
The win had fans on social media praising Carlyle for his comeback win over Moret. Carlyle gained a lot of fans for stepping in on short notice and his comeback win. Bellator has a great opportunity to capitalize on that in 2022.
#3. Location set for Fedor Emelianeko's final bout revealed
Another major takeaway from Bellator 272 is that it was revealed that Fedor Emelianenko will indeed be competing again. During his post-event media availability, Bellator President Scott Coker provided an update on Emelianenko's next bout. Coker stated that ‘The Last Emperor’ will be competing in one final bout next summer in Moscow, Russia.
Emelianenko last competed in October at Bellator 269, which also took place in Moscow. It was a vintage performance by the PRIDE legend as he made quick work of No.3-ranked heavyweight Tim Johnson. Emelianenko won by first-round knockout and received a loud ovation from his home crowd.
It’s unclear who Emelinaneko will compete against in his last bout. There will absolutely be fighters that’ll try to convince Coker that they should be the last opponent for 'The Last Emperor'. Some notable free agents include Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos, both of whom would be great signings for the promotion.
Regardless of who’s selected, the positive for Coker and Bellator is that there are plenty of options that could generate interest.
