UFC 180 vs. Bellator 131: Who Won the Real Battle Saturday Night?

While there were plenty of serious battles in the cage, titles won and legacies secured, the real fight Saturday night was taking place on television sets across the world. 

In one corner was the defending champion and Kleenex of MMA—the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Practically synonymous with the sport since its debut in 1993, the promotion is the home to most of the world's best fighters, the best television deal and an infrastructure that puts most to shame.

In the other corner is the upstart Bellator promotion. Now headed by former Strikeforce boss Scott Coker, the promotion has taken UFC's place on Spike TV and, after biding its time for years, is finally ready to compete with the big dogs.

Normally, it wouldn't be fair to compare these competing cards. The UFC, after all, was on pay-per-view. Bellator was free on cable. Surely you'd expect more from the card that cost $54.95?

Yet, on paper, Bellator and Spike were delivering a better product. Did they win the first real competition between the two groups destined to be bitter rivals? Let's look at the main cards fight by fight and find out.

Disagree with our ratings? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Edgar Garcia/Hector Urbina vs. Muhammed Lawal/Joe Vedepo

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Bellator 131: Lawal v. Vedepo 

6/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Like him or not—and for most it's a definitive "not"—Mo Lawal has established himself as a major player. He fought Rampage Jackson to a standstill and has the kind of personality that demands people pay attention.

Result

"King" Mo Lawal beat Vedepo by TKO (Round 3)

Best Moment

Forget about the fight—the real star was Bellator's new stage. The promotion has embraced a pro wrestling aesthetic, and it's tremendous. Mo's entrance in particular, complete with a bevy of ring girls, one of whom shaded him from the light with an umbrella, was special.

Analysis

As expected, Lawal had his way with Vedepo, who was just too small to compete with the wrestling stalwart. After a 10-8 first round that saw him control the action on the ground, Mo cruised through the second round. Announcer Jimmy Smith compared it to "jogging."

The third round was a different story. Lawal came out to finish things quickly, showing pretty clearly he was in control on the feet as well as on the ground. Referee Jason Herzog was a bit late to stop this fight, letting Vedepo flop helplessly around before finally jumping in.

It was an ugly one-sided affair—but at least the entrances were cool!

UFC 180: Garcia v. Urbina

5/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Negligible. Urbina is the classic "insert name here" fighter. He doesn't have a Wikipedia page and probably doesn't deserve one, though he was on season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter. Garcia does have a page—but it paints an ugly picture. Though he's an exciting fighter, he's not a particularly good one.

These aren't fighters who belong on a pay-per-view

Result

Urbina submitted Garcia via guillotine choke (Round 1)

Best Moment

"Arriba la raza!" Urbina defended a lazy shot with a power guillotine and locked it in "solid" for the finish. Then he borrowed a phrase from pro wrestling legend Konnan to celebrate with his fans. 

Analysis

It's hard to say much when both fighters are virtual blank slates. According to Odds Shark, however, Garcia was a significant favorite. I guess that makes this an official upset. So good for you Urbina!  

Augusto Montano/Chris Heatherly vs. Nam Phan/Mike Richman

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Mike Richman

Bellator 131: Phan v. Richman

6/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Hardcore fans all know Phan for his absolute war with Leonard Garcia and subsequent action fights in the UFC Octagon. For Bellator fans, Richman is a similar fighter, someone well-regarded within the community for his willingness to stand and trade.

The minute this was announced, serious fans all started nodding their heads up and down.

Result

Mike Richman KO'ed Nam Phan (Round 1)

Best Moment

Richman, who demolished Phan, pointed at champion Joe Warren, who had joined the broadcast team for commentary. Bellator did a great job throughout the night promoting future fights and building for the future.

Analysis

I thought Richman's length and superior technique would catch up with Phan in time. It turns out that "time" was approximately 30 seconds. Phan couldn't figure out how to close the distance and paid the price with a left hand to the chin. From there, it was academic.

These are the kinds of fights you can expect from Bellator promoter Scott Coker and matchmaker Rich Chou. They book for fireworks and all too often deliver on their promises.

UFC 180: Augusto Montano v. Chris Heatherly

5/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Montano is a complete non-entity in America, but the "Dodger" was an immediate favorite with the Mexican fans in his hometown of Mexico City. Heatherly is also an unknown, even to the hardest of the hardcore. That this match made a pay-per-view main card is, frankly, astounding.

Result

Morano beat Heatherly by TKO (Round 1)

Best Moment

It was a moment we didn't see on camera, but at some point, Montano peered in the mirror for the first time and saw his shaggy mohawk and bright reddish pink hair. The look on his face had to have been priceless.

Analysis

Montano was given every opportunity to succeed here, matched with a so-so fighter he towered over and outclassed athletically. The UFC will need homegrown stars to run here, and he was pegged as a potential standout.

It's hard to say exactly what the UFC has on their hands here with Montano. He's a fluid athlete who trains out of the famed Jackson-Winkeljohn gym in New Mexico. I look forward to seeing him against a true UFC-level fighter.

Ricardo Lamas/Dennis Bermudez vs. Melvin Manhoef/ Joe Schilling

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Manhoef

Bellator 131: Joe Schilling v. Melvin Manhoef

8/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Manhoef has a certain cache with serious MMA fans. Though he's never had a successful run in the United States, he was one of the most feared strikers in the world for years. He won't bring in any casual fans, but he might make hardcores think twice about watching UFC instead. That's value.

Result

Joe Schilling knocked out Melvin Manhoef (Round 2)

Best Moment

Could it be anything but the finish? Poor Melvin Manhoef. He's done so many horrible things to so many fighters over the years, so maybe this is combat karma. Everyone knew this one was likely to end in a brutal fashion. But when Manhoef hit the mat after those two hard punches, jaws dropped all over the country. 

Analysis

Manhoef seemed completely in control, landing a big left hook and pouncing for the kill. Seconds later, officials were trying to wake him up so they could bring the next set of fighters into the cage.

That's how quickly fortunes can change in MMA, especially with two high-level strikers with serious power. At 38, Manhoef is well past his prime. But it's still a win that resonates—and should set Schilling up for something special in 2015.

UFC 180: Dennis Bermudez v. Ricardo Lamas

7/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Now we're talking. Although you won't mistake either Lamas or Bermudez for a bonafide star, they are at least fighters I've seen compete several times.

That may not mean much on a normal pay-per-view card—but on this one, it means everything. I'm just happy to see a familiar face.

Result

Lamas submitted Bermudez with a guillotine choke (Round 1)

Best Moment

Lamas catches Bermudez with a leg kick just as the young fighter was throwing a headkick of his own, sending his opponent flying into the air. It was entirely meaningless, but hopefully someone will insert a banana peel or something and we can all have a laugh at the resulting Vine.

Analysis

Bermudez talked a good game before the fight. That's just how it's going to be in the post-Conor McGregor era. But once the bell rang, and actions were suddenly speaking loudly,  it was all Lamas.

It's easy to overlook a fighter like Lamas, a man who has been to the mountaintop and got sent tumbling down by Jose Aldo. He made it to the top for a reason, however—he's a really good fighter.

What struck me here was his finishing instinct. If Lamas hadn't moved so quickly to sink that choke, Bermudez might very well have recovered. 

Jake Ellenberger/Kelvin Gastelum vs. Will Brooks/Michael Chandler

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Bellator 131: Will Brooks v. Michael Chandler

9/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Bellator's previous regime tried hard to make Chandler one of the centerpieces of its promotion. Despite his obvious talents and clean-cut good looks, it just didn't take. He's a known commodity—but he's not a star. 

Brooks is one of those fighters promoters bring in as an opponent who goes out and wins the fight. His reward was continued obscurity. But he's the real thing. His time is coming.

Result

Brooks stopped Chandler via TKO (Round 4)

Best Moment

I've seen a lot of MMA. Every Pride fight. Every UFC pay-per-view for 21 years. Every Pancrase. Every Strikeforce. 

You get the idea.

I've never, however, seen anything quite like this finish. Brooks catches Chandler with a hard right to the temple. That's fairly normal—but then things get weird. Chandler completely loses his mind, waving his arms around and seemingly forgetting he was in a fight at all.

Brooks pounces and gets the win. That's his job. But it was pretty odd looking. 

Analysis

When it comes right down to it, from a pure sport perspective, this is the best fight Bellator can put in the cage. Both of these men would be competitive against anyone in the UFC, and both are multifaceted fighters with legitimate skills in all areas.

Brooks is the real thing. He has good kicks from distance, is a solid infighter and has worked hard to improve his takedown defense. He deserves to fight the best—here's hoping Bellator can come up with some appropriate competition for a great fighter coming into his prime.

UFC 180: Kelvin Gastelum v. Jake Ellenberger

8/10

Pre-fight Star Power

This is a really good fight. A really good fight. Really good.

But it's not a fight that works at this position on the card.

Jake Ellenberger is a gatekeeper, what boxing people would call a B-side. He's the guy you bring in to give the real star a solid test. The problem here is that Gastelum is not quite on that level yet. The B-side is being forced to the fore. That just isn't good promotion.

Result

Gastelum submitted Ellenberger with a rear-naked choke (Round 1)

Best Moment

Ellenberger secures a waistlock and scores a takedown, but Gastelum scrambles beautifully to take his back and the fight. The finish was nice, but the setup was something special.

Analysis

When Gastelum upset Uriah Hall to win The Ultimate Fighter, he seemed like a guy likely to burn out and fade away. A top-control wrestler with a pedigree that essentially ended in high school? That's not the resume of a future UFC star.

And yet here he is. Gastelum has improved by leaps and bounds. He's an explosive athlete who looks better and better every time he steps into the cage. Now a legitimate Top 10 fighter, there's no one in the division who can consider him prey. 

Mark Hunt/Fabricio Werdum vs. Tito Ortiz/Stephan Bonnar

Christian Palma/Associated Press

UFC 180: Mark Hunt v. Fabricio Werdum

9/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Mark Hunt has established himself as the kind of fighter you just don't want to miss. The man is action, heart and contained violence rolled into a butterball and then rolled into the cage. 

But he's not Cain Velasquez. The heavyweight champion is a legitimate star. Hunt is a star to hardcores. There is a difference. 

Result

Werdum knocked out Hunt with a flying knee and ground-and-pound (Round 2)

Best Moment

Werdum, dominated for much of the fight, lands a flying knee out of nowhere that just crushed Hunt's jaw. There is landing flush and then there is that knee. It was perfection.

Analysis

For a moment, it looked like Hunt might do the impossible. He knocked Werdum down twice and even survived an extended period hanging around on the ground with the jiu-jitsu wizard. Just a guy who got tapped by Sean McCorkle surviving against the best heavyweight submission artist of all time.

No big deal. 

But, though it looked like dreams might really come true, it simply wasn't to be. Longtime fans were denied the Cinderella story of all Cinderella stories. Hunt has nothing to be ashamed of. He came in on short notice, gave it his all and can walk out with his head held high.

Bellator 131: Tito Ortiz v. Stephan Bonnar

8/10

Pre-fight Star Power

Tito Ortiz is one of the biggest stars in MMA history. He's set pay-per-view records and was the defining fighter early in Zuffa-era UFC. He's instantly recognizable to fans around the world. 

Bonnar is also an MMA legend, all based on a single fight with Forrest Griffin in the first The Ultimate Fighter finale. His career fizzled, but he'll always have that moment in time.

Make no mistake—both are well past their primes. They are names, sure, but the ink is fading.

Result

Ortiz beat Bonnar by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Best Moment

Lots of heated MMA feuds end with a hug and an admission the bad blood was just for show. That didn't happen here. When the final bell rang, Ortiz raised his arms—and then shot the double birds at Bonnar. That's how it's done.

Analysis

Let's be honest with each other—this was not high-level MMA. These guys looked old. Because they are. As dirt.

Ortiz, once the top light heavyweight in the world, is a shell of his former self. Bonnar never advanced much beyond the rugged prospect with potential he was in 2005.

Somehow, however, none of that mattered. What it lacked in nuance, cardio and technique, it made up for in passion, anger and heart. Ortiz and Bonnar cared. And that means I did, too.

Verdict

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

For pro wrestling fans, the night had a familiar feeling. Rival wrestling promotions, WCW and WWE, once went head-to-head on Monday nights. As a result, they both pushed each other and the envelope, creating a golden age for fans of all ages.

It's too early to say if this rivaltry will hoist MMA on its back and carry it to unseen success. Perhaps. For one night, at least, it felt like it could.

UFC 180

34/50

The final three fights, as expected, delivered as promised. The problem was the openers. Neither fight featured talent ready for prime time. That hurt the UFC, especially since it was charging fans big money for small talent.

Bellator 131

37/50

This was a great start to the Scott Coker era. Rather than pretending that it matches up well with the UFC from top to bottom, and it does not, it looks like Bellator will focus on the kind of fun Coker's Strikeforce was known for. That will mean plenty of blowouts, mismatches and freak shows—but also a handful of glorious moments every show.