Caldwell returns against Taimanglo at Bellator 159

[Wild]

On Wednesday, Bellator announced that undefeated up-and-comer Darrion Caldwell will take on Guam's Joe Taimanglo in the main event at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas. The card will take place on July 22.

The co-main event will feature Kansas native Dave Rickels against longtime UFC veteranMelvin Guillard, who is trying to snap a three-fight skid.

Taimanglo, 31, has won three fights in a row and is 5-2 overall in Bellator. He is coming off of a unanimous decision victory over Sirwan Kakai, which took place at the same Bellator 151 card in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

LINK: Darrion Caldwell set to clash with Joe Taimanglo at Bellator 159

 

[LegendaryLiwIII]

Looking forward to it

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

Easy money for Caldwell. I guess this is just a stay busy fight for me. Trying to build him up a bit more before he gets that title shot. Joe is tough, but too short imo

 

[Wild]

This fight and one more, then a title shot for Darrion.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Taimanglo has the power to knock out anyone. Caldwell will never give him the oppurtunity. Caldwell by submission.

 

[ECC170]

Caldwell will sub him inside one

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

Jesus the guy fucking destroyed a former champ and this is who he has to fight? Wtf bellator. Maybe now he can be on the prelims of the Mark Coleman v Mark kerr grudgematch card.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Jesus the guy fucking destroyed a former champ and this is who he has to fight? Wtf bellator. Maybe now he can be on the prelims of the Mark Coleman v Mark kerr grudgematch card.

Off the top of my head-

Frankie Edgar destroying BJ Penn, then being matched with Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes before getting a title shot (and an interim one at that).

Rafael Dos Anjos KO's Benson, then gets matched up with Nate Diaz instead of getting a title shot.

Alistair Overeem drops JDS, then gets Andre Arlovski instead of title shot.

Wonderboy wrecks Hendricks, then gets the Red King instead of title shot.

It happens.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

Off the top of my head-

Frankie Edgar destroying BJ Penn, then being matched with Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes before getting a title shot (and an interim one at that).

Rafael Dos Anjos KO's Benson, then gets matched up with Nate Diaz instead of getting a title shot.

Alistair Overeem drops JDS, then gets Andre Arlovski instead of title shot.

Wonderboy wrecks Hendricks, then gets the Red King instead of title shot.

It happens.

Point being is they are doing nothing to promote Caldwell in any way to be the badass that he is. Not to take anything away from Taimanglo but he couldnt beat Wilcox or Emerson. He is a journeyman at best.

All those guys you mentioned above withbthe exception of Wonderboy had already had shots at the title before their wins and lost. Dont be such a mark man Bellator could have gave Caldwell a step up instead of a step backwards. He gains nothing by winning this fight.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Point being is they are doing nothing to promote Caldwell in any way to be the badass that he is. Not to take anything away from Taimanglo but he couldnt beat Wilcox or Emerson. He is a journeyman at best.

All those guys you mentioned above withbthe exception of Wonderboy had already had shots at the title before their wins and lost. Dont be such a mark man Bellator could have gave Caldwell a step up instead of a step backwards. He gains nothing by winning this fight.

This will be his second main event in a row. In the buildup to that fight, @jimmysmithmma compared him to an atom bomb. So I think they're promoting him just fine. He resigned with the company and posted this about the fight, so I would guess that he's not too broken up about it (it's very likely that he asked fir the fight).

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

This will be his second main event in a row. In the buildup to that fight, @jimmysmithmma compared him to an atom bomb. So I think they're promoting him just fine. He resigned with the company and posted this about the fight, so I would guess that he's not too broken up about it (it's very likely that he asked fir the fight).

I've been reading up quite a bit in Caldwell post re-signing, and he seems perfectly content. We might see quite a bit of activity in the bw division when it comes to new signings. I'm hoping so because it isn't the most stacked division.

Would anyone rule out Caldwell fighting at rizin?

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

This will be his second main event in a row. In the buildup to that fight, @jimmysmithmma compared him to an atom bomb. So I think they're promoting him just fine. He resigned with the company and posted this about the fight, so I would guess that he's not too broken up about it (it's very likely that he asked fir the fight).

Oh boy he gets to headline a card in Mulvane Kansas. Do they park their tractors in a circle around the cage for lighting? Big fan of Caldwell but this does nothing for him or his hype. They could have at least found a washed up UFC name for him to fight like they do everyone else.

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

Oh boy he gets to headline a card in Mulvane Kansas. Do they park their tractors in a circle around the cage for lighting? Big fan of Caldwell but this does nothing for him or his hype. They could have at least found a washed up UFC name for him to fight like they do everyone else.

Did you see the last event they had at the Kansas star casino? It was a packed house. It's not the biggest venue, but People love their rickels over there. I think Caldwell will have a decent sized crowd in attendance.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

Did you see the last event they had at the Kansas star casino? It was a packed house. It's not the biggest venue, but People love their rickels over there. I think Caldwell will have a decent sized crowd in attendance.

There is absolutely nothing else to do there. Plus all the rednecks and farmers will leave after Caveman fights.

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

There is absolutely nothing else to do there. Plus all the rednecks and farmers will leave after Caveman fights.

Sounds almost as if u want them to leave after the caveman fight. Getting Caldwell to headline one more time before a title shot will help him get more exposure.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

Sounds almost as if u want them to leave after the caveman fight. Getting Caldwell to headline one more time before a title shot will help him get more exposure.

No but i have been to mulvane before. The exposure will be on TV anyway. If you want to push your brand and stars you dont make a matchup that wouldnt at best be a fight pass prelim fight for a fight night. They could have done better putting a name next to him. Basically what they are saying is this is a title eliminator and it is at worst the 2 and 3 ranked fighters in the division.

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

No but i have been to mulvane before. The exposure will be on TV anyway. If you want to push your brand and stars you dont make a matchup that wouldnt at best be a fight pass prelim fight for a fight night. They could have done better putting a name next to him. Basically what they are saying is this is a title eliminator and it is at worst the 2 and 3 ranked fighters in the division.

I'm not saying you don't have a point, but we don't know what goes on behind the scene. I would have liked for them to fight on maybe a dynamite card or a tentpole, but who knows why they made this fight on this card. Caldwell seems perfectly content, so we will just have to wait and see what they have for him in the future. I wouldn't be mad if after he wins this fight, which he should, they throw his title fight on a tentpole or a card immediately following one.