10 reasons to catch a quartet of fight cards this weekend: UFC, Bellator, WSOF and RFA

Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic

It’s another packed weekend of MMA if you’re up for some regional action paired with big-show (or at least big brand) fights.

No less than four cards are going down between Friday and Saturday, kicking off with Bellator 136, which takes place at Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., and ending with Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 64 from Tauron Arena in Krakow Poland, which represents the industry leader’s debut in the country.

You’ll need a good cable package and streaming Internet to take all of them in, of course, with Bellator airing live on Spike TV, WSOF 20 on NBCSN, RFA 25 on AXS TV, and UFC Fight Night 64 on UFC Fight Pass.

A pretty thin offering on Saturday in the UFC’s octagon opens the door for Bellator, which puts a title on the line despite coming up a little short as a “tentpole” event. WSOF’s light heavyweight tourney presents a standard ploy to elevate the stakes and hand out some gold; the same goes for RFA, which continues to crank out solid regional players that graduate to the UFC.

In no particular order, here are 10 reasons to watch this weekend’s cards: Bellator 136, WSOF 20, RFA 25 and UFC Fight Night 64.

1. Again, daytime MMA!

UFC Fight Night 64: Since UFC Fight Night 64 is beaming in from Krakow, Poland, we can roll over in bed Saturday, groggily grab that iPad or Android (while trying not to drop it), and tune in to UFC Fight Pass for some marginally important mid-morning fights. The main card goes live at 3 p.m. ET, so by 5 or 6-ish, boom, you’re ready to face the rest of your night. West Coasters still gotta get up early, but no plan’s perfect.

2. Day Tripper

Speaking of time, Bellator 136, WSOF 20, RFA 25 and UFC Fight Night 64 all take place inside 24 hours, kicking off Friday night and ending Saturday afternoon. Actually, this is probably more a reason to purchase anti-glare glasses, if not hide near the refrigerator.

3. You talked a good game

Will Brooks

Bellator 136: Bellator lightweight champ Will Brooks (15-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) and tourney winner Dave Jansen (20-2 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) have definitely thrown some shade at each other in advance of a title headliner at Bellator 136. Brooks is willing to dismiss everything Jansen has ever accomplished, and Jansen goes one better to paint the champ as a total square, man. Their Netflix queues might look a lot different, but they’ve both got a tough job ahead. Brooks needs to distance himself from the pack, and Jansen needs a world title to bring significance after a long slog in moderate obscurity.

4. Your guilty pleasure of the month

UFC Fight Night 64: No one asked for it, a rematch between Mirko Filipovic (30-11-2 MMA, 4-6 UFC) and Gabriel Gonzaga (16-9 MMA, 11-8 UFC). That matchup was pretty well decided when Gonzaga took a page from the ex-PRIDE champ’s book and kicked his head to Zagreb. But these days, a little name recognition goes a long way, and the UFC is more than happy to promote something resembling a marquee event for a Fight Pass card. Filipovic is 40 and Gonzaga is 35, and this is pretty much the most intrigue they can sell. But who are we kidding? Can history repeat itself? You got us.

5. Slam bang

Joe Schilling

Bellator 136: Middleweight kickboxer turned MMA fighter Joe Schilling (2-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) whipped the votes for “Knockout of the Year” when he starched Melvin Manhoef in his Bellator debut this past November. Now, he’s back to take a run at the title against Rafael Carvalho (10-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who’s won 10 straight fights and beat Brian Rogers in his promotional debut. If you’re not convinced he’s the real deal, this video will set you straight.

6. Audience pandering

UFC Fight Night 64: It’s pretty much a no-brainer for the UFC to pilfer the best from Polish MMA in their first trip there. KSW was the closest thing to the big show in the country, and Jan Blachowicz (18-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was one of its brightest stars, taking out a quartet of fading UFC vets to make a leap to the real big show another no-brainer. A debut win over Ilir Latifi looked good, but can he get past a wrecking ball known as Jimi Manuwa (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)? Blachowicz spent a good part of his career choking out no-names, so right about now might be a good time to dust off those transitions and limb-twisting submissions.

7. Light heavy semis

David Branch

WSOF 20: The WSOF’s four-man tourney to crown at new champ at 205 pounds got off to a surprising start this past month when the unknown Teddy Holder accepted a $14,000 pay bump and wound up knocking out Thiago Silva. At WSOF 20, the semifinals continue when middleweight champ David Branch (15-3) tries to up his earning power by winning the competition. Short-notice opponent Jesse McElligott (5-1) stands in his way. He got the call when Ronny Markes (15-3) became dehydrated on weigh-ins day and had to be hospitalized. Will the largely unknown McElligott be able to take advantage of the massive opportunity?

8. The next crossover star

RFA 25: Two titles are up for grabs on AXS TV for RFA 25. A featherweight title fight sees UFC vet Justin Lawrence (6-2) try to play gatekeeper against undefeated prospect Sam Toomer (9-0). The “TUF 15? vet” would, of course, like to win the belt. But he’d also like to steal himself another contract with the big show in the process. In the middleweight division, Gabriel Checco (8-1) hopes to win gold and put together a good case for a UFC transition. Fresh off a TKO over “TUF 11? vet Joseph Henle, he meets Francisco France (11-3), who’s put together some solid wins over octagon vets. Both are looking to achieve critical mass.

9. Newell’s return

WSOF 20: When Nick Newell (11-1) succumbed nine months ago to a fierce bludgeoning dealt by WSOF lightweight champ Justin Gaethje, it was the end of an improbable run up the promotion’s 155-pound ladder. Newell’s chances at grabbing the title now seem slim at best. But if there’s anyone who’s bucked expectations, it’s the fighter with one arm, who faces off on his return with Joe Condon (12-7).

10. Jojo looks for mojo

Joanne Calderwood

UFC Fight Night 64: Women’s bantamweight Joanne Calderwood (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was an early prospect on “The Ultimate Fighter 20? before Rose Namajunas stole her thunder en route to the finals. A pro octagon debut against Seohee Ham proved a little tougher than many might have expected, but it kept intact the undefeated record that’s a rarity in the division. A meeting with the unheralded (but also undefeated) Maryna Moroz (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is another test to see if she’s title material; Moroz boasts four wins via armbar and is likely to rush for a scramble that will set up the submission.

For more on UFC Fight Night 64, Bellator 136, WSOF 20 and RFA 25, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.