Bellator 195 main-event breakdown: Will Darrion Caldwell's wrestling edge top Leandro Higo?

MMAjunkie Radio cohost and MMAjunkie contributor Dan Tom provides an in-depth breakdown of all of Bellator’s top bouts. Today, we look at Bellator 195’s main event.

Bellator 195 takes place Friday at Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.

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Darrion Caldwell (11-1 MMA, 8-1 Bellator)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’10” Age: 30 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 74?
• Last fight: Decision win over Eduardo Dantas (Oct. 6, 2017)
• Camp: Alliance MMA (San Diego, CA.)
• Stance/striking style: Southpaw/kickboxing
• Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:
+ Bellator bantamweight champion
+ NCAA Div. 1 wrestling champion
+ 1 KO victory
+ 4 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ Athletic and explosive mover
^ Closes distance quickly
+ Improved overall striking ability
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Superb takedown ability
^ Seamlessly chains and transitions
+ Excellent top game and control
^ Floats and rides positions well

Leandro Higo (183 MMA, 1-1 Bellator)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’6? Age: 29 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 72?
• Last fight: Decision win over Joe Taimanglo (Oct. 6, 2017)
• Camp: Pitbull Brothers (Brazil)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
• Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 3 KO victories
+ 10 submission wins
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Good feints and footwork
+ Accurate hooks and crosses
+ Hard leg kicks
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Underrated wrestling ability
+ Excellent transitional grappler
^ Works well from top and bottom

Summary:

The main event for Bellator 195 features a bantamweight title fight between Darrion Caldwell and Leandro Higo.

One of the most accomplished wrestlers to ever step foot in the Bellator cage, Caldwell has deservedly caught the attention of spectators and contenders alike. After earning a title at Bellator 184, Caldwell now will look to start off his career as champion on the right foot.

Looking to spoil those plans is Higo, a dangerous up-and-coming Brazilian who is seeking a Bellator championship himself. Now, after just two appearances in the organization, Higo will have his chance to earn gold and make a statement of his own.

Starting off on the feet, we have a battle between two fighters who approach the striking game in different ways.

Higo, the more dangerous striker on paper, will carry a slight edge inside of standing exchanges. Working from a stance that bears a similar resemblance to Jose Aldo, Higo will steadily feint forward while looking for opportunities to attack with his favored hooks and crosses.

The 29-year-old has little issue in circling on the outside when he needs to, but he arguably does his best work when coming forward, putting his punches and kicks together in succession. When able to pressure his opponents toward the fence, Higo will typically load up on power shots or look to intercept a level change with a knee.

Higo also does a decent job of keeping his feet beneath him while moving forward, something that will likely serve him well against someone who is seeking to take him down.

Enter Caldwell.

An accoladed wrestler who unabashedly relies on those skills heavily in fights, Caldwell has quietly been crafting his striking behind the scenes. Working with Alliance MMA in San Diego for the past few years, the All-American wrestler offers some intriguing offense.

Operating out of a southpaw stance, Caldwell will usually circle on the outside as he offers up different feints and fakes. Utilizing his exceptionally long frame and reach for the weight class, the 30-year-old launches disruptive jabs and crosses that can halt his opponent’s initial momentum.

Embracing his southpaw sensibilities, Caldwell also carries hard kicks that he variates between the body, head and legs. Although I don’t expect Caldwell to trade back and forth with Higo, the upgraded confidence and technique point to signs of improvement.

Even in his most recent fight with former champion Eduardo Dantas, Caldwell was able to parlay failed offense into opportunity, hitting a slick elbow off a separation that dropped his foe and helped turn the tide of the fight. Nevertheless, the goal of the champion will probably involve grappling and grinding Higo in some fashion, making the clinch a key factor in this fight.

Caldwell may carry a clear wrestling edge on paper, but his opponent is no pushover.

Higo, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, has made measurable improvements to his wrestling game in recent years. Through his training camp and affiliation with the “Pitbull” Freire brothers (Patricio and Patricky), Higo has been able to get good work in with both Henry Cejudo and his wrestling coach Eric Albarracin.

World-class wrestlers who know the game of MMA, Higo has been able to translate improved techniques that help him dictate where he wants the fight. Whether he is defending shots against the fence or looking for slick trips and level changes of his own, Higo is not one to go down without a fight.

Still, there are no easy answers for the brand of wrestling Caldwell offers.

Even in college, the All-American’s funky style befuddled fellow wrestlers en route to his NCAA championship. Add in athleticism to already stellar technique, and what you have is a problem that’s been difficult to solve.

Aside from getting caught speeding by Joe Taimanglo for taking a shot that was too far out, Caldwell has shown a formidable takedown ability. From chaining off of failed attempts to picking ankles that make themselves available, Caldwell can change directions at the drop of a dime.

If he can ground Higo, Caldwell demonstrates the positional awareness and ability to control his counterpart, but he’ll have to be on his best behavior. Despite Caldwell showing a knack for transitions and taste for submissions, he will be playing with a well-schooled Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

Even though Higo has seemed reluctant to embrace his ground game at times, he displays sharp skills and concise movements from both the top and bottom. And when sealing off submissions, Higo does so with confidence and composure that only comes from 12 years of professional fighting experience.

At the time of this writing, there are no current odds listed for this matchup.

Regardless of whom the betting line ends up favoring, I can’t imagine it will be by too large a margin. Both men are talented fighters who still are getting better each time out.

Higo certainly has the ability to catch Caldwell with a counter right hand or intercept him with a knee on a level change. And if Caldwell gets careless in transition, I could also see Higo snatch up an opportunistic submission.

However, if those opportunities fail to materialize, then Higo will likely find himself stuck playing defense, a place the Brazilian already has a propensity to put himself. For that reason, I see Caldwell surviving a few close scares early, eventually getting enough of a grasp on the fight to drag Higo kicking and screaming into the scorecards.

Official pick: Caldwell by decision

For more on Bellator 195, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.