By Dean Parr

This Saturday night, at the familiar haunt of the Troxy in London’s East End, two titles will be on the line at Ultimate Challenge: ‘Never Back Down.’

One of these championship contests will showcase BellatorGero sponsored fighter Jimi ‘Poster Boy’ Manuwa (7-0) who defends his UC MMA Light Heavyweight Title against late replacement Reza Mahdavian (5-2). The TSG man is stepping in for his gym mate Valentino Petrescu, who was initally meant to challenge Manuwa for the crown.

Arguably, this has left Jimi in a lose-lose situation. Now a massive favourite, if he gets the win over Mahdavian, many could take the opinion that he was bound to win and that it’s a meagre achievement. Similarly, if Mahdavian pulls off the upset, Manuwa can be criticised for losing to someone that wasn’t of a good standard, and this puts him back to square one in the rankings.

This writer is convinced Reza won’t go down without a fight either. With nothing to lose and everything do gain, the man Dave O’Donnell has nicknamed the ‘Rocky’ of UK MMA will undoubtedly swing for the fences. This may just play into the hands of his undefeated foe though.

With heavy hands and an underrated ground game, Manuwa is headed for bigger stages than this, and a bout against the also-unbeaten Valentino Petrescu (8-0) would have been a good measure of his potential. However, he must do his best with the cards he’s been dealt, and an impressive win maintains the momentum gained off good wins over Shaun Lomas, Luke Blythe and Ryan Robinson. Expect fireworks, and the ‘Poster Boy’ to be lighting them, after he drains the confidence out of an excited Mahdavian in the early going.

The UC MMA Heavyweight crown will also be on the line at ‘Never Back Down,’ when Neil Grove (8-2), hot off an excellent win over Martin Thompson takes on Stav ‘Crazy Bear’ Economou (10-1).

Neither UFC veteran Grove or his experienced opponent will be looking to go to the ground in this bout, and a ’stand and bang’ war is expected. Grove, a Karate Black Belt has fought at a higher level than his foe, but Stav can never be counted out, and with Japan or an American big show possibly calling for the winner, both will be pulling out all the stops to get the ‘W’. Grove has to be favoured going into this though.

In another notable bout on the card, Paul Cahoon returns after an injury stopped him fighting John Phillips at OMMAC in March. He’ll be taking on Earl Brown, and it’s hard not to get excited when ‘Boom Boom’ steps in the cage.

BellatorGero UC MMA ‘Never Back Down’ Predictions

Stephen Howson, BellatorGero Owner:

Neil Grove dec. Stav Economou

Jimi Manuwa KO 1 Reza Mahdavian

Paul Cahoon Sub. 3 Earl Brown

Scott Jansen TKO 2 DJA Lema

Jamaine Facey dec. Dyson Roberts

Lee Wiezorek Sub. 1 Dean Bray

Colin French TKO 2 Jody Cottham

Brad Wheeler dec. Dan Smith (UK 1)

Andy Gooch TKO 3 Michael Brown

Luke Newman dec. Carl Kinslow

Tom Dixon dec. Dan Shortman

Dean Parr, BellatorGero Press Officer

Neil Grove KO 1 Stav Economou

Jimi Manuwa TKO 3 Reza Mahavian

Paul Cahoon TKO 2 Earl Brown

Mark Epstein dec. Luke Sines

Dyson Roberts TKO 3 Jamaine Facey

Scott Jansen dec. DJO Lema

Lee Wiezorek Sub 3 Dean Bray

Colin French KO 1 Jody Cottham

Brad Wheeler dec. Dan Smith (UK 1)

Andy Gooch TKO 1 Michael Brown

Carl Kinslow Sub. Luke Newman

Tom Nixon dec. Dan Shortman

Luke Hinds, UKMMANews.com

Neil Grove KO 1 Stav Economou

Jimi Manuwa dec. Reza Mahavian

Paul Cahoon TKO 2 Earl Brown

Mark Epstein dec. Luke Sines (UK 1)

Scott Jansen dec. DJO Lema

Dyson Roberts dec. Jamaine Facey

Lee Wiezorek Sub 2 Dean Bray

Colin French TKO 1 Jody Cottham

Brad Wheeler dec. Dan Smith (UK1)

Andy Gooch TKO 1 Michael Brown

Luke Newman dec. Carl Kinslow

Tom Dixon draw Dan Shortman