Bellator was back in action earlier tonight (Friday, July 22, 2016) for its 159th event. The event featured rising bantamweight star Darrion Caldwell as well as the return of veteran Melvin Guillard. Overall on the night, one betting favorite was victorious while three underdogs picked up wins based on Several Bookmakers‘s closing odds. Bellator 159 Favorites That Won In the opening bout of the main card, featherweights Daniel Weichel and Emmanuel Sanchez had a very competitive battle. Weichel looked for takedowns throughout the contest, but Sanchez got up quickly and fired back in two very hotly contested opening rounds. Weichel pulled away in the third round with consistent top control and would walk away with a split decision victory. Weichel squeaked it out as a -260 (Bet $260 to win $100) favorite while Sanchez was a +240 (Bet $100 to win $240) underdog. Bellator 159 Underdogs that Won In the main event of the evening, bantamweight star Darrion Caldwell seemed well on his way to victory with his superior wrestling ability, but he got sloppy early in the third round against Joe Taimanglo, shooting in for a takedown but leaving his neck exposed as he was choked out with a tight guillotine. Taimanglo was victorious despite being a huge +1000 underdog while Caldwell was a massive -1200 favorite. This made Taimanglo’s victory the second biggest upset in MMA history. In a lightweight (actually 158 lbs) contest, Melvin Guillard got back on the winning track by knocking out David Rickels. Rickels landed a low blow early, and was competitive with Guillard in the first two minutes, but Guillard caught him with a right hand along the fence which hurt The Caveman and then proceeded to pound away with brutal elbows on the ground to force a stoppage. Guillard pulled off the victory as a +175 underdog, while Rickels lost at -190. In a women’s flyweight contest, Emily Ducote and Bruna Vargas had a competitive opening round, but Ducote absolutely cleaned Vargas’ clock early in the second frame, connecting with a brutal right to the chin which spun Vargas around like a top and set up a quick rear naked choke finish. Ducote was victorious as a +235 underdog while Vargas was a -255 favorite.
