WHO SHOULD BABY JOE FIGHT NEXT?

By Michael Cruz

Inactivity is one of the biggest challenges in any sport and Guam’s Baby Joe Taimanglo currently is experiencing this challenge. He has not fought since his epic 1^st Round KO via anchor punch over Antonio Duarte on May 15, 2015. It was easily the KO of the year in Guam MMA sports in 2015. However, he has been on the shelf since then.

He reflected his frustration on Instagram recently.

https://www.instagram.com/p/_yEEKMw7Bn/

With two straight wins at Bantamweight. He is ready for another challenge. Taimanglo is not getting any younger as he is entering the prime of his career. I looked at the Bellator roster and the pickings are slim with only 10 total fighters including himself available to fight in 2016. So here are his prospective opponents as fans await his next fight next year.

Brandon Bender (12-1) – Last Fight Submission (RNC) over Mario Navarro 4/11/2014. Bender has been inactive for nearly two years. He has a good record and is 1-1 in Bellator with his loss being by knee to the body and punches.

Steve Garcia (6-0) – This guy is called the ‘Mean Machine’. Only 23 and 6’0 which is tall for the division. Has five kos and one decision (with 3 kos in Bellator).

Sirwan Kakai (12-3) – Was released after a decision loss to Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night 73. Who would be better to welcome Kakai to Bellator than Taimanglo’s overhand right? Kakai has a win over UFC veteran Danny Martinez.

Hideo Tokoro (32-28-2) – Tokoro is on a three fight losing streak, so why not make it four? Hideo had a draw with GSPN’s own Royce Gracie in 2006.

The other option is to wait out for a potential title shot as Bellator Champion Marcos Galvao fights Eduardo Dantas on 2/26/15 in Wichita, Kansas. Another, is going after the winner between former Bellator champion Joe Warren and NCAA wrestling champion Darrion Caldwell on 3/4/16 in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

The first Bellator card of the year is January 29, 2016 in Fresno which is five hours away from Taimanglo’s home base. The second card of the year is in Houston which has a good size Chamorro population for support and Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock will headline the card. Every Bellator event is televised. Hopefully, the Juggernaut can get scheduled on these cards ASAP with a fight.

[youtube id=”RfGmvIcB-4″ width=”620″ height=”360″](KO at 13:08)