Matches to Make After Bellator 166, Bellator 167

Eduardo Dantas has spent the past year consolidating power atop the Bellator MMA bantamweight division. Consider one threat removed. Dantas picked apart Joe Warren across five rounds, retained his bantamweight crown and avenged his October 2014 defeat to the self-professed “Baddest Man on the Planet” with a majority decision in their Bellator 166 rematch on Friday at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Scores were 49-44, 48-46 and 47-47.The Nova Uniao ace tore into Warren with a punishing jab and cruel kicks to his lead leg. Dantas also minimized his time in the clinch with the 2006 FILA Wrestling World Championship Greco-Roman gold medalist and denied all but one of his bids for takedowns. Confined to the standup, Warren slipped into a state of desperation and spent the majority of his time charging forward and running into punches. A point deduction for low blows was all that stood between Dantas and a clean sweep on the scorecards. After Dantas put out one fire, another sprang forth. Darrion Caldwell on Saturday emerged as the No. 1 contender at 135 pounds by virtue of his unanimous decision over Joe Taimanglo at Bellator 167. In wake of Bellator 166 and Bellator 167, here are five matches that ought to be made:Eduardo Dantas vs. Darrion Caldwell: A dream matchup in the bantamweight division pits Dantas against perhaps his gravest threat. The Brazilian champion improved to 9-1 under the Bellator banner with his systematic dismantling of the …

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