Bellator 161: "Kongo vs. Johnson" takes place at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas, this Friday night (Sept. 16, 2016), featuring two Heavyweight contenders looking to stake a claim to the currently vacant title -- Cheick Kongo and Tony Johnson. Kongo has a two-fight win streak and Johnson is a three-straight fight winner coming in, so each man is poised to make their case as the next Heavyweight champion.
Meanwhile, earlier in the evening two Bantamweight fighters have a bit further to climb. Former 135-pound champion Joe Warren lost his last fight to Darrion Caldwell, who himself seemed posed to challenge for the title until his stunning submission loss at Bellator 159 to Joe "The Juggernaut" Taimanglo.