Bellator Vet Mandel Nallo Set to Face Cage Warriors Lightweight Champion Samuel Silva on DWCS Week 4
Former Bellator contender Mandel Nallo (13-3) is set for a DWCS fight on September 2, currently slated to be Week 4, against current Cage Warriors Lightweight Champion Samuel Silva (13-4-1). The fight will be contested at 155 pounds.
MMA Junkie’s Nolan King confirmed the fight on X yesterday evening.
Nallo was a staple of the now-defunct Bellator promotion, with a 4-3 (1) record across eight fights with the promotion. His only losses came against respectable opponents, Adam Piccolotti, Nick Browne, and Killys Mota. After leaving the promotion in 2023, Nallo has accumulated a 4-0 record in MMA with four first-round finishes. Nallo’s latest victory over Robert Seres came with a brutal first-round choke, leaving him the Samourai MMA Lightweight Champion. Throughout his career, Mandel Nallo’s activity has been shaky, peaking at two fights a year.
Stepping across the cage from Mandel Nallo is the newly crowned Cage Warriors Lightweight Champion, Samuel Silva. Silva also enters the fight on an impressive five-fight winning streak himself, picking up three finishes along the way. Silva’s last fight saw him crowned the Cage Warriors Lightweight Champion with a close win over the highly acclaimed George Hardwick in a big upset. Before that fight, Silva had experience in LFA, RCC, and Shooto Brasil, being well-traveled ahead of his DWCS debut.
Mandel Nallo vs. Samuel Silva Preview
Mandel Nallo enters this fight with a sizable three-inch reach advantage despite being one inch shorter than Silva. Bellator experience is sure to play a significant factor in the fight for Nallo; however, Silva’s recent win over George Hardwick is stronger than Nallo’s. While Nallo should be able to neutralize Silva with his grappling, a Round 1 finish with either method for either fighter is a likely possibility. Nallo and Silva combined for 19 first-round finishes in 26 professional wins. The likelihood this fight goes the distance is even higher, with only four combined decisions total (all coming from Silva).
Silva’s five first-round knockouts prove his danger from the opening bell and can provide trouble if Nallo isn’t careful. All three of Nallo’s losses came by late finishes—proof that Silva can capitalize if given the chance, especially late.
Mandel Nallo vs. Samuel Silva will be joined by An Tuan Ho vs. Frank Silva and Cody Law vs. Tommy McMillen on Week 4 at the UFC Apex, which is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cards of the season yet. Altogether, this season has the potential to be the best yet, with fights that are expected to deliver.
