Bellator is in Hawaii this week for another weekend doubleheader. The first of the two events, Bellator 212, a.k.a. “Bellator and USO Present: Salute the Troops,” takes place tonight. Bellator 213, meanwhile, goes down on Saturday night.

In the Bellator 212 main event, current lightweight champion Brent Primus puts his title on the line against former two-time champ Michael Chandler in a rematch. A series of bizarre events conspired to bring an early end to their first matchup 18 months ago. This bout marks Primus’ first defense of his title. As for Chandler, this contest marks a promotional record 10th Bellator title fight.

In the co-main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir looks to end his three-fight losing skid against Javy Ayala.

In the main event of Bellator 213, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane puts her women’s flyweight title, as well as her unbeaten record, on the line against former UFC women’s strawweight challenger Valerie Letourneau. If that’s not enough pressure for the Hawaiian champion, she’s also headlining the first major MMA weekend on the islands in 10 years.

In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida makes his Bellator debut against former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho. Also on the main card is the second bout in the Bellator welterweight grand prix between unbeatens Ed Ruth and Neiman Gracie.

Bellator 212 and 213 both take place at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. Bellator 212 airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN. Bellator 213 streams exclusively on DAZN.

Here are nine reasons to watch the events.

1. Grudge match

An injury to his left ankle and several hard kicks from Primus to that damaged limb cost Chandler his lightweight title in June 2017. A rematch between the two was scheduled for April 2018, but when the current champ suffered a knee injury, that bout went by the wayside. While Primus (8-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) rehabbed, Chandler (18-4 MMA, 15-4 BMMA) remained active. He scored wins over Goiti Yamauchi and Brandon Girtz, the man who replaced Primus on that April fight card. Chandler gets the chance to reclaim the 155-pound title at Bellator 212. If he is successful in that quest, Chandler will begin a third reign as lightweight champion.

While Primus was on the mend, Chandler did his best to dismiss the man he faces in Hawaii.

“Brent who?” Chandler told MMAjunkie after his win over Girtz. “Brent Primus? Never heard of him. Is he a jiu-jitsu guy? Is he a jiu-jitsu fighter? Is he a fighter?”

As the rematch approached, Chandler dropped that facade in a big way when he posted a promo inspired by “The Purge.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMS7Uy3RkPk

So, yeah, this one is a bit personal for Chandler. And also for Primus.

Primus, who is unbeaten, is no stranger to coming back after long layoffs. Since joining the Bellator ranks in 2013, he has fought six times. He returned from a break of 14 months to defeat Chandler on the Bellator NYC card. However, the layoff between that bout and the rematch is Primus’ longest time between fights at 538 days.

The current champ also seems to be approaching this as more than just another fight.

“All the stuff he’s been talking, all the lying, all the controversy, it is (personal), man,” Primus told MMAjunkie. “I want to get in there and prove that it wasn’t a mistake – and he knows that it wasn’t, too – so I’m excited.

“Literally, I was so scared that I heard that he might be going to another organization because his contract was up, and I was literally praying that he stays with Bellator, and I’m just really excited that he’s staying. We can get in there and get it done.”

Primus and Chandler are both honorable mentions in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings.

2. Monumental moment

The two women who face off in the main event of Bellator 213 have differing mindsets heading into the bout. Macfarlane, who is defending her title on home turf, admitted that the enormity of the bout could produce more nerves than usual.

“For sure I’m going to have to keep it in check, especially the walkout,” Macfarlane told MMAjunkie. “The walkout’s going to be very emotional. It’s kind of a surprise. I don’t want to spoil it, but I know my family’s probably going to be bawling when they see the walkout. So I’m probably going to be bawling too. That’s probably going to be the most emotional I get during fight week, but as soon as I get in that cage, it’s all business.”

As for Letourneau, when she fought for the UFC women’s strawweight title at UFC 193, the crowd at that event was more than 56,000 strong. To hear her tell it, she feels no pressure ahead of this scrap.

“It’s not a stress at all,” Letourneau told MMAjunkie Radio. “I’m not really thinking about this to be honest with you. I’ve done it. I’ve done it, and I’ve been fine with it. I’m ready for this.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su6k76laaXs

Macfarlane (8-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA), who is the No. 4 ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA women’s flyweight rankings, has successfully defended her title once. She defeated Alejandra Lara in June via a third-round armbar submission. Letourneau (10-6 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), who is a rankings honorable mention, failed in her bid to unseat Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 193. She is 2-0 with Bellator. Both of those fights took place at flyweight.