June 17, 2013
By Ryan Porzl
War Machine vs. Blas Avena
Nickname: None | The Disciple
Height: 5'11 | 6'0
Age: 31 | 29
MMA Record (Bellator Rec): 12-4 (0-0) | 8-6, 1NC (1-0)
Arm Length: 72 in. | Unknown
Team: Team Undisputed | Machado Jiu-Jitsu
Weight Class: Welterweight (170 pounds)
Notes: War Machine's Bellator debut
Preview: War Machine is coming off a win over Roger Huerta by TKO at UWF 1: Huerta vs. War Machine (November 26, 2011). Avena is coming off a win over Lenny Lovato by TKO at Bellator 91 (February 28, 2013).
Predictions: Machine. Machine hasn't had a fight in a year and a half but Avena is a clearly a “Welcome back to MMA, War Machine” type of fight. Stylistically, this is Machine's fight. He's won most of his fights by T/KO while Avena has lost all of his fights by T/KO. Avena is coming off a TKO win but Machine has never been knocked out so if the stays up then Avena has an uphill battle. There is the possibility of a submission since Machine has lost most of his fights by submission while Avena has won most of his fights by sub. However, the problem is that Avena hasn't won a fight by submission since 2010.
Ron Sparks vs. Vitaly Minakov
Nickname: The Monster | None
Height: 6'5 | 6'3½
Age: 38 | 28
MMA Record (Bellator Rec): 8-1 (3-1) | 10-0 (1-0)
Arm Length: Unknown | Unknown
Team: Louisville MMA | Fight Nights Team
Weight Class: Heavyweight (265 pounds)
Notes: Summer Series 2013 Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals.
Preview: Sparks is coming off a loss to Eric Prindle by KO at Bellator 56 (October 29, 2011). Minakov is undefeated in ten fights. His recent win was over Vladimir Starcencov by TKO at Bellator 82 (November 2, 2012).
Predictions: Minakov. Sparks is also coming off a year and a half layoff but unlike War Machine, He's not getting a pushover. Minakov is a talented prospect who's a multi-time world sambo champion and a former national judo champion. He also has knockout power and pretty good striking. Minakov is more three dimensional as he's dangerous standing and on the ground while Sparks is mostly a striker. Speaking of striking, Sparks got knocked out in less than a minute so he is capable of getting his lights turned off.
Vinicius Queiroz vs. Richard Hale
Nickname: Spartan | Rare Breed
Height: 6'7 | 6'4
Age: Unknown | 28
MMA Record (Bellator Rec): 6-3 (1-1) | 21-5-1 (6-2)
Arm Length: 79.5 in. | 80.5 in.
Team: Team Nogueira | Koncrete MMA
Weight Class: Heavyweight (265 pounds)
Notes: Summer Series 2013 Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals
Preview: Queiroz is coming off a loss to Alexander Volkov by TKO at Bellator 80 (November 9, 2012). Hale is coming off a loss to Alexander Volkov at Bellator 84 by Unanimous Decision (December 14, 2012).
Predictions: Hale. Hale is a Michael Bisping type when he only loses to the big names. In fact his only two losses are in tournament finals with Christian M'Pumbu and Alexander Volkov. Hale is probably more well-rounded and has a better chin. He showed his toughness in his fight against Thiago Santos where he was rocked several times and taking to the ground only to eventually escape and knockout the Brazilian.
Renato Sobral vs. Jacob Noe
Nickname: Babalu | The Psycho
Height: 6'0 | 6'2
Age: 37 | 32
MMA Record (Bellator Rec): 37-10 (0-1) | 11-2, 1 NC (2-1)
Arm Length: Unknown | 75 in.
Team: Babalu's Iron Gym | Memphis Judo and Jiu-Jitsu
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)
Notes: Summer Series 2013 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals
Preview: Sobral is coming off a loss to Mikhail Zayats by KO at Bellator 85 (January 17, 2013). Noe is coming off a loss to Mikhail Zayats by submission at Bellator 90 (February 21, 2013).
Predictions: Noe. Babalu is past his prime and pretty one-dimensional. He's a better ground guy but not much of a striker. Noe is probably more well-rounded, in his prime, and if he can keep the fight standing, he'll win.
Muhammed Lawal vs. Seth Petruzelli
Nickname: King Mo | The Silverback
Height: 6'0 | 6'0
Age: 32 | 33
MMA Record (Bellator Rec): 9-2, 1NC (1-1) | 14-7 (1-1)
Arm Length: 79 in. | 74 in.
Team: American Kickboxing Academy | The Jungle MMAand Fitness
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)
Notes: Summer Series 2013 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals
Preview: Lawal is coming off a loss to Emanuel Newton by KO at Bellator 90 (February 21, 2013). Petruzelli is coming off a loss to Jacob Noe by TKO at Bellator 95 (January 17, 2013).
Predictions: Lawal. After coming in to Bellator with so much fanfare, Lawal was expected to blitz through the Light Heavyweight tournament but instead lost to Emanuel Newton. Going into this fight, Lawal will be the most motivated as he knows he needs to win the tournament or else people will begin to question the hype around him. Skill wise, Lawal is more well-rounded. If the fight stands up it could go either way but Lawal has the advantage on ground.
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