Bellator 98 Predictions

                                               

Bellator 98 Predictions

September 3, 2013

By Ryan Porzl

Jason Butcher vs. Giva Santana

Nickname:                                             None          |  The Arm Collector

Height:                                                     6'3            |          5'11

Age:                                                          28            |           41

MMA Record (BMMA Rec):           6-0 (3-0)       |      17-2 (2-1)

Arm Length:                                           74 in.          |          73 in.

Team:                                           Team Jorge Gurgel |   Team Oyama

Weight Class:                                     Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: Quarterfinals of the Season Nine Bellator Middleweight Tournament

Preview: Butcher is undefeated with six wins. His recent win was over Jack Hermansson by submission at Bellator 93 (March 21, 2013). Santana is coming off a win over Brendan Sequin by submission at Bellator 82 (November 30, 2012).

Predictions: Santana. Both guys are great grapplers and prefer to use their jiu-jitsu to win fights. Santana has more experience in both fighting but in brazilian jiu-jitsu. This isn't a good fight for Butcher as he prefers to use his jiu-jitsu off his back but Santana will likely be able to block anything his tries and will either grind him on the top or mount him. Butcher likely doesn't have anything that Santana hasn't seen before.

Justin Torrey vs. Andreas Spang

Nickname:                                           None          |     Sweet Swede

Height:                                                   6'0            |            6'1

Age:                                                   Unknown      |             34

MMA Record (BMMA Rec):          7-0 (2-0)      |        8-3 (1-2)

Arm Length:                                      Unknown      |        Unknown

Team:                                  Fighting Arts Academy |     J-Sect MMA

Weight Class:                                    Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: Quarterfinals of the Season Nine Bellator Middleweight Tournament. Torrey is replacing Brett Cooper.

Preview: Torrey is undefeated with seven wins. His recent win was over Lance Everson by unanimous decision at Bellator 17 (May 6, 2010). Spang is riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Doug Marshall by KO at Bellator 89 (February 14, 2013).

Predictions: Spang. First of all, Torrey hasn't fought in three years. Second, Spang is likely the more well-rounded of the two. Spang is a former amateur boxer and has submission skills. Torrey is mostly a striker so Spang might be able to get it to the ground if he needs to. Also despite the fact he was knocked out in his recent fight against Doug Marshall, Spang has proven to take punishment as he survived Brian Rogers' offense and came back with a come from behind knockout.

Jeremy Kimball vs. Perry Filkins

Nickname:                                           None             |         Filthy

Height:                                                  6'0                |          6'0

Age:                                                   Unknown         |      Unknown

MMA Record (BMMA Rec):         10-3 (1-0)        |      7-1 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                      Unknown         |       Unknown

Team:                               Team Wildman Vale Tudo |    Team Link NH

Weight Class:                                     Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: Quarterfinals of the Season Nine Bellator Middleweight Tournament

Preview: Kimball is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over Keith Berry by KO at Bellator 97 (July 31, 2013). Filkins is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Jonas Billstein by Unanimous Decision at Bellator 81 (November 16, 2012).

Predictions: Filkins. This is a tough one. Both guys are strikers, both have great knockout power, and neither have ever been knocked out. This could ultimately come down to who connects first. Kimball has struggled in the past with the ground so Filkins will also have a good chance to take him down and possibly grind out a decision.

Mikkel Parlo vs. Brian Rogers

Nickname:                                            None          |     The Predator

Height:                                                   5'10           |         5'11

Age:                                                        23             |           29

MMA Record (BMMA Rec):           9-1 (1-1)      |      10-5 (3-3)

Arm Length:                                        Unknown     |      Unknown

Team:                                                Rumble Sports | Strong Style Fight Team

Weight Class:                                      Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: Quarterfinals of the Season Nine Bellator Middleweight Tournament

Preview: Parlo is coming off a loss to Sultan Aliev by unanimous decision at Bellator 89 (February 14, 2013). Rogers is coming off a loss to Dan Cramer by unanimous decision at Bellator 89 (February 14, 2013).

Predictions: Parlo. Both guys are heavy hitters but Parlo has the better chin. He's never been knocked out in his career while Rogers has been knocked out two times in the last two years. Neither guy are known for they're ground skills so the fight will probably be fought standing up and Parlo has the better chance of winning.

Nick Kirk vs. Joe Warren

Nickname:                                         The Big Hurt | The Baddest Man On The Planet

Height:                                                     5'4          |      5'5

Age:                                                          30          |       36

MMA Record (BMMA Rec):             10-2 (0-2) |    8-3 (6-2)

Arm Length:                                         Unknown    |   Unknown

Team:                                                The Academy |  Team Quest

Weight Class:                                    Bantamweight (135 pounds)

Notes:

Preview: Kirk is coming off a win over Ben Miller by submission at Impact Fighting Championship – Revolution (April 13, 2013). Warren is coming off a win over Owen Evinger by unanimous decision at Bellator 80 (November 9, 2012).

Predictions: Warren. Kirk is mostly a striker but doesn't have a lot of knockout power as he only won one fight by knockout. Because of this, Warren shouldn't have to worry about getting brutally knocked out like he did against Pat Curran. Warren is a great wrestler and should be able to control Kirk on the ground. Kirk's offense can be effected as takedown won't work and he might not throw kicks since he may be afraid they'll get caught and he'll be taking down.

Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brett Cooper

Nickname:                                           Storm                  |      Fudoshin

Height:                                                  5'11                    |         6'0

Age:                                                        29                     |          26

MMA Record (BMMA Rec):         47-7 (8-1)             |     19-8 (6-3)

Arm Length:                                          71 in.                 |         72 in.

Team:                                            Rusfighter Sport Club  | Reign MMA

Weight Class: Middleweight (185 pounds)

Notes: For the Bellator Middleweight Championship. Cooper is replacing Doug Marshall

Preview: Shlemenko is riding an eight fight win streak. His recent win was over Maiquel Falcao at Bellator 88 (February 7, 2013). Cooper is coming off a loss to Doug Marshall by KO at Bellator 95 (April 4, 2013).

Predictions: Shlemenko. Shlemenko has the better chin and this will likely come down to the two standing up and striking. Cooper has been knocked out a few times including his recent loss to Marshall. Shlemenko is also a different type of striker as he uses angles and bodyshots which will probably throw Cooper off and wear him down for the finish.