Bellator 103 Predictions

                                                       

Bellator 103 Predictions

October 9, 2013

By Ryan Porzl

Mikhail Zayats vs. Aaron Rosa

Nickname:                                             None            |       Big Red

Height:                                                    5'11            |          6'3

Age:                                                          31              |          30

MMA Record (Bellator Rec):           21-7 (2-1)      |      17-5 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                           74 in.           |         78 in.

Team:                                      RusFighter Sport Club | Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ

Weight Class:                                    Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)

Notes: Rosa's first fight in Bellator since Bellator 20 (May 27, 2010).

Preview: Zayats is coming off a loss to Emanuel Newton by unanimous decision at Bellator 94 (March 28, 2013). Rosa is coming off a loss to James Te-Huna by TKO at UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann (March 3, 2012).

Predictions: Zayats. This fight comes off as a tune up fight for Zayats where he can get a win. For starters, Rosa hasn't fought in over a year and a half so he'll probably have a lot of rust. Rosa has also been knocked out in three times and Zayats has shown in the last two years that he has power and is a master of sports in hand-to-hand combat. Zayats is a decorated ground fighter as he's both a world and national champion in combat sambo as well as a jiu-jitsu european champion. Zayats also likes to use the armbar and with Rosa's arms being 78 inches, he may have an easy time being able to armbar a long arm.

David Rickels vs. JJ Ambrose

Nickname:                                       The Caveman     |     Superman

Height:                                                    5'11            |         5'9

Age:                                                          24              |         26

MMA Record (Bellator Rec):          14-2 (8-2)       | 19-4, 2NC (1-1)

Arm Length:                                        Unknown        |      69.5 in.

Team:                                             Janjira Muay Thai | Phuket Top Team

Weight Class:                                         Lightweight (155 pounds)

Notes:

Preview: Rickels is coming off a loss to Michael Chandler by KO at Bellator 97 (July 31, 2013). Ambrose is unbeaten in three fights (2 wins, 1 no contest). His recent fight was a no contest against Ibrahim Ahmed at Gladiator Fighting Championship – War of the Lions (February 9, 2013).

Predictions: Rickels. Rickels will not have to worry about getting knocked out like he did against Chandler since Ambrose isn't known for knockouts as he's only won four fights by knockout. Both fighters have won most of their fights by submission but Rickels has never lost by submission while Ambrose lost three fights by submission. Rickels is probably better standing up as well. Even with the Michael Chandler knockout loss, Rickels is still a tough guy to knockout as he did survive and beat Saad Awad in the Season Eight Tournament after Awad ran through the tournament by knocking out his previous opponents in less than a minute.

Justin Wilcox vs. Joe Taimanglo

Nickname:                                      The Silverback |    The Juggernaut

Height:                                                    5'6           |          5'4

Age:                                                         34           |           29

MMA Record (Bellator Rec):   12-5, 1NC (1-0) |     19-4-1, (2-0)

Arm Length:                                           65 in.        |      Unknown

Team:                     American Kickboxing Academy |      Spike 22

Weight Class:                                     Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes: Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Semifinals.

Preview: Wilcox is coming off a win over Akop Stepayan by technical submission at Bellator 99 (September 13, 2013). Taimanglo is riding a ten fight win streak. His recent win was over Andrew Fisher at Bellator 99 (September 13, 2013).

Predictions: Taimanglo. For starters, Wilcox will likely not be coming in 100% since Stepayan chopped it his leg for more than one round and cut him on the head due to a head kick. Wilcox will have a lot of targets for Taimanglo to go after. Taimanglo is also a better striker and can like pick Wilcox apart standing up. Wilcox isn't known for finishing and his comeback win over Akop Stepayan was a one in a million after he was cut open and was barely able to stand on one leg. The longer the fight goes, the chances of Wilcox winning diminish.

Patricio Freire vs. Fabricio Guerreiro

Nickname:                                         Pitbull         |          Guerreiro

Height:                                                 5'4            |             5'10

Age:                                                      26            |               23

MMA Record (Bellator Rec):       19-2 (7-2)     |     19-2, 1NC (1-1)

Arm Length:                                        65 in.         |         Unknown

Team:                                            Team Nogueira | Ronildo Nobre Judo Club

Weight Class:                                    Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes: Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Semifinals.

Preview: Freire is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Diego Nunes by KO at Bellator 99 (September 13, 2013). Guerreiro is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Desmond Green by unanimous decision at Bellator 99 (September 13, 2013).

Predictions: Freire. Guerreiro is a good fighter with potential but Freire is on a whole other level. He has little to no weaknesses. He's a good striker, he's good with submissions, he hits very hard, he's got a black belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu, and has never been finished in his career so far. In fact, the only times Freire has lost has been by very close split decisions. From what I've seen, Guerreiro is a good talent but nothing great at least right now. He not like Joe Warren who has at least one excellent quality (wrestling) or overall a top five featherweight like Pat Curran.