Bellator 106 Predictions

                                                

Bellator 106 Predictions

October 29, 2013

By Ryan Porzl

Joe Riggs vs. Mike Bronzoulis

Nickname:                                          Diesel      |        The Greek

Height:                                                  6'0        |             6'0

Age:                                                       31         |             34

MMA Record (BMMA):    39-14, 1NC (0-1) |       15-5-1 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                       70.5 in.    |        Unknown

Team:                                              MMA Lab  |         Paradigm

Weight Class:                                    Welterweight (170 pounds)

Notes: Fight Master: Bellator MMA Finals

Preview: Riggs is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Cris Leyva by TKO at Rage In The Cage 164 (November 16, 2012). Bronzoulis is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Robert Shawn Machado by unanimous decision at LFC 15 (November 16, 2012).

Predictions: Bronzoulis. Riggs seems like the obvious pick but I believe Bronzoulis will tip over his apple cart. Riggs is younger in age but not in fighting. He's been competing for twelve years and 54 fights. At some point that has to catch up to you. Bronzoulis has also spent the entire Fight Master competition proving people wrong. He was always one of the lower fighters on the Fight Master seedings and was considered one of the weaker fighters only to continually upset fighter after fighter. Bronzoulis also proved in his semi-final fight against Eric Bradley that he'll fight to the end as he was dominated by Bradley's wrestling the whole fight until eventually knocking him out with only 30 seconds left. Both men hit very hard and prefer to go for the KO but Bronzoulis has never been knocked out in an MMA fight to date while Riggs has been five times.

Mike Richman vs. Akop Stepanyan

Nickname:                                     The Marine       |         Sniper

Height:                                               5'8                |           5'9

Age:                                                    28                |            27

MMA Record (BMMA):             15-3 (4-2)        |       13-6 (1-3)

Arm Length:                                   Unknown         |          68 in.

Team:                                          The Academy      |  Rusfighters Sport Club

Weight Class:                                     Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes:

Preview: Richman is coming off a loss to Magomedrasul Khasbulaev by unanimous decision at Bellator 95 (April 4, 2013). Stepanyan is coming off a loss to Justin Wilcox by technical submission at Bellator 99 (September 13, 2013).

Predictions: Richman. This is the wildcard fight for me. The one fight where either guy could win. But Richman is the better pick. Richman is the more well-rounded as he has an even amount of wins by knockout and submission. It's also too hard to pick Stepanyan after he was given a sure-fire, all but confirmed win against Justin Wilcox where he chopped Wilcox's leg for one and a half round and had the match won only to be taken down, give his back up, and then gets choked out by a rear naked choke. He basically lost to a one-legged man in an asskicking contest. Stepanyan is a very good striker and could definitely knock Richman out but he's such a submission magnet and not very comfortable on the ground. Richman hasn't won a fight by submission in years but it won't matter cause four out of Stepanyan's six losses have come by way of submission.

Muhammed Lawal vs. Emanuel Newton

Nickname:                                         King Mo         |    The Hardcore Kid

Height:                                                   6'0              |               6'1

Age:                                                        32              |                29

MMA Record (BMMA):          11-2, 1NC (3-1)   |        21-10-1 (4-1)

Arm Length:                                         79 in.           |              75 in.

Team:                      American Kickboxing Academy |   Reign Training Center

Weight Class:                                 Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)

Notes: For the Bellator Interim Light Heavyweight Championship. Rematch from Bellator 90 (February 21, 2013).

Preview: Lawal is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Jacob Noe by TKO at Bellator 97 (July 31, 2013). Newton is riding a three fight win streak. His recent win was over Mikhail Zayats by unanimous decision at Bellator 94 (March 28, 2013).

Predictions: Lawal. Newton has defeated Mo before but it wouldn't be surprising if it was different this time. Sure Newton is a great fighter but one of the reasons he won because Mo clearly didn't take him seriously. As talented as Mo is, he sometimes doesn't take opponents seriously. In the first fight, Mo never attempted to go for takedowns and he kept putting his hands down for most of the fight. Since that loss, Mo has looked great as he comes off as someone focused. Sure Seth Petruzelli and Jacob Noe aren't as good as Newton but Mo didn't play games and he was dominate. Given what Mo has been saying, he won't underestimate Newton this time around. He'll likely has his eyes on the prize. Mo should be better than Newton. Newton trains at Reign and he has very good wrestling but not world class, NCAA wrestling that Mo has. Mo also works with Jeff Mayweather on his boxing.

Pat Curran vs. Daniel Straus

Nickname:                                        Paddy Mike  |         None

Height:                                                    5'9          |           5'8

Age:                                                         27          |            29

MMA Record (BMMA):                  19-4 (9-1)  |       21-4 (8-1)

Arm Length:                                          73 in.       |           67 in.

Team:                                               Team Curran |      Team Vision

Weight Class:                                    Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes: For the Bellator Featherweight Championship. Rematch from XFO 29 (April 17, 2009).

Preview: Curran is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over Shahbulat Shamhalaev by technical submission at Bellator 95 (April 4, 2013). Straus is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Alvin Robinson by submission at Bellator 78 (October 26, 2012).

Predictions: Curran. Curran has already beaten Straus by KO years ago and could knock him out again. He has longer arms and is more comfortable striking. Curran has shown that he's a beast everywhere he goes including his brutal knockout of Joe Warren and his one armed guillotine choke to Shamhalaev. Straus is a great wrestler but he's more of a grinder and not a finisher. He's also coming off a year layoff due to injury and drug charges. Straus is not a finisher so it's only going to be much harder for him to win when he likely has to grind out a decision in a 25 minute fight instead of 15 and against a guy who already knocked him out.

Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez

Nickname:                                           None               |   The Silent Assassin

Height:                                                   5'7                 |            5'9

Age:                                                        27                 |             29

MMA Record (BMMA):                 12-0 (9-0)         |        24-3 (8-1)

Arm Length:                                         69 in.              |            69 in.

Team:                                                 The Alliance       |        Blackzilians

Weight Class:                                           Lightweight (155 pounds)

Notes: For the Bellator Lightweight Championship. Rematch from Bellator 58 (November 19, 2011).

Preview: Chandler is undefeated at twelve wins. His recent win was over Dave Rickels by KO at Bellator 97 (July 31, 2013). Alvarez is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Patricky Freire by KO at Bellator 76 (October 12, 2012).

Predictions: Chandler. Chandler already beat Alvarez two years ago and he's become a much better fighter since then. Chandler is already a great wrestler but has made big improvement in his striking all the while showing knockout power. Alvarez is still a great fighter but he hasn't shown anything new since that loss that makes you think that he's a better fighter than he was. Worse of all, Alvarez hasn't fought in a year due to his contract problems with Bellator. Basically everything is against Alvarez as he's fighting a guy who already beat him and has only got better since then all the while he hasn't shown improvement and has been out of action for a year.