Bellator 108 Predictions

Bellator 108 Predictions

November 11, 2013

By Ryan Porzl

Marcos Galvao vs. Tom McKenna

Nickname:                                            Loro            |          None

Height:                                                   5'7              |           5'11

Age:                                                        31              |        Unknown

MMA Record (BMMA):               14-6-1 (4-3)     |         7-3 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                         67 in.           |         Unknown

Team:                                                Nova Uniao     |    Louisville MMA

Weight Class:                                       Bantamweight (135 pounds)

Notes: McKenna's Bellator debut.

Preview: Galvao is coming off a win over Pilao Santana by TKO at Shooto Brazil – Manaus (June 28, 2013). McKenna is coming off a win over Anup Kumar by submission at Super Fight League 17 (May 10, 2013).

Predictions: Galvao. McKenna has suffered two knockout losses in his career while Galvao has won by TKO two times in a one year span. Galvao has been knocked out a few times in his career but those losses were to heavy handed fighters like Eduardo Dantas, Brian Bowles, and Damacio Page. Galvao shouldn't have to worry too much of a knockout since McKenna has never won a fight by knockout and hasn't shown to have a lot of power. McKenna's biggest strength is his submissions as he's won the majority of his fights by submission but Galvao has never been submitted in his career and holds a black belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Patricio Freire vs. Justin Wilcox

Nickname:                                              Pitbull        |    The Silverback

Height:                                                     5'4           |            5'6

Age:                                                          26            |            34

MMA Record (BMMA):                   20-2 (8-2)    |   13-5, 1NC (2-0)

Arm Length:                                          65 in.         |             65 in.

Team:                                              Team Nogueira | American Kickboxing Academy

Weight Class:                                        Featherweight (145 pounds)

Notes: Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Final

Preview: Freire is riding a three fight win streak. His recent win was over Fabricio Guerreiro by unanimous decision at Bellator 103 (October 11, 2013). Wilcox is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Joe Taimanglo by unanimous decision at Bellator 103 (October 11, 2013).

Predictions: Freire. Wilcox has been the upset kid this whole tournament but it ends here. Freire is an excellent well-rounded fighter. Nobody has been able to find a chink in his armor yet or any weakness to exploit. Freire has far better submission defense than Akop Stepayan and more well-rounded and heavier handed than Joe Taimanglo. Wilcox is a big guy and a very good wrestler but Freire has a black belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu and is not helpless on the ground. He's also the better striker with knockout power that could put the lights out on Wilcox.

Alexander Volkov vs. Vitaly Minakov

Nickname:                                           Drago            |          None

Height:                                                   6'7               |            6'3

Age:                                                        25               |             28

MMA Record (BMMA):                 19-3 (3-0)       |        12-0 (3-0)

Arm Length:                                         81 in.             |          70 in.

Team:                                      Rusfighters Sport Club |  Fight Nights Team

Weight Class:                                       Heavyweight (265 pounds)

Notes: For the Bellator Heavyweight Championship

Preview: Volkov is riding a ten fight win streak. His recent win was over Richard Hale by unanimous decision at Bellator 84 (December 14, 2012). Minakov is undefeated with twelve wins. His recent win was over Ryan Martinez by TKO at Bellator 97 (July 31, 2013).

Predictions: Minakov. First thing is the fact that Volkov has not fought in eleven months while Minakov has been active over the past year. Second is that Minakov is highly decorated in aambo and judo and Volkov has shown in the past that he's prone to be taken down. While he's not helpless, it's still not good when going against a great grappler. Volkov has been working on his craft but it's unknown how well prepared he'll be especially with the near year layoff. Volkov is the better striker with a great reach advantage but Minakov has shown that he hits very hard and has a good chin so he can still be a threat standing up..

Quinton Jackson vs. Joey Beltran

Nickname:                                         Rampage           |  The Mexicutioner

Height:                                                    6'1               |          6'1

Age:                                                         35                |          31

MMA Record (BMMA):                32-11 (0-0)        |  14-9, 1NC (1-0)

Arm Length:                                          73 in.             |         75 in.

Team:                                              Wolfslair MMA    |   Alliance MMA

Weight Class:                                   Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)

Notes: Jackson's Bellator debut. Beltran's first Bellator fight since Bellator 5 (May 1, 2009).

Preview: Jackson is riding a three fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Glover Teixeira by unanimous decision at UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Dodson (January 26, 2013). Beltran is coming off a loss to Fabio Maldonado by split decision at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields (October 9, 2013).

Predictions: Jackson. Jackson has had injuries and motivational issues but he still should have enough to beat Beltran. Beltran isn't a bad fighter but he's not elite by any means. He's not great in anything or better than Jackson in any way. Beltran has a lot of knockout power but Jackson hasn't been knocked out since 2005 and Beltran hasn't knocked anyone out since 2011. Jackson has good wrestling so Beltran will not be able to clinch him to the cage like he did against Fabio Maldonado. While Jackson is on a losing streak, it's to guys like Jon Jones, Ryan Bader, and Glover Teixeira who are all light years ahead of Beltran.