Bellator 112 Predictions

Bellator 112 Predictions

March 10, 2014

By Ryan Porzl

Paul Bradley vs. Nathan Coy

Nickname:                                       The Gentleman  |     Soulforce

Height:                                                    5'9             |        5'10

Age:                                                         30             |          35

MMA Record (BMMA):             21-5, 1NC (1-0) |    13-4 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                           72 in.          |     Unknown

Team:                                               Alliance MMA  |  American Top Team

Weight Class:                                       Welterweight (170 pounds)

Notes: Season Ten Welterweight Tournament Quarter-finals

Preview: Bradley is coming off a win over Karl Amoussou by unanimous decision at Bellator 104 (October 18, 2013). Coy is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Andy Uhrich by unanimous decision at Bellator 101 (September 27, 2013)

Predictions: Bradley. Bradley is the more well-rounded fighter with an even amount of knockouts, submission, and decisions (seven each). Coy is a very good fighter but he's not a finisher and Bradley is hard to put away. Both are mostly wrestlers but Bradley may be better as he had a long amateur career and was a runner-up in the Big Ten Conference. Bradley is also coming one of the biggest wins of his career when he upset Bellator tournament winner and former title contender Karl Amoussou and that was his first fight in over a year.

Jesse Juarez vs. Adam McDonough

Nickname:                                         None        |            None

Height:                                                6'1           |            5'10

Age:                                                     32           |              28

MMA Record (BMMA):              21-8 (6-0)   |          9-0 (1-0)

Arm Length:                                   Unknown     |             66 in.

Team:                            Bodyshop Fitness Team |          Unknown

Weight Class:                                  Welterweight (170 pounds)

Notes: Season Ten Welterweight Tournament Quarter-finals

Preview: Juarez is riding a four fight win streak. His recent win was over Joe Williams by submission at Bellator 106 (November 2, 2013). McDonough is undefeated with nine wins. His recent win was over Johnny Buck by TKO at Bellator 100 (September 20, 2013).

Predictions: Juarez. It's hard to go with McDonough. His one Bellator fight was against a tomato can, he hasn't been to any major promotions or fought anyone notable. I personally have no idea where he's even training at. It's hard to go with someone when you don't know where they train, who's their sparring partners, or coaches. McDonough is mostly a knockout artist but Juarez has a good chin with his only TKO losses coming via injuries and doctor's stoppage. Juarez is a submission magnet but McDonough doesn't usually win with submissions and hasn't for years. Juarez is a veteran. He's fought in Bellator, Strikeforce, and Cage Fighting Championships. He's fought the likes of Douglas Lima, Josh Neer, and Robert Whittaker. He's also more well-rounded having won many fights by knockout and submission while McDonough is mostly a knockout fighter.

Cristiano Souza vs. Sam Oropeza

Nickname:                                          Soldier Boy     |      Sammy O

Height:                                                     5'10           |          6'2

Age:                                                           31            |           28

MMA Record (BMMA):                    7-0 (3-0)       |     10-2 (2-1)

Arm Length:                                             72 in.         |        72.5 in.

Team:                                         American Top Team | Philadelphia Fight Factory

Weight Class:                                        Welterweight (170 pounds)

Notes: Season Ten Welterweight Tournament Quarter-finals

Preview: Souza is undefeated with seven wins. His recent win was over Alejandro Gracia by submission at Bellator 106 (November 2, 2013). Oropeza is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Chip Moraza-Pollard by TKO at Bellator 108 (November 15, 2013).

Predictions: Oropeza. Souza is a good fighter but still has much to learn. He comes off as a fighter with potential but someone Bellator would prefer to develop at this point. It also isn't good that he's taking this fight on a weeks notice. Oropeza is also a finisher as all ten wins are finishes. Out of his five straight wins, Oropeza has finished three fights in the first round while the other two were in the second.

Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Andrey Koreshkov

Nickname:                              The Rock n' Rolla    |           Spartan

Height:                                            5'11                 |              6'0

Age:                                                  23                  |               23

MMA Record (BMMA):          11-3 (1-0)            |        14-1 (5-1)

Arm Length:                                    73 in.               |             74 in.

Team:                                           Fight Firm           |   RusFighters Sport Club

Weight Class:                                    Welterweight (170 pounds)

Notes: Season Ten Welterweight Tournament Quarter-finals

Preview: Burrell is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Jesus Martinez by unanimous decision at Bellator 108 (November 15, 2013). Koreshkov is coming off a win over David Gomez by unanimous decision at FEFoMP: Battle Empires 3 (December 14, 2013).

Predictions: Koreshkov. Koreshkov should be able to take this. He's the better striker and has a great chin. Despite losing last year by TKO, that TKO came after Ben Askren dominated Koreshkov for 3½ rounds with wrestling and ground n' pound. Burrell doesn't have the wrestling that Askren has so Koreshkov shouldn't be in the same situation. Burrell has had a history of missing weight and even if he does make weight, there's a chance it could be a bad cut that could affect his cardio. Koreshkov has also taken a fight outside of Bellator and won so that should allow him to come in with a clear head and not be affected emotionally like some fighters do coming off their first loss. Koreshkov also specializes and has won honors in hand-to-hand combat and Pankration which is hard for American fighters to prepare for.

Daniel Straus vs. Pat Curran

Nickname:                                              None          |    Paddy Mike

Height:                                                      5'8            |          5'9

Age:                                                           29            |           26

MMA Record (BMMA):                   22-4 (7-1)     |    19-5 (9-2)

Arm Length:                                             67 in.         |     Unknown

Team:                                         American Top Team |   Team Curran

Weight Class:                                       Welterweight (170 pounds)

Notes: For the Bellator Featherweight Championship

Preview: Stratus is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over Pat Curran by unanimous decision at Bellator 106 (November 2, 2013). Curran is coming off a loss to Daniel Straus by unanimous decision at Bellator 106 (November 2, 2013).

Predictions: Straus. Curran has an uphill fight. Straus won their last encounter and will have a lot of momentum on his side. Last time, Curran didn't seem to have an answer for Straus' wrestling and emotionally shutdown as the fight began to slip away. A big thing to also mention is the fact that going into their November fight, Straus hadn't fought in over a year, was coming off legal issues, and had cage rust and he still won decisively. Going into this fight, Straus has all that behind him and a lot of momentum. He's likely going to be more better and more focused. Curran will no doubt come in better but Straus will too.