Bellator
116 Predictions
April
8, 2014
By Ryan
Porzl
Joey
Beltran vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Nickname: The Mexicutioner | The Janitor
Height: 6'1 | 6'0
Age: 32 | 43
MMA
Record (BMMA): 13-10, 1NC (1-1) | 27-7 (1-0)
Arm
Length: 75 in. | 74 in.
Team: Alliance MMA | VMAT
Weight
Class: Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)
Notes: Matyushenko's retirement fight
Preview:
Beltran is riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to
Quinton Jackson at Bellator 108 (November 15, 2013). Matyushenko is
coming off a win over Houston Alexander by unanimous decision at
Bellator 99 (September 13, 2013).
Predictions:
Matyushenko. Matyushenko has excellent wrestling and can possibly
frustrate Beltran with it. If Fabio Maldonado frustrated Beltran then
Matyushenko should. Beltran has also not looked good in years. He
hasn't won a fight in two years and had a win streak in four years.
Matyushenko should also know what to expect as Beltran is mostly a
striker and a grappler. Beltran is a heavy hitter but he hasn't won a
fight by knockout since UFC 131 three years ago (against Aaron Rosa).
Matyushenko has also shown he has a decent chin as he survived
Houston Alexander in his last fight. Matyushenko may be up there in
years but he has only lost in the last few years to some of UFC's top
fighters like Jon Jones, Ryan Bader, and Alexander Gustafsson.
Matyushenko is best known for his wrestling but he can strike and
knock fighters out as he's won nine fights by T/KO.
Nathan
Coy vs. Adam McDonough
Nickname: Soulforce | None
Height: 6'1 | 5'10
Age: 35 | 28
MMA
Record (BMMA): 14-4 (2-0) | 10-0 (2-0)
Arm
Length: 71 in. | 66 in.
Team: American Top Team | Unknown
Weight
Class: Welterweight (170 pounds)
Notes:
Bellator MMA Season Ten Welterweight Semi-final
Preview:
Coy is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over Paul
Bradley by unanimous decision at Bellator 112 (March 14, 2014).
McDonough is undefeated with ten wins. His recent win was over Jesse
Juarez by unanimous decision at Bellator 112 (March 14, 2014).
Predictions: Coy. McDonough seems like a
talented up and comer but Coy will probably the toughest opponent to
date. Coy is a very decorated wrestler and will be the better
grappler on the ground. To date, he has been successful with every
takedown he's attempt. He also proved he can strike and mix things up
as he messed up Paul Bradley last month. Coy also has a 5 inch reach
advantage. He also has the benefit of training at one of the best
gyms in the world in American Top Team. Once again, I have no idea
where McDonough trains so it's hard to know what kind of coaches or
sparring partners he may have.
Alexander
Volkov vs. Siala-Mou Siliga
Nickname: Drago | Mighty Mo
Height: 6'7 | 6'1
Age: 25 | 43
MMA
Record (BMMA): 20-4 (4-1) | 6-2 (3-0)
Arm
Length: 81 in. | 74 in.
Team: Rusfighters Sport Club | Millennia MMA
Weight
Class: Heavyweight (265 pounds)
Notes:
Bellator MMA Season Ten Heavyweight Tournament Semi-final
Preview:
Volkov is coming off a win over Mark Holata by TKO at Bellator 111
(March 7, 2014). Mo is riding a three fight win streak. His recent
win was over Peter Graham by submission at Bellator 111 (March 7,
2014).
Predictions: Volkov. Volkov is easily the
best fighter Mo has to fight in his bellator career to date. Dan
Charles is an indy fighter, Ron Sparks has so many holes, and Peter
Graham has had a problem with cardio. Volkov doesn't have cardio
issues, he's a very good striker with combos, he has a huge size and
reach advantage, is far younger, and is training with great gyms like
RusFighters, Black House, and Alliance. Mo has made a lot of
improvement since coming to Bellator but this will be the tough
uphill battle. His ground game is improving but Volkov is far better
on the ground than Sparks and Graham. His cardio is not the best and
it will be hard to beat Volkov as the fight goes on. Mo has shown he
can finish fights in the third round but that was against tired
fighters and Volkov won't get tired in a three round fight. Volkov
also knows how to use his reach and if he wants to, he could jab his
way through three rounds given the reach difference.
Blagoi
Ivanov vs. Lavar Johnson
Nickname: Bagata | Big
Height: 5'11 | 6'3
Age: 27 | 36
MMA
Record (BMMA): 10-0, 1NC (5-0) | 18-8 (1-1)
Arm
Length: 73 in. | 81
in.
Team: SK Absolute Bulgaria | Pro
Buhave
Weight
Class: Heavyweight (265 pounds)
Notes:
Bellator MMA Season Ten Heavyweight Semi-final
Preview:
Ivanov is unbeaten in eleven fights (10 wins and 1 no contest). His
recent fight was a win over Richard Hale by unanimous decision at
Bellator 111 (March 7, 2014). Johnson is coming off a win over Ryan
Martinez by TKO at Bellator 111 (March 7, 2014).
Predictions: Johnson. Ivanov has the
skills to convincingly defeat Johnson but it's a question of will he
use them and there's a good chance he might not. Johnson is one
dimensional but he's such a powerful striker and can knock just about
anyone out. He'll also have a big reach advantage which could make it
difficult for Ivanov to strike with him. Another advantage for
Johnson is the fact that Ivanov is a fighter that sometimes doesn't
play towards his strengths. Despite being a very decorated sambo
champion, Ivanov is like a few grappler where he sometimes focuses
too much on striking and ignoring his grappling skills. If Ivanov
doesn't use his grappling and decides to strike then it'll end in
disaster. Johnson has a reliable chin, a lot of power even for a
heavyweight, and longer arms. Ivanov barely survived his fight
against Keith Bell back in November as he got picked apart standing
up and came very close to being knocked out. Johnson is a better
fighter, has more power, and longer arms than Bell. If Ivanov tries
to strike, then he'll likely get picked apart and finished. He likely
won't get rocked and have a chance to recover as he'll probably be
knocked out cold.
No comments:
Post a Comment