Bellator 119 Predictions

                               

Bellator 119 Predictions

April 6, 2014

By Ryan Porzl

Raphael Butler vs. Nick Rossborough

Nickname:                                  The Silencer     |         Leatherface
Height:                                                6'3             |              6'5
Age:                                                     30             |                32
MMA Record (BMMA):               8-0 (3-0)       |          26-18 (0-0)
Arm Length:                                     77 in.          |             79 in.
Team:                                          Alliance MMA |     Elite Performance
Weight Class:                                   Heavyweight (265 pounds)                   

Notes: Rossborough's Bellator debut.

 

Preview: Butler is undefeated with eight wins. His recent win was over Josh Burns by submission at Bellator 107 (November 8, 2013). Rossborough is coming off a loss to Marcin Rozalski by TKO at KSW 26 (March 22, 2014).

 

Predictions: Butler. Butler is one of Bellator's biggest prospects both in the heavyweight division and in the promotion all together. Because Butler is still in the developmental phase, this fight is clearly a winnable one for him. Butler is a great striker as he came from a boxing background where he was a national golden gloves super heavyweight champion. As a result, Rossborough will probably not want to trade punches. Since he's won most of his fights by submission, Rossborough will likely look to get this fight to the ground but if he can't get this fight to the ground then he'll be in trouble. Butler has also being working on other areas of his MMA skills since he began training at Alliance MMA and has shown good takedown defense in recent fights. While Rossborough has only lost twice by knockout, he was TKOed in his recent fight which isn't good for him as Butler has the skill and power to knock him out again.

Marius Zaromskis vs. Vaughn Anderson

Nickname:                              The Whitemare        |            Blud  
Height:                                              5'9                  |             5'11
Age:                                                   33                   |              35
MMA Record (BMMA):        19-8, 1NC (3-2)      |       16-2-1 (0-1)
Arm Length:                                   69 in.               |             72 in.
Team:                  American Kickboxing Academy |        Legacy Gym
Weight Class:                                 Welterweight (170 pounds)                    

Notes:

Preview: Zaromskis is riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Brent Weedman by unanimous decision at Bellator 86 (January 24, 2013). Anderson is coming off a loss to War Machine by submission by Bellator 100 (September 20, 2013).

 

Predictions: Anderson. I don't know much about Anderson but he seems like a decent grappler and fighter. This fight will likely have more to do with Zaromskis dropping the ball. Zaromskis hasn't fought in sixteen months and I honestly don't know if he was injured or what. Neverthless, sixteen months is a long layoff. Zaromskis has skills but he's not the smartest fighter. In the Brent Weedman fight, Zaromskis got a point deducted after repeatedly kneeing Weedman when he was in the ground as if he forgot fighter can knee downed opponents in the head. Zaromskis is also known for being flashy but moves like that can look amazing or they miss and leave the opponent an opening. While there was the famous somersault kick in 2011 against Bruno Carvalho, there was the Weedman fight where he went for a back flip stomp to the stomach which just left his open for Weedman to take him down. He also tried to do the somersault kick but it didn't finish Weedman and allowed Weedman to grab his leg. Even if Zaromskis can prevent the fight from getting to the ground, it doesn't guarantee victory as Anderson has won six fights by knockout and has never been knocked out in his career. While Zaromskis has been knocked out by some of the heaviest handed welterweights in history like Che Mills, Nick Diaz, Cyborg Santos, and Andrey Koreshkov, he's still lost most of his fights by knockout.

 

Chris Horodecki vs. Marlon Sandro

Nickname:                              The Polish Hammer |     The Gladiator
Height:                                                 5'8                |            5'8
Age:                                                      26                |             37
MMA Record (BMMA):       20-4-1, 1NC (1-1-1) |       24-5-1 (7-3)
Arm Length:                                      69.5 in.          |           67 in.
Team:                                         Team Tompkins    |       Nova Uniao
Weight Class:                                   Featherweight (145 pounds)                 

Notes: Horodecki's first fight in Bellator since Bellator 64 (April 6, 2012).

 

Preview: Horodecki is unbeaten in three fights (2 wins, 1 no contest). His recent fight was a win over Frank Caraballo by unanimous decision at PFC 1 (October 26, 2013). Sandro is winless in two fights (1 loss, 1 draw). His recent fight was a draw to Yojiro Uchimura at Pancrase 252 (September 29, 2013).

 

Predictions: Horodecki. In most cases, I would probably go with Sandro. Horodecki is a member of Team Tompkins which has been a gym in decline since the death of Shawn Tompkins in 2011. Meanwhile, Sandro is a very decorated fighter being a former Sengoku and Pancrase champion and two time Bellator tournament runner up. However, Sandro hasn't looked the best over the past year. Both of his 2013 fights in Bellator have seen him look old. He barely got by Akop Stepanyan in a fight he won by majority decision. However, some thought it was a draw and he probably wouldn't have got it if Stepanyan didn't get a point deducted after grabbing the cage. In his recent Bellator fight, he offered absolutely nothing to Frodo Khasbulaev as he got picked apart standing up and couldn't get the fight to the ground. Sandro just turned 37 so it's unknown how much more he has left as 37 is up there and can be considered ancient for a featherweight.

 

Bonus Prediction: Sandro announces his retirement at the post-fight press conference.

Daniel Weichel vs. Desmond Green

Nickname:                                     The Weasel      |     The Predator   

Height:                                               5'10              |           5'10

Age:                                                     29                |            24

MMA Record (BMMA):                33-8 (2-0)       |        11-2 (3-1)

Arm Length:                                     71 in.            |          74 in.

Team:                                       Team MMA Spirit | Team Bombsquad  

Weight Class:                                   Featherweight (145 pounds)                 

 

Notes: Bellator MMA Season Ten Featherweight Tournament Finals

 

Preview: Weichel is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Matt Bessette by unanimous decision at Bellator 114 (March 28, 2014). Green is riding a three fight win streak. His recent win was over Will Martinez by unanimous decision at Bellator 114 (March 28, 2014).

 

Predictions: Weichel. Green is a great wrestler and will be allowed to use elbows in this fight which he knows how to use but Weichel should still be able to win. Green's a great wrestler but Weichel is a great grappler in his own right with over twenty wins by submission. Green is also a grinder and not much of a finisher. He hasn't shown much power standing up or much submission skills. Unless, Green slices Weichel with elbows then Weichel shouldn't have to worry about being finished and Green will have to take him down to do elbows. Weichel also has good striking, has power, and can mix up his stuff well. He also has experience against “name” fighters as he lost to fighters like Paul Daley, Ron Sinclair, and Dan Hardy while he holds wins over Dennis Siver and Frodo Khasbulaev.