Bellator 121 Predictions

                                             

Bellator 121 Predictions

June 1, 2014

By Ryan Porzl

Rodney Wallace vs. Kelly Anundson

Nickname:                          Show Nuff the Master |       Crossface  
Height:                                               5'9                 |           5'11  
Age:                                                     32                |             29  
MMA Record (BMMA):            21-8-1 (1-0)        |        7-2 (1-0)
Arm Length:                                     72 in.             |          72 in.
Team:                                        Chute Boxe Piraju | American Top Team       
Weight Class:                             Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)                         

Notes: Bellator MMA Summer Series 2014 Quarterfinals. Anundson was originally scheduled to face Carlos Eduardo.

Preview: Wallace is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Ariel Gandulla by unanimous decision at Hard Knocks 36 (May 10, 2014). Anundson is riding a four fight win streak. His recent win was over Volkan Oezdemir by submission at Bellator 115 (April 4, 2014).

Predictions: Wallace. This one is the hardest for me to predict since I know almost nothing about either fighter and have gone back and forth. However, I go with Wallace. Wallace is the more experienced fighter as he's competed much more than Anundson has. He's also more well-rounded as he can box and is a former state wrestling champion. Anundson is more of a wrestler and I'm not sure how his striking is. He doesn't show a lot of power as he's only won one fight by knockout. Wallace has also shown very good takedown defense in his fight with Carlos Eduardo. If he can prevent Anundson from taking him down then he should have a very good chance of winning this fight. Anundson has only gone the distance once and that was his debut four years ago. It's possible that if he can't finish Wallace then he could tire out especially if he keeps trying takedowns and can't get them.

Carlos Eduardo vs. Egidijus Valavicius

Nickname:                                    Cachorrao       |             None
Height:                                              6'2               |              6'1
Age:                                                   32               |               35
MMA Record (BMMA):               11-3 (1-1)     |            26-10 (1-0)  
Arm Length:                                   74 in.           |             75 in.
Team:                                           Nova Uniao    |           Flawless MMA     
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)                            

Notes: Bellator MMA Summer Series 2014 Quarterfinals. Eduardo was originally scheduled to face Kelly Anundson. Valavicius was originally scheduled to face Mikhail Zayats.

Preview: Eduardo is coming off a loss to Rodney Wallace by unanimous decision at Bellator 116 (April 11, 2014). Valavicius is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Atanas Djambazov by TKO at Bellator 110 (February 28, 2014).

Predictions: Valavicius. Valavicius is a longtime veteran with a lot of skills. He's a good striker with a lot of power as fifteen of his wins are by knockout. He has six submission wins under his belt as well so he's dangerous on the ground. His chin is very reliable as he's only lost two times by TKO and one was by doctor's stoppage. Half of his losses have been by way of submission but he hasn't been submitted in eight years. Eduardo is a prospect but his performances aren't what he would've wanted. He won his debut fight but got clipped by his opponent. Valavicius is far more experienced and if he clips Eduardo then he'll finish him. In his recent fight against Rodney Wallace, he didn't seem to have any answer when his takedowns were blocked. Eduardo does have wins by knockout but doesn't seem as comfortable standing as he is on the ground. 

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Terry Davinney

Nickname:                             The African Assassin         |      The Punisher
Height:                                              5'10                         |           6'0
Age:                                                    30                           |       Unknown     
MMA Record (BMMA):             14-12 (0-0)                 |        10-7 (1-0)
Arm Length:                                  78 in.                        |        Unknown
Team:                                          Team Quest                  |      Team Shoot
Weight Class:                               Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)                            

Notes: Sokoudjou's Bellator debut

Preview: Sokoudjou is riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Konstantin Erokhin by KO at Fight Nights – Battle of Moscow 14 (December 7, 2013). Davinney is riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Travis Wiuff by TKO at Driller Promotions – O-Town Throwdown (April 12, 2014).

Predictions: Sokoudjou. This could be a toss-up since I don't know anything about Davinney and I do know about Sokoudjou's weaknesses. However, this fight seems like a stylistically favorable fight for Sokoudjou. Sokoudjou's does have a lot of good skills as he's a very decorated judoka and is a good striker with a lot of power. Having a 78 inch reach advantage should also be helpful. Davinney shouldn't be too much of a threat either. Sokoudjou has lost most of his fights by knockout but Davinney isn't much of a knockout fighter as only two of his wins have come via knockout. Davinney is also easy to finish as six of his seven losses have been by way of stoppage. He's been knocked out three times and submitted three times. Sokoudjou has a lot of power so he shouldn't have too much trouble knocking Davinney out. Davinney is mostly a submission fighter but Sokoudjou hasn't been submitted in over five years and his two submission losses were to Lyoto Machida and Renato Sobral.

Austen Heidlage vs. Phelipe Lins

Nickname:                                            None             |       Monstro    
Height:                                                   5'11             |            6'2    
Age:                                                         24               |            28   
MMA Record (BMMA):                    7-0 (0-0)        |       8-0 (1-0)  
Arm Length:                                       Unknown       |         79 in.
Team:                                                  Unknown       |     Nova Uniao      
Weight Class:                                   Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)                            

Notes: Heidlage's Bellator debut. Heidlage is replacing Joey Beltran.

Preview: Heidlage is undefeated with seven wins. His recent win was over Matt Gauthier by submission at Three River Throwdown (April 26, 2014). Lins is undefeated with eight wins. His recent win was over Travis Clark by submission at Bellator 116 (April 11, 2014).

Predictions: Lins. Lins is one of Bellator's biggest prospects and should go far in this tournament. He's a big, strong light heavyweight with a huge reach. Lins has displayed knockout power when he competed in his native Brazil with half of his wins coming by way of knockout. Lins has also shown submission skills by not only winning his recent Bellator debut by submission but it was the fastest submission win in the history of Bellator's light heavyweight division at only 40 seconds. As for Heidlage, there's not much to get behind. For one, he's taken this fight on short notice so it's unknown how prepared he is. Second, I have no idea what his reach is or where he's even training for this fight. Lins will be training at Nova Uniao which is one of the best gyms in the world and he should be ready for this fight.

Eric Prindle vs. James Thompson

Nickname:                      The American Soldier |       Megapunk
Height:                                              6'4             |            6'5
Age:                                                   37              |            35
MMA Record (BMMA): 8-5, 1NC (3-4, 1NC) | 19-14, 1NC (0-0)
Arm Length:                                   79 in.           |       Unknown
Team:                                               CSW          |      Team Trojan     
Weight Class:                                   Heavyweight (265 pounds)                           

Notes: Thompson's Bellator debut

Preview: Prindle is riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Javy Ayala by TKO at Bellator 111 (March 7, 2014). Thompson is unbeaten in five fights (4 wins, 1 no contest). His recent win was over Colin Robinson by submission at UXC II (March 1, 2014).

Predictions: Prindle. Prindle is the last of a dying breed in Bellator given the evolution of the heavyweight division. Despite being a lummox, he should be able to pull this off. Thompson is definitely a good stylistic opponent for Prindle. While Thompson has a lot of tools for victory, he has a lot of flaws as well. His chin has been considered one of the weakest in the history of the heavyweight mma and it shouldn't take much for Prindle to knock him out. Another problem is the fact that he'll bull rush right to his opponents and fight extremely careless. This type of behavior got him knocked out in only eleven seconds against Alexander Emelianenko in his PRIDE debut. Say what you will on Prindle but he can take a punch. He's only lost by TKO once in his career and that was a doctor's stoppage so Prindle does have a very good chin. He's also a good boxer as was very successful as an amateur where he won many titles in the army. Prindle will also want to win more since his back is against the wall. He's currently winless in his last five fights in Bellator and is on a two fight losing streak. Another loss will see him get released from the promotion so he should be more motivated for this fight.