Bellator 124 Predictions

                                    

Bellator 124 Predictions

September 8, 2014

By Ryan Porzl

Ryan Couture vs. John Schulz

Nickname:                                             None           |    The Machine

Height:                                                   5'10             |        5'10

Age:                                                         32              |     Unknown

MMA Record (BMMA):                   8-3 (0-0)       |      5-2 (1-1)

Arm Length:                                          75 in.            |        72 in.

Team:                                                Xtreme Couture | New Body Health and Fitness

Weight Class:                                      Lightweight (155 pounds)

Notes: Couture's Bellator debut.

Preview: Couture is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over Shakir McKillip by submission at Battlegrounds MMA 4 (May 17, 2014). Schulz is coming off a loss to Justin Jaynes by TKO at TWC 23 (April 26, 2014)

Prediction: Couture. Couture has good wrestling and submission skills as he's very good and dangerous on the ground. He's capable of getting submissions off his back as he scored a submission win via triangle choke in his debut fight. He's also very good as taking an opponent's back as he's won a few fights with the rear naked choke. Couture has also faced better opposition in his career as he's faced very good fighters like K.J. Noons, Ross Pearson, and Al Iaquinta. Though his win over Noons is considered controversial and he loss to Pearson & Iaquinta, at least Couture has faced good fighters. Schulz, on the other hand, has faced almost nothing but tomato cans. To date, Schulz hasn't beat any fighter with a positive record as each of his five wins were against guys with negative records. The few times Schulz has faced anyone decent, he's lost. Though Couture is not a striker, he'll have a three inch reach advantage which should be helpful. Both prefer to win by submission but Couture has never been submitted in his career. Finally, Couture should also be able to have his legendary father in his corner for this fight which should be very helpful.

LC Davis vs. Zeilton Rodrigues

Nickname:                                          None      |          Nenzao

Height:                                                 5'8         |             5'8

Age:                                                      33         |         Unknown

MMA Record (BMMA):               21-6 (1-0)  |        12-3 (0-0)

Arm Length:                                       69 in.       |        Unknown

Team:                     American Jiu-Jitsu Academy |       Nova Uniao

Weight Class:                                    Bantamweight (135 pounds)

Notes: Rodrigues' Bellator debut.

Preview: Davis is coming off a win over Tory Bogguess by submission at Bellator 113 (March 21, 2014). Rodrigues is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over Claudio Rocha by KO at Shooto Brazil 39 (May 17, 2013).

Prediction: Davis. Both men are very well-rounded with a near even amount of knockout and submission wins so they match well. However, Davis should have some advantages. For one, Davis has been on the big stage many times having competed in Affliction, Sengoku, and WEC before he made his debut in Bellator. He's also faced tougher opponents such as Michihiro Omigawa, Josh Grispi, Diego Nunes, and Raphael Assuncao. Rodrigues has faced good opponents in the past like Bellator tournament runner up Luis Nogueira and WSOF Bantamweight Champion Marlon Moraes but both occurred early in his and their careers. This will also be Rodrigues first fight outside or Brazil and his first fight in sixteen months so he could be nervous and have rust.

Liam McGeary vs. Kelly Anundson

Nickname:                                       None               |       Crossface

Height:                                               6'6                |          5'11

Age:                                                    32                 |           30

MMA Record (BMMA):              8-0 (5-0)          |       9-2 (3-0)

Arm Length:                                      81 in.             |          72 in.

Team:                                       Team Renzo Gracie | American Top Team

Weight Class:                                 Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)

Notes: Bellator Summer Series 2014 Light Heavyweight Tournament Finals

Preview: McGeary is undefeated with eight wins. His recent win was over Egidijus Valavicius by TKO at Bellator 122 (July 25, 2014). Anundson is riding a six fight win streak. His recent win was over Philipe Lins by TKO at Bellator 122 (July 25, 2014).

Prediction: McGeary. Anundson has looked very good in his Bellator run but McGeary has been a beast. He's shown to have one punch and one kick knockout power, good striking, good ground skills, and can submit opponents. McGeary also enters this fight with a huge height and reach advantage which could be a nightmare for Anundson. He's also shown to be very good in the clinch and is great at working his opponents over on the cage. Anundson is a very good wrestler and can submit fighters but it will be hard to get to McGeary with McGeary having such a reach advantage.

Emanuel Newton vs. Joey Beltran

Nickname:                                    The Hardcore Kid  |   The Mexicutioner

Height:                                                     6'1              |          6'1

Age:                                                          30              |           32

MMA Record (BMMA):                 23-7-1 (6-1)     |   15-10, 1NC (2-1)

Arm Length:                                            75 in.           |         75 in.

Team:                                                 Reign MMA     |    Alliance MMA

Weight Class:                                    Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)

Notes: For the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship

Preview: Newton is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Attila Vegh by split decision at Bellator 113 (March 21, 2014). Beltran is coming off a win over Vladimir Matyushenko by submission at Bellator 116 (April 16, 2014).

Prediction: Newton. Beltran is only getting this title shot for one reason and one reason only: because there was no one else. With Rampage not wanting to fight Newton and almost everyone else either coming off losses and/or are injured or are stuck in a tournament, Beltran is one of the few that's available. That being said, Newton should take this fight. Other than landing the punch of his career, there's nothing that Beltran has on Newton. Newton is a far better striker and wrestler so he should have the advantage regardless of where the fight goes. Beltran has shown to have a lot of knockout power but he hasn't won a fight by knockout in three years. Meanwhile, Newton has a very good chin as he's only been knocked out once which was his debut fight against Brian Ebersole eleven years ago. Beltran has also not looked good in years. He looked sloppy against Fabio Maldonado. He didn't look much better against Rampage. Despite beating Vladimir Matyushenko, he didn't look good, was down two rounds, and was two minutes away from losing by decision. The only reason he won was because a tired Matyushenko went for a takedown and Beltran got a submission. The problem is that won't happen again since Newton isn't going to get tired. If anything, Beltran will wear down before Newton does.