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 | NoneHeight: 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
PunisherHeight: 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 | MegapunkHeight: 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.
