Friday, April 06, 2012

Bellator 64 Picks & Prognostications


Bellator 64
April 6, 2012
Caesar’s Windsor
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

The MMA Vacay is ova! We've been a little lazy here at MMAFO using the break in the UFC's schedule to rest up before the long summer stretch of fights. Poor little Bellator has been chugging along with great fights as per usual and its time to show the little MMA promotion that can some deserved attention.

Main Card (MTV2):
Welterweight Champion Ben Askren vs. Douglas Lima Ya just gotta hate the arrogant, irritating, and most often boring "Funky" champion but you cannot deny his wrestling credentials. Ben made a move to Roufusport to try and improve his offense but we know he will rely on his takedowns and L&P to frustrate another opponent into 25 minutes of tedious hell. Lima has won 9 fights in a row and as Nick Thompson and Jay Hieron have proven, you just need to put those fists on Ben's ugly face. Easier said than done while defending his staunch and continual takedown attempts. Lima must avoid those shots at all costs while looking for the KO for which he has shown some recent love. Doug has 25 minutes to land that hail mary shot but he won't as he gets taken down over and over again while the crowd and I take a nap.
WINNER-Ben Askren by Decision

Featherweight Season 6 Semifinal
Marlon Sandro vs. Alexandre Bezerra Marlon has responded with two brilliant wins after the KO loss to now Champion Pat Curran though the 13-1 "Popo" is no slouch himself. I actually like the skills of Bezerra but not against such a specimen from the Nova Uniao camp where Marlon trains with friend and UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo. Alex can give Sandro a fight for sure but Marlon continues his climb back up the ladder looking to become the 2nd best Featherweight in the world once again.
WINNER-Marlon Sandro by Decision

Bantamweight Season 6 Quarterfinals
Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda "T-Train" fights out of the Greg Jackson camp with a record of 18-3 but the 15-1 Ueda has faced much tougher opponents in his career. Ueda rides a 5 fight winning streak including a win over a Royler Gracie (who I admit 46 years old) but in a battle where both men "play it safe" until the cards are counted, always bank on the Jackson game plan.
Upset Pick WINNER-Travis Marx by Decision

Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura The undefeated "Ratinho" makes his Bellator debut hailing from Team Nogueira in Brazil. "Iron" is a DEEP and Shooto alum who has won two in a row including a Decision win (as is often his case) against Yoshiro Maeda. Though I'm doubting the littler Lima on the card can put the gritty grind em out Nakamura away, he will control things en route to a close decision nod.
WINNER-Rodrigo Lima by Decision

Prelims (Spike.com):
Chris Horodecki vs. Mike Richman The Cherub faced Horodecki is in for his 3rd Bellator bout after winning the 1st and catching the crowd pleasing draw in the 2nd. Now the "Polish Hammer" who sports good solid kickboxing faces the 11-1 "Marine." Mikey hasn't faced anyone of note until now and will get blown up by Chris' I.E.D. powered hands.
WINNER-Chris Horodecki by Rd.2 TKO

Nordine Taleb vs. Matt Secor The lauded Tri-Star team is in the hizzy people. Matt has one professional bout and fights out of Spa BJJ which sounds like a retreat while Taleb is 6-1 coming off a KO win over former UFC vet Pete Sell. Should be an obvious pick folks.
WINNER- Nordine Taleb by Rd.3 TKO

Kyle Prepolec vs. Lance Snow W-Prepolec
Chad Laprise vs. Josh Taveirne W-Laprise
Elias Theodorou vs Rich Lictawa W-Theordorou
Taylor Solomon vs. Jason Fischer W-Fischer

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