Tito Ortiz (17-11) -165 vs. Stephan Bonnar (15-8) +135
Well, MMAFO lost $100 as we never thought this fight would happen (though there is time left). It looks as though Tito and his broken neck and the steroid riddled Bonnar are going to do the damn thing though nobody knows why. Stephan was retired and Ortiz should be but these two 100 year old Light Heavies are limping into Bellator's cage for a grudge match that has everyone scratching their heads, and let's face it, this is a freak fight that harkens back to the salad days of Pride FC. Maybe that's the attraction.
Ortiz is on a crazy pace this year looking to fight twice! That's something he hasn't done since 2011 when he went an appropriate 1-2 with the win being a miracle against Ryan Bader. Tito has the wrestling skills as always, and that's about it.
Stephan is easily more well rounded. Bonnar has Jiu-Jitsu skills in his arsenal, he just rarely chooses to use them. Even so, his stand up is nothing to write home about, but the guy is kinda known for being able to take a beatin' so there's that.
Upset Pick WINNER- Stephan Bonnar by Decision
Interim Lightweight Champion Will Brooks (14-1) +210 vs. Michael Chandler (12-2) -270 [Rematch]
Now this, will be a fight! "Ill" Will has a chip on his shoulder (anyone else notice the champ is behind the challenger in the poster!?) and isn't afraid to let everyone know about it. Brooks defeated Chandler last May in a razor close Decision. Now that true champ Eddie Alvarez has moved to the UFC, these two men duke it out for the leftovers.
We love to say we told you so and so, MMAFO told you so! We picked Brooks as our most improved fighter of 2013 and promised that this kid was destined to be a champion one day. It just came sooner than expected. The ATT fighter has won 5 in a row, including avenging a loss to Saad Awad, so its basically like he's undefeated. Will's wrestling is always a factor and Mike was obviously caught off guard at how good Brooks was in the scramble, taking the former champ's back as often as he pleased in the 1st meeting. Will doesn't have the power of his foe, but he puts his gloves out there fairly well, and is quick, quick, quick.
All this praise for Brooks, and we're about to pick Chandler. Here is why. Michael was legitimately injured going into the 1st fight, and took Will lightly. It won't happen again. The Mizzou fighter is a ridiculous stud, who, if he didn't take damage so badly in fights, would never have lost to begin with. Mike gets marked up very easily, but he has much more power in his hands and mixes combinations with leg kicks awfully well. The wrestling may be a wash, but the difference in the ability to go for broke for 25 minutes is there. Chandler has no "e" on his gas tank and knows now that allowing Will to latch onto his back will at the very least, look bad in the judges eyes. Again, a mistake that won't happen again. Mike has a high I.Q. for fighting and addresses errors better than most fighters today.
This is still going to be a close fun fight to watch, but Chandler will pull away down the stretch, finally getting his mitts on Brooks and inflicting some damage which he didn't do last time. Mike might even put Will away but a safer bet is for him to get 3 of the 5 rounds at the very least, and reclaim his Bellator strap. Can you say trilogy?
WINNER- Michael Chandler by Decision
Now this, will be a fight! "Ill" Will has a chip on his shoulder (anyone else notice the champ is behind the challenger in the poster!?) and isn't afraid to let everyone know about it. Brooks defeated Chandler last May in a razor close Decision. Now that true champ Eddie Alvarez has moved to the UFC, these two men duke it out for the leftovers.
We love to say we told you so and so, MMAFO told you so! We picked Brooks as our most improved fighter of 2013 and promised that this kid was destined to be a champion one day. It just came sooner than expected. The ATT fighter has won 5 in a row, including avenging a loss to Saad Awad, so its basically like he's undefeated. Will's wrestling is always a factor and Mike was obviously caught off guard at how good Brooks was in the scramble, taking the former champ's back as often as he pleased in the 1st meeting. Will doesn't have the power of his foe, but he puts his gloves out there fairly well, and is quick, quick, quick.
All this praise for Brooks, and we're about to pick Chandler. Here is why. Michael was legitimately injured going into the 1st fight, and took Will lightly. It won't happen again. The Mizzou fighter is a ridiculous stud, who, if he didn't take damage so badly in fights, would never have lost to begin with. Mike gets marked up very easily, but he has much more power in his hands and mixes combinations with leg kicks awfully well. The wrestling may be a wash, but the difference in the ability to go for broke for 25 minutes is there. Chandler has no "e" on his gas tank and knows now that allowing Will to latch onto his back will at the very least, look bad in the judges eyes. Again, a mistake that won't happen again. Mike has a high I.Q. for fighting and addresses errors better than most fighters today.
This is still going to be a close fun fight to watch, but Chandler will pull away down the stretch, finally getting his mitts on Brooks and inflicting some damage which he didn't do last time. Mike might even put Will away but a safer bet is for him to get 3 of the 5 rounds at the very least, and reclaim his Bellator strap. Can you say trilogy?
WINNER- Michael Chandler by Decision
Muhammed Lawal (13-4, 1) -1100 vs. Joe Vedepo +650
Either nobody wants to fight "King Mo," or his camp has a voodoo doll. Opponents just cannot stay healthy enough to make it to the cage against Lawal, and DeBlass steps up on late notice.
Lawal has a better jab, but should be smart and use his wrestling advantage to the fullest, for an easy night at the office. He doesn't always do that when he should though so keep that in mind. Also, both men have chins to wonder about, but really, it should be "King Mo's" night in normal fashion. Maybe we're just "dick riders" though.
WINNER- Muhammed Lawal by Decision
Melvin Manhoef (29-11) -150 vs. Joe Schilling (1-3) +120
Ignore Schilling's record. Its misleading. Joe is a Muay Thai specialist who is a part time MMA fighter. That is fine in this instance as Melvin has little regard for the ground game though he has been in MMA since 1995. Nope, this is a kickboxing fight and we're glad for it. This will just be fun but Manhoef punches and kicks to kill people and that is what Scott Coker has planned here. Just some good old fashioned bloody violence that will whip the crowd into a frenzy.
WINNER- Melvin Manhoef by Rd.1 KO
Mike Richman (17-5) -450 vs. Nan Phan (20-13) +325
Phran (misspelled on purpose) makes his way back to the states after a tour of duty in Japan to get a couple of wins after being cut from the UFC. Nan is fun enough to watch. The kid is pleasant and throws a lot of punches in bunches and is quite tough for such an affable guy.
However, Richman is a killer. Literally. The "Marine" is a brutal puncher who isn't as bad as his recent record indicates. He generally loses to better grapplers, and though that would be a good idea for Phan, it prolly won't happen.
Phran can run, and he should, but eventually, Richman is going to get his hands on him. Let's hope Mike doesn't get top position on Phran in which somebody should just throw in the towel. We're not trying to shit on Nan and call him a pussy or anything, but this Richman guy really scares us. He's mean and Nan is just so nice. Maybe "Sensi" Segal can save the day.
WINNER- Mike Richman by Rd.2 TKO
Either nobody wants to fight "King Mo," or his camp has a voodoo doll. Opponents just cannot stay healthy enough to make it to the cage against Lawal, and DeBlass steps up on late notice.
Lawal has a better jab, but should be smart and use his wrestling advantage to the fullest, for an easy night at the office. He doesn't always do that when he should though so keep that in mind. Also, both men have chins to wonder about, but really, it should be "King Mo's" night in normal fashion. Maybe we're just "dick riders" though.
WINNER- Muhammed Lawal by Decision
Melvin Manhoef (29-11) -150 vs. Joe Schilling (1-3) +120
Ignore Schilling's record. Its misleading. Joe is a Muay Thai specialist who is a part time MMA fighter. That is fine in this instance as Melvin has little regard for the ground game though he has been in MMA since 1995. Nope, this is a kickboxing fight and we're glad for it. This will just be fun but Manhoef punches and kicks to kill people and that is what Scott Coker has planned here. Just some good old fashioned bloody violence that will whip the crowd into a frenzy.
WINNER- Melvin Manhoef by Rd.1 KO
Mike Richman (17-5) -450 vs. Nan Phan (20-13) +325
Phran (misspelled on purpose) makes his way back to the states after a tour of duty in Japan to get a couple of wins after being cut from the UFC. Nan is fun enough to watch. The kid is pleasant and throws a lot of punches in bunches and is quite tough for such an affable guy.
However, Richman is a killer. Literally. The "Marine" is a brutal puncher who isn't as bad as his recent record indicates. He generally loses to better grapplers, and though that would be a good idea for Phan, it prolly won't happen.
Phran can run, and he should, but eventually, Richman is going to get his hands on him. Let's hope Mike doesn't get top position on Phran in which somebody should just throw in the towel. We're not trying to shit on Nan and call him a pussy or anything, but this Richman guy really scares us. He's mean and Nan is just so nice. Maybe "Sensi" Segal can save the day.
WINNER- Mike Richman by Rd.2 TKO
Prelims on Spike.com:
AJ Matthews (6-3) vs. Kyle Bolt (8-3)
Ron Henderson (0-0) vs. Jonathan Santa Maria (0-0)
Jordan Bailey (2-1) vs. Alex Higley (0-0)
Matt Ramirez (1-0) vs. Nick Garcia (1-1)
Andy Murad (8-2) vs. Bubba Pugh (3-1)
Rolando Perez (7-4-1) vs. Mark Vorgeas (5-2)
Ian Butler (1-0) vs. Joao Faria (1-1)
AJ Matthews (6-3) vs. Kyle Bolt (8-3)
Ron Henderson (0-0) vs. Jonathan Santa Maria (0-0)
Jordan Bailey (2-1) vs. Alex Higley (0-0)
Matt Ramirez (1-0) vs. Nick Garcia (1-1)
Andy Murad (8-2) vs. Bubba Pugh (3-1)
Rolando Perez (7-4-1) vs. Mark Vorgeas (5-2)
Ian Butler (1-0) vs. Joao Faria (1-1)
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