Who will win the Bellator 207 fight between Ryan Bader and Matt Mitrione?
Cole Henry, MMATorch Contributor
This is a tough fight to call. Ryan Bader is a far more technically skilled fighter. But Mitrione is going to have a big weight advantage and he is just the larger man overall. This will be Bader’s second fight at Heavyweight but his first against an actual heavyweight opponent and it will be interesting to see if he uses his wrestling or elects to box with Mitrione. My gut tells me that Mitrione will catch Bader with something wild and knock him out but I think that I will go against my gut on this one. Bader has defeated far better fighters in his career than Mitrione and I think he will punch his ticket to the finals with a decision win over the former NFL player.
Frank Hyden, MMATorch Contributor
I’m going with Bader because I think he’ll be able to use his wrestling to stifle Mitrione and grind out a somewhat lackluster decision. I think it’ll be a pretty boring win, but also a very smart win for Bader. I don’t expect him to stand and trade with Mitrione, that would be crazy. If Mitrione can stuff multiple takedowns he can win, but his cardio is really going to be tested in this fight, just as Bader’s chin is going to be tested. I think whoever wins this fight should be the odds-on favorite to win the whole tournament, and I’m going with Bader.
David McGrath, MMATorch Contributor
I like Matt Mitrone to win the fight at Bellator 207. Mitrone, the former NFL player is explosive and hard to pin down. His counter striking will be the key and I think he catches Bader coming forward for a KO.
Sean Covington, MMATorch Contributor
Two guys I can’t stand, if only there was a way they could both get knocked out. Bader is better overall in every way except vicious knockout power. Mitrione may be a clown but he is a clown that has brutal KO power. Bader’s wrestling won’t save him forever. Matt Mitrione will knockout Bader out of nowhere as he typically does in his fights.
Mike Hiscoe, MMATorch Managing Editor
I think size will win out here. Ryan Bader’s strength is his wrestling, and it’s yet to be seen if he can implement it against someone the size of Matt Mitrione. While I do think that Bader is overall the more skilled fighter, I think that Mitrione’s size and power is going to allow him to dictate the pace of the fight and where it takes place. Look for a Mitrione TKO in the third.
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