Bellator MMA travels across the pond to The SSE Arena in London, England for Bellator London. The main event takes place in the middleweight division where Gegard Mousasi will defend his title against Rafael Lovato Jr.
Gegard Mousasi comes into this title defense the winner of his last eight. Six of the eight victories ended inside the distance. His most recent win came at Bellator 206 where he destroyed Rory MacDonald. Thirty-eight of the champ’s forty-five career victories ended in either submission or knockout. At thirty-three years-of-age, Mousasi will make the walk for the fifty-fourth time.
Rafael Lovato Jr. has yet to taste defeat as a professional fighter. His most recent win occurred at Bellator 205 where he subbed John Salter in the third round. Eight of Lovato’s pro wins ended inside the distance. At the age of thirty-five he’ll make the walk for only the tenth time.
The co-main takes place in the welterweight division where Paul Daley will take on Erick Silva. Daley enters the fight on a two-fight skid. His most recent loss came at Bellator 216 where he dropped a unanimous decision to Michael Page in a very lackluster fight. The long-time MMA veteran will make the walk for sixtieth time when he enters the cage opposite Silva. Only eight of his forty career victories went to the judge’s scorecards.
Former UFC fighter Erick Silva is 1-3 over his previous four. He lost his most recent fight which was also his Bellator debut to Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 216. The Brazilian born fighter boasts seventeen finishes in his twenty career wins. This will be Silva’s thirty-second professional fight.
The third fight on the main card features James Gallagher who will be looking to make it two wins in a row. His last fight was against Steven Graham at Bellator 217. He will be taking on Jeremiah Labiano who will also be searching for his second straight win. He finished Justin Smitley in the first round at Bellator 206 for his most recent victory.
The main card also includes Melvin Manhoef taking on Kent Kauppinen, Michael Shipman goes up against Costello van Steenis, undefeated Fabian Edwards looks to stay perfect against Jonathan Bosuku, Charlie Ward vs. Justin Moore and Aaron Chalmers takes on Fred Freeman.
Note: The predictions in this column do not necessarily mean that I will be betting them. I have changed my mind in the past and gone the other way after conducting more research. For all of my official bets follow me on Twitter @MichaelGrocke.
Main Card
Gegard Mousasi (45-6-2) vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. (9-0) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: Mousasi -425; Lovato Jr. +325
Pick: Mousasi by (T)KO.
Paul Daley (40-17-2) vs. Erick Silva (20-10, 1 NC) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: Daley -275; Silva +225
Pick: Daley by (T)KO.
James Gallagher (8-1) vs. Jeremiah Labiano (12-6) – Catchweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Gallagher -450; Labiano +355
Pick: Gallagher by submission.
Melvin Manhoef (30-14-1, 2 NC) vs. Kent Kauppinen (11-4) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Pick: Kauppinen by (T)KO.
Michael Shipman (13-1) vs. Costello van Steenis (11-1) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Pick: Van Steenis by decision.
Fabian Edwards (7-0) vs. Jonathan Bosuku (7-4) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Pick: Edwards by (T)KO.
Charlie Ward (6-3) vs. Justin Moore (7-2) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Pick: Ward by (T)KO.
Aaron Chalmers (4-1) vs. Fred Freeman (1-1) – Catchweight 160 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Pick: Chalmers by (T)KO.
Prelims Quick Picks
Bungard over Leary
Fryer over Redmond
Greyson over Mlambo
Bofando over McCabe
Gahadza over Enkamp
Brazier over Botti
Ovchynnikova over Jackson
Rose over Ord
Burlinson over Lewis
Kielholtz over Tyrell
Davis over Kanella
Enjoy the fights!
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