Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo will fight at Bellator 226 for the heavyweight title. Who wins?
Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo predictions
Frank Hyden MMATorch Columnist
I’ll go with Bader. Kongo can be good when he tries but he’s also capable of highly disappointing showings and I think we see more bad than good from him here. I think Bader controls him throughout the fight and either coasts to a boring decision win or gets the late round stoppage by TKO if he decides to try for the finish. Either way, I think the first three and a half rounds are dull and lifeless but we might get a little excitement if Bader presses forward. I hope I’m wrong but Kongo fights are usually on the extremes and I think this one will be extremely dull.
Michael Hiscoe MMATorch Columnist
Ryan Bader had impressed me with his heavyweight run. He’s shown that he has knockout power but he’s also shown that he can take the big boys down and keep them there like he did against Matt Mitrione. Cheick Kongo might be tougher to take down but everything we’ve seen out of Bader lately suggests he’ll find a way to get the job done. I’m going with Bader by decision.
Robert Vallejos MMATorch Managing Editor
Look, Cheick Kongo’s multi-year winning streak is nothing to scoff at; and Ryan Bader is not the best heavyweight in the world (Sorry Scott Coker). However, I do give the sligh edge to Bader here. I do not expect this to be a great fight, but it is nice that Bellator finally has a functioning heavyweight division.
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