Bellator 84 Predictions

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Richard Hale vs. Alexander Volkov: Watching the tough Rich Hale has been a blast the past 2 years. He always brings it and, for the most part, finds a way to win. But this is where the train stops. Volkov is for real and UFC caliber. He has made everyone he has faced in Bellator look foolish. Yes, in his last fight he got help from the worse ref ever but Hale does not have the ground game that Queiroz has. I see Volkov using that reach to keep Hale away and peppering him until he finds that opening and takes Hale out. = Volkov by TKO in round 2.

Dave Jansen vs. Marcin Held: Held has looked great and did an amazing job against the always tough Rich Clementi. I think Held is just the better fighter. I thought Jansen lost his fight against Tirloni but he is still dangerous everywhere the fight goes. I just think Held will be able to control the fight and find a way to win. = Held by submission in round 3.

Felice Herrig vs. Patricia Vidonic: Herrig by split decision.

Prelims

Kevin Nowaczyk vs. Quinton McCottrel: Nowaczyk by by submission in round 1.

Cliff Wright vs. Christian Uflacker: Wright by split decision.

Daniel Vizcaya vs. Jack Hermansson: Hermansson by TKO in round 3.

Anton Talamantes vs. Anthony Gomez: Gomez by split decision.

Louis Taylor vs. Joe Vedepo: Vedepo by submission in round 2.

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Richard Hale vs. Alexander Volkov: This fight is bound to be a barnburner. Hale brings a lot of power and even more toughness but Volkov is the next big thing. He has looked absolutely fantastic in his last two bouts with Brett Rogers and Vinicius Queiroz. His striking is powerful and insanely accurate and his kicks are just the same. Hale has shown in the past that he is susceptible to being KO’d and that’s exactly what Volkov’s going to do. He’s going to pick him part and land a highlight reel finish = Volkov via 3^rd round KO.

Dave Jansen vs. Marcin Held: Held is very similar to Volkov in the fact that he is very young and growing yet he is one of the best in Bellator. At only 20 years old, Held is already 15-2 with wins over both Rich Clementi and Philipe Nover. His standup is questionable but his ground game is fantastic. I personally believe that Jansen lost to Tirloni, pretty handily honestly. He is very well rounded though and that could definitely spell trouble for Held in the standup department. But I have a feeling Jansen’s going to go for a takedown and land in a leg lock = Held via 1^st round submission.

Patricia Vidonic vs. Felice Herrig = Herrig via unanimous decision.

Prelims

Kevin Nowaczyk vs. Quinton McCottrel: Nowaczyk via 1^st round submission.

Cliff Wright vs. Christian Uflacker: Wright via split decision.

Daniel Vizcaya vs. Jack Hermansson: Hermansson via 1^st round KO.

Anton Talamantes vs. Anthony Gomez: Gomez via split decision.

Louis Taylor vs. Joe Vedepo: Vedepo via 1^st round submission.

CR Exclusive Interview with Ricardo Tirloni

Ricardo Tirloni (photo by Bellator.com)

Ricardo Tirloni is one of the most underappreciated fighters in the world. He is one of the top lightweights in Bellator, and the world, and yet has gone unknown to casual fans. Holding one of the best ground games at 155 and powerful standup, Tirloni has all the makings to be a champion.

Boasting a 15-2 record, with his only two losses being to two of the best lightweights in the world, Benson Henderson and Rick Hawn, Tirloni is a world class fighter. Being a participant in the tournament in Bellator's most stacked division is certainly no easy task and Tirloni has made it look easy thus far. He blasted through Rene Nazare with a second round brabo choke, which was extremely impressive.

In the semi-finals, he will face off with 17-2 David Jansen, who also looked mighty impressive himself with a third round submission win over Magomed Saadulaev. Ricardo was gracious enough to sit down with us before his fight with Jansen.

Check it out:

Championship Rounds: Hey Ricardo, thank you very much for agreeing to do this interview. We can’t wait until your fight with David Jansen. So, talk about your fight with Jansen. How has training camp been going?

Ricardo Tirloni: Training camp was very good, we have been training for a long time to be ready for the tournament, and I am very ready for this fight.

CR: What are your initial impressions of Jansen?
 

RT: He is a good athlete with good conditioning and wrestling and with a BJJ background. He always comes  in good shape.

CR: How do you predict your fight going?
 

RT: I always come out aggressive and try to finish the fight and with this fight I think will take place on the ground.

CR:  How do you predict the Marcin Held vs. Rich Clementi fight will go?
 

RT: I don’t know. Held is young and hungry and Clementi has all the skills that you need, so let’s see what happens.

CR: What is your message to the champion Michael Chandler?
 

RT: I have no messages for Chandler because I think and want Hawn to become the champ, but first I will win the tournament.

CR: Are there any fighters we should look out for fighting from Ataque Duplo that we might not know of?
 

RT: Yes, we have a lot of fighters there, make sure to watch Santiago Ponzinibio, Ivan Batman and Kevin Souza.

CR: Thanks again Ricardo. Best of luck in your upcoming fight. We’ll be cheering for you!

RT: Thanks guys!

Thanks again to Ricardo Tirloni. Make sure you guys follow him @TirloniMMA and wish him luck this Friday.

Bellator 81 Predictions

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Marcin Held vs. Rich Clementi = Clementi via 3rd round submission (RNC).

Dave Jansen vs. Ricardo Tirloni = Tirloni via unanimous decision. (For our Exclusive Interview with Tirloni click here)

Dustin Neace vs. Marlon Sandro = Sandro via 1st round submission.

Jonas Billstein vs. Perry Filkins = Billstein via split decision.

Prelims

Robbie LeRoux vs. Ruben Ray = LeRouz via unanimous decision.

Paul Barrow vs. Matt Bessette = Barrow via split decision.

Valter Roberto vs. Brennan Ward = Roberto via 3rd round TKO.

Joe Lamoureux vs. Dan Cramer = Cramer via unanimous decision.

Joe McGann vs. Andrew Calandrelli = Calandrelli via 1st round submission.

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Marcin Held vs. Rich Clementi = Clementi via split decision.

Dave Jansen vs. Ricardo Tirloni = Tirloni via unanimous decision. (For our Exclusive Interview with Tirloni click here)

Dustin Neace vs. Marlon Sandro = Sandro via 1st round submission.

Jonas Billstein vs. Perry Filkins = Billstein via unanimous decision.

Prelims

Robbie LeRoux vs. Ruben Ray = LeRouz via unanimous decision.

Paul Barrow vs. Matt Bessette = Bessette via split decision.

Valter Roberto vs. Brennan Ward = Roberto via unanimous decision.

Joe Lamoureux vs. Dan Cramer = Cramer via unanimous decision.

Joe McGann vs. Andrew Calandrelli = Calandrelli via unanimous decision.

Bellator 77 Predictions

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Rich Clementi vs. Alexander Sarnavskiy: Sarnavskiy by split decision.

Rene Nazare vs. Ricardo Tirloni: Tirloni by split decision.

Marcin Held vs. Murad Machaev: Held by 2^nd round submission.

Dave Jansen vs. Magomed Saadulaev: Saadulaev by 3^rd round TKO.

Prelims

Matthew Lozano vs. Dave Morgan: Lazano by unanimous decision.

Eric Albright vs. Brett Martinez: Albright by unanimous decision.

Cosmo Alexander vs. Mike Bannon: Cosmo by 3^rd round KO.

Duane Bastress vs. Lewis Rumsey: Bastress by unanimous decision.

Carmelo Marrero vs. Lew Polley: Marrero by unanimous decision.

Emanuel Brooks vs. Darrel Horcher: Brooks by unanimous decision.

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Rich Clementi vs. Alexander Sarnavskiy: Sarnavskiy via split decision.

Rene Nazare vs. Ricardo Tirloni: Tirloni via unanimous decision.

Marcin Held vs. Murad Machaev: Held via 3^rd round submission.

Dave Jansen vs. Magomed Saadulaev: Saadulaev via 2nd round TKO.

Prelims

Matthew Lozano vs. Dave Morgan: Lozano via unanimous decision.

Eric Albright vs. Brett Martinez: Albright via split decision.

Cosmo Alexander vs. Mike Bannon: Alexander via 1^st round TKO.

Duane Bastress vs. Lewis Rumsey: Bastress via split decision.

Carmelo Marrero vs. Lew Polley: Polley via unanimous decision.

Emanuel "E.J." Brooks vs. Darrel Horcher: Brooks via 3^rd round submission.