Bellator MMA continues Season 9 this Saturday night (Nov. 2, 2013) live from Long Beach Arena, in Long Beach, California.
Bellator 106 "Prelims" under card mixed martial arts (MMA) matches will stream online at SpikeTV.com, beginning at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the televised main card starting at 9 p.m. ET on Spike TV.
In the main event, former Bellator Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will look to reclaim his title when he faces the man who took it from him, Michael Chandler.
Eddie Alvarez. vs. Michael Chandler 1 (watch it here) was an absolute classic that is widely considered the best fight in the promotion's history. That bout ended when Chandler sunk in a rear naked choke in the fourth round, so Alvarez is doubtlessly looking for redemption this time around.
For his part Chandler would like to prove he really is one of the best lightweights on Earth, and a second win over Alvarez would be a great way for him to make that case.
In the co-main event Season 8 tournament winner Emanuel Newton takes on 2009 summer season tournament winner Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal for the interim Light Heavyweight title.
The bout is a rematch of Newton's highlight-reel worthy spinning backfist knockout of Lawal last February back at Bellator 90.
King Mo seems to be taking this one personal, promising he will get his payback at Bellator 106. Meanwhile, Newton is out to show the world the outcome of their first fight was no fluke and that he really is the better man.
Elsewhere on the card, Pat Curran will attempt to defend his featherweight title against Season 6 tournament winner Daniel Straus.
Curran is looking for his third successful title defense with a win over Straus, whereas Straus is hoping to ride the momentum from his current five-fight win streak to a victory over the so-far dominant champ.
Check out a full preview and predictions for Bellator 106 below:
155-pound championship match: Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez
If past is indeed predicate, Chandler should once again get the better of Alvarez here. Chandler proved he has legit knockout power with his first round KO of David Rickels at Bellator 97, and Alvarez has a history of getting tagged with big shots early only to later recover. If Chandler can connect with a huge haymaker like he did against Rickels, that could be all she wrote.
Another fact that has me favoring Chandler is the specter of potential ring rust looming over Alvarez. Not only has it been a little over a year since Alvarez's last fight, but he spent the better part of 2013 embroiled in a bitter legal struggle with Bellator.
Was Alvarez's training impacted at all by an uncertain processional future and the stress of an emotionally draining lawsuit? It's a definite possibility.
Chandler, on the other hand, has defended his belt twice in the past year, and looked impressive doing so each time. He's got far more momentum coming into this one than Alvarez, and he was the better man when both fought two years ago.
Final prediction: Michael Chandler via third round technical knockout.
205-pound interim championship match: Emanuel Newton vs. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal
Few expected Newton to beat Lawal last time they met, let alone knock him out with an incredible spinning back fist. The book on Lawal was that he was simply on a higher level than Newton.
Newton proved, however, that Mo can be knocked out with the right shot.
Lawal has been talking a big game, which could mean he wants to stand up and trade with Newton and prove their first fight was a fluke.
However, it could also mean he plans to use his wrestling -- where he possesses a significant edge over Newton, to grind him out on the mat and go for the surer path to victory.
Either way, expect lighting not to strike twice, and for Lawal to defeat Newton en route to capturing the interim Light Heavyweight strap.
Final prediction: "King Mo" Lawal via unanimous decision
145-pound championship match: Pat Curran vs. Daniel Straus
Curran is undefeated since his drop to Featherweight at Bellator 46 back in June, 2011 and over that period of time he's racked up six victories and two successful defenses of the Featherweight title.
Straus is also undefeated at featherweight, having rolled through the season six tournament and later defeating Alvin Robinson in a feature attraction bout at Bellator 78. He was originally scheduled to face Curran back in April at Bellator 95, but was forced to pull out of that match due to a hand injury.
Much like with Alvarez and Chandler, the champion Curran has been the more active of the two fighters as of late. Straus has also had troubles outside the cage this year that no doubt served as something of a distraction to him.
Curran is simply on a roll as champ, and while Straus may be a hell of a contender, I think Curran's more active schedule will be enough to give him the nod in a razor close fight.
Final prediction: Pat Curran via split decision
170-pound Fight Master final: Joe Riggs vs. Mike Bronzoulis
The longtime veteran Riggs looked the more impressive of the two men on "Fight Master," and he's also riding a five fight win streak into this fight. Bronzoulis' lone win against a fighter who actually has his own Wikipedia page came at a Strikeforce Challengers event back in 2011, so Riggs has a definite advantage in terms of the level of competition he has faced.
"The Greek" has never been finished, but I see Riggs connecting with a left hand that puts him out sometime before the fight gets to the third round.
Final prediction: Joe Riggs via second round knockout
135-pound feature fight: Mike Richman vs. Akop Stepanyan
Both men are coming off loses here, but Stepanyan only has one win inside the Bellator cage on his record. I'm going with Richman to get the win via technical knockout in the third.
Final prediction: Richman via third round technical knockout.