Bellator MMA continues to roll through with its second offering of season 11 being Bellator 124: "Newton vs. Beltran," which takes place from inside Compuware Arena this upcoming Fri. night (Sept. 12, 2014) from Plymouth, Mich., with the light heavyweights taking center stage.
Bellator light heavyweight champion and hardcore music enthusiast Emanuel Newton squares off against unlikely contender Joey Beltran in the main event, headlining the four-bout main card.
The winner of that fight will most likely face the co-main event victor, as Liam McGeary battles Kelly Anundson in the 2014 Summer Series light heavyweight tournament final. Also on the card, L.C. Davis meets Zeilton Rodrigues, and kicking things off on the Spike TV broadcast will be Ryan Couture making his Bellator debut versus John Schulz.
Check out our Bellator 124 preview and predictions below:
205 lbs.: Emanuel Newton (23-7-1) vs. Joey Beltran (15-10, 1 NC)
I'm not sure which Bellator official thought it would be a good idea to have a "Black Flag vs. Cypress Hill" main event ... yeah, I really don't know what's with this match up, either.
Maybe they needed someone to fight the champ in order to keep him active, and considering Newton's ties with Quinton Jackson, a fight against "Rampage" wouldn't have made sense.
The "Hardcore Kid" ditches the interim title tag for the first time after defeating Muhammed Lawal (for the second time) and Attila Vegh, defending his proper belt once and for all. The "Mexicutioner," on the other hand, is 1-1 in Bellator, and if you look at his record over the past four years, it's pretty terrible. He's only won three times in his past 11 contests, including victories over Vladimir Matyushenko, Anton Talamantes, and Aaron Rosa.
Now, I'm not sure if I would call Newton a pressure fighter, yet he certainly comes forward right off the bat, and even dips into that "spinning shit" ever so often. He stays behind his jab, looking to break down his foe without taking too many risks, too. Beltran's game plan is rather obvious, because I don't think he actually has a game plan. He really prides himself on brawling until someone goes down.
Ultimately, I see this one as a rout for Newton, who needs to look out for the miracle shot. But, considering Newton's recent run, he shouldn't lose.
Final prediction: Newton def. Beltran via technical knockout
205 lbs.: Liam McGeary (8-0) vs. Kelly Anundson (9-2)
I think we've got ourselves a decent light heavyweight final, but I would predict what you would predict.
McGeary, a power-punching Brit who nearly killed someone in his native England for being called a very inappropriate slur (it was part of his promo the last time he fought, and yes, I watch too much Bellator), doesn't really like to stay in the cage very long; all of his eight wins except for two have been first-round finishes.
Say what you will about Anundson's inclusion in the final considering Philipe Lins' knee injury during their fight, but he's still a tough cookie to crumble. He should rely on takedowns here, but something tells me he's going to try and test his might when it comes to striking. The Englishman can be hurt, although his opponents need to stay upright with him, which is a difficult task. Look for "Crossface" to steer him towards the fence with some clinch work; however, I don't know how long that's going to last.
Final prediction: McGeary def. Anundson by technical knockout
135 lbs.: L.C. Davis (21-6) vs. Zeilton Rodrigues (12-3)
A longtime member of the sport, Davis has served for World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), Affliction MMA, and International Fight League (IFL), just to name a few. His wrestling is his true prowess, and as for his foe, the Nova Uniao product rides a six-fight winning streak including a first-round knockout against Claudio Rocha in his last fight.
Davis is no slouch in the grappling department, and his chin has kept him in the game for a while. With that said, I have this odd hunch that I just can't shake off. Rodrigues has finished 11 out of his 12 bouts, including five submission wins. You can say Davis fought some tougher dudes, but he's also lost to the majority of them. I can't say the same for "Nenzao," but I do feel like he can pull off the upset here. I think we'll get some intense grappling exchanges, and I'm calling for Rodrigues to take it home in an ultra-close contest.
Final prediction: Rodrigues def. Davis by split decision
155 lbs.: Ryan Couture (8-3) vs. John Schulz (5-2)
I wouldn't say this is the same favorable matchmaking we saw with Bobby Lashley last week; still, it's a fight the promotion wants Couture to win.
Remember, Couture is making his Bellator debut, and now that daddy is allowed to be in his corner, I think we're going to see a vintage performance from the second-generation MMA fighter. I say that as if he's nostalgic, which he isn't, but instead of getting into striking battles with better boxers, I see Couture going for more takedowns, a little more submission attempts, and dare I say it, more grinding.
Schulz has power, but considering his 1-2 record in the past year and a half, I wouldn't really bet the house, to quote a legendary Mark Coleman promo.
Final prediction: Couture def. Schulz by unanimous decision
Be on the lookout for extensive Bellator 124 coverage this weekend, starting with the weigh-ins on Thursday, all the way through Friday night and Saturday morning with blow-by-blow coverage and post-fight recaps.