Bellator returns to the Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula, California, for Bellator 137 on Friday night. Middleweight champion Brandon Halsey (8-0) is determined to keep his 185-pound title and his spotless record intact.
The challenger is 6’6″ veteran Kendall Grove (24-10). From a physical standpoint, it’s clear Grove has a seven-inch height advantage and far more experience; yet in the cage, none of that will help him out much. Halsey is simply ferocious. His wrestling is possibly the best in Bellator, and he has heavy hands.
He’s also secured back-to-back wins via submission, and that includes his spectacular victory over Alexander Shlemenko to win the title in his last fight. With each bout, it appears Halsey is more focused and confident.
Bellator announcer Jimmy Smith breaks down Halsey’s win over Shlemenko in the video below:
On Friday night, the main event will likely be a one-sided affair. It’ll only be a matter of time before Halsey plants Grove on the mat and begins to work his advantages. Grove is a tough out on the ground. He’s accumulated 10 of his 24 wins by way of submission. With that said, Halsey’s physical strength and relentless approach will be the key to victory.
When two men have similar or equal expertise in one discipline, the winner is often determined by the superior athlete. That’s most definitely Halsey. He’ll retain his title. Here’s a look at the complete card, viewing information and predictions for each bout.
Mike Richman Is on a Mission
Former Marine Mike Richman has been as impressive as any bantamweight in Bellator. He won his last two fights, and both wins came by stoppage. Most recently, he scored a TKO win over UFC veteran Nam Phan in November 2014 at Bellator 131.
On Friday, Eduardo Dantas will do his best to slow Richman down and put himself in position to challenge for the 135-pound title. The key to this fight will be Richman‘s ability to keep the fight standing. He’s a much better striker than grappler at this stage of his career. While Richman has seven career wins by submission, his last one came in 2010.
Meanwhile, he’s discovered some impressive power in his hands. With relentless pressure and a dash of takedown defense, Richman has the recipe to stop Dantas.
Millender Will Rebound
Curtis Millender‘s promising career hit a significant speed bump in February when he lost via submission to Brennan Ward. Millender was undefeated before the loss, but now he’s looking to grow from his setback.
Per Mick Hammond of MMA Weekly, Millender has some big plans. He said:
I feel like I’ve improved in every fight. I get faster, I get stronger and I definitely get a lot more confident.
I’m happy that (my fights are) all wins, but of course nothing is ever perfected. There’s always room to grow. There are always things in every fight I feel I should have done better.
There’s never any questioning the physical tools Millender possesses, but he got careless against Brennan Ward. He won’t make the same mistake twice. Fernando Gonzalez is not a good foe for Millender. He lacks the speed to keep pace with Millender.
While he’s a tough and rugged fighter with a wealth of fighting experience, he won’t be a match for Millender‘s speed.
Expect Millender to score a sensational knockout win.
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