We’ve seen Dynamite and other hyped cards, but Bellator 145 is one of the strongest pure MMA cards the promotion has put on. It’s being billed as With a Vengeance, and the show is set for Friday, November 6, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
The main event and co-main event would be main card bouts in the UFC. That’s how good this lineup of fights looks on paper. The co-feature pits Bellator Lightweight champion “Ill” Will Brooks against the Polish submission machine Marcin Held.
The main event is a third battle between former Bellator featherweight champion Daniel Straus and current title holder Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Before those two battles take place, fans will get a heavyweight bout between the always entertaining James Thompson and Bobby Lashley. Also, former 155-pound champion Michael Chandler will face David “The Caveman” Rickels.
This is going to be intense. Here’s a look at the full card, TV schedule and predictions.
Only the main card will be televised, but the prelims will be viewable on Spike.com at 6:45 p.m ET. Click here to see the prelim matchups.
Chandler Too Talented for Rickels
After a three-fight losing streak that included respectable defeats to Brooks twice and Eddie Alvarez, Chandler proved he was still an elite lightweight with a first-round submission win over Derek Campos in June.
He’ll now have a tougher opponent ahead of him on Friday in The Caveman. This bout is a rematch of a 2013 scrap that Rickels would just as soon forget. Chandler won that initial bout against Rickels via first-round TKO.
While Rickels‘ game has grown since then, he’s still no match for Chandler. Rickels is a grinder who has rarely finished opponents at this level of the sport. Instead, he relies on his strong grappling game.
Chandler is an even better grappler, and he has already proven himself to be a superior striker. Bet on Chandler again stopping Rickels with strikes, only this time the Caveman will get out of the first round.
Straus Will Take Advantage of Third Chance
Straus lost to Freire by unanimous decision in May 2011. He had Pitbull beat when the two met the last time back in January. He used his length and technical striking ability to keep Pitbull at bay and frustrated. The champion’s face was showing the rigors of the contest, through three-plus rounds.
Like a champion, Pitbull responded. He took advantage of a tired and careless Straus in the final minute of the fourth round. The champion secured the submission win to retain his title in scintillating fashion, but he won’t be as fortunate on Friday.
It’s really tough to beat the same opponent three times. It’s especially difficult when that opponent has gotten closer to winning in each fight. Straus will crack Pitbull‘s code using much the same formula he did in the second fight. Only this time, he won’t tire late.
Expect Straus to wear down Pitbull with his length and technical striking prowess. He’ll stay disciplined throughout and finish what he started in January.
Brooks Will Prove He’s a Star
The problem with Brooks is his lack of flair and cage wins by finish. Both deficiencies have hurt his popularity. He did finish Chandler in their brutal rematch, but it’s the only stoppage win he has in his last six fights.
He won’t get a stoppage victory over Held on Friday, but he will win. Held’s submission game is next-level, but the 23-year-old isn’t stellar in any other area. Brooks is already a talented wrestler, but he has to have been working hard on his submission defense in preparation for this bout.
Chances are, Held will get his chances against Brooks on the ground, but once the champion stuffs the challenger’s attempts to stop him, he will have his way in the striking and top control departments en route to the win.
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