Bellator has taken a week hiatus but it is finally back with yet another stacked card including two tourney fights as well as a likely tourney eliminator and Interim title fight! All live on SpikeTV 9pmEST May 2, 2014
0). Mike Mucitelli is mainly a grappler with 4 submission victories and only one tko and decision, but McGeary is a Renzo Gracie fighter and should have no problem going to the ground with Mucitelli. McGeary a star prospect from England has a purple belt in bjj under Braulio estima to go along with his devastating KO power he put on display against Beau Tribolet at Bellator 100. All of Mcgearys wins have come by way of stoppage (3 subs, 3 Ko's) Expect this fight to be competitive where ever it goes. Prediction: Liam McGeary First Round KO
The next bout slated on card pits long standing Bellator veteran and top 15 BW in the world Marcos "Loro" Galvao (15-6-1) against rising star Thomas Vasquez (7-0). Marcos Galvao enters this matchup riding a 2 fight win streak since his loss to BW kingpin Eduardo Dantas. Both fighters will be looking to make a statement here and the winner will most certainly be placed in the next tournament. Thomas Vasquez makes his Bellator debut after going 7-0 as an amateur with 6 submissions 1 decision and then 7-0 as a pro (3sub,2ko,2 decisions) He comes into the bout with a lot of momentum coming off back to back rear naked choke wins. Both fighters are skilled on the ground but I give the grappling advantage to Galvao and the striking advantage to Vasquez. I expect there to be heated exchanges on the feat but most of this fight to take place on the mat. All in all I think Vasquez mixes it up nicely and gets the win. Prediction: Thomas Vasquez Decision
In the Co-Main event of the evening it is the long awaited WW semi finals bout between Andrey Koreshkov and Sam Oropeza. Koreshkov rebounded nicely in his return to the cage at Bellator 112 with a tko victory over Nah-shon Burrell as well as a win over david gomez in a local bout beforehand. Oropeza comes in riding a 6 fight win streak, including his shocking 1st round upset of Souza in the opening round of the tournament. I was never fully convinced about this guy but he's heavily backed by Alvarez and he just keeps winning. "Sammy O" is a very well rounded fighter and his best bet here would be to get it to the ground with powerful striker Koreshkov. I believe he will have some success in the early going but eventually succumb to the Russians power. Prediction: Koreshkov 2nd round tko
IN the main event of the evening for the BellatorMMA interim BW title Tourney winners Joe Warren (10-3) faces Rafael Silva (21-3) Silva comes into the bout as a late replacement due to Dantas suffering a head injury in training, but don't you worry he is more than ready. Silva confirmed a few weeks after having to pull out of his scheduled title bout that he is healed up and ready to fight whenever. He is riding a 13 fight win streak and is dangerous wherever the fight goes. Joe Warren is 3-0 since dropping down to BW and has looked like a monster in doing so, submitting Nick Kirk and Knocking Out Travis Marx. Both fighters should be fine wherever it goes. Look for Joe Warren to take this to the matt and grind Silva out while still going for the finish, Silva will need to use good movement and straight punches on the feet and utilize his transitions from his back on the ground. It's a 5 round fight and in MMA anything can happen. I expect a high level match and Warren pressure should be too much. Prediction: Joe Warren 4th round submission
That wraps up the main card portion of this fight Card now onto the prelims of note
wrestling star and undefeated FW Darrion Caldwell(4-0) looks for a quick turnaround after his 50 submission win at BellatorMMA112 against (4-1-1) Joe Pingitore. Joe is just a prospect himself too but Caldwell is just on another level. Prediction: Caldwell 2nd round Submission
Undefeated LW prospect Sidney Outlaw (2-0 pro, 5-1 amateur) will face fellow prospect Mike Bannon (5-1-1) This is really your classic pick em fight. This can go either way both fighters pro victories have come by finish. I want Outlaw to win but I'm leaning towards Bannon. Both fighters will push each other to the limit. Prediction: Bannon Decision
The rest:
MW Tim Woods (6-4) vs.Eugene Fadiora (13-1)
WW Gemiyale Adkins(8-6) vs Dante Rivera (15-7)
WW Jesus Martinez (8-5) vs. Ryan Contaldi (7-7)
FW Rematch Jay Haas (11-13) vs. Lester Caslow (11-9)
Catchweight 151 bout pits "Let me Bang Bro" Julian Lane (6-3-1) vs. Anthony Morrison (18-10)
FW Amran Aliyev (3-2) vs. Kevin Roddy (13-15-1)
