Bellator 97: Chandler/Rickels, Askren/Koreshkov; Wed July 31

[Bernman]

I was way off on the Koreshkov call.

Though, while I think it's highly likely it wouldn't have made a difference, I disagree w/ RZ that the first round glove touch DIRTY tactic couldn't have been of some benefit to Askren. The early rounds, were Koreshkov's best chance at the victory. But Askren took away the first by crowding him off the glove touch (akin to a striker hitting his opponent off it), and tired him out by forcing him to carry his weight. That diminished the chance he was going to be able to stop td's and land power shots from there. Like I said, it's highly likely Askren wins anyway.

Maybe I've picked against him a couple times now (the other was Lima, not Amoussou) out of wishful thinking. His limp, non-committal approach toward finishing is still soul crushing to watch. And now I can add a little dirty as another reason to not like him.

On a more positive note, Chandler, Pitbull, and Rafael Silva were rather impressive.

Chandler's speed is blinding. I think he did lose weight from the Alvarez fight when his stomach looked like an anaconda's while digesting a deer. Although a degree of it was Rickels cutting down from 205 himself. Chandler might well be able to beat anybody at 155. The only fighter I feel like talent wise is on his same level is Showtime.

Pitbull's defensive and offensive timing, as well as power, were epic.

And Silva showed off a well-rounded game with td's, successful kicks including capoeira, and a quick finishing sub.

Minakov wasn't really in your face impressive, but Martinez made it tough by keeping his hand defense tight and being built like a fire hydrant. Easy enough to beat, tough to look good against. At least Minakov showed he can win a 3-round fight after so many early finishes. I think he takes out Volkov quite easily as he can get underneath his hand defense and pound him out or sub him.

I think that it's quite likely that GSP will be the last champion to lose his belt. In the Sheilds fight he didn't look the best because he could only see out of one eye, but I don't see anyone beating him for a long time.

Aldo, if he stays at FW, who is going to beat him? He's a lot younger than GSP. GSP is 32, and frankly faces a threat in Hendricks.

[Cammo101]

The best chance of Aldo losing at FW remains Pettis dropping to 145.

[NZB2323]

The best chance of Aldo losing at FW remains Pettis dropping to 145.

I agree with this. I also think that it's likely that Aldo moves up.

I see Hendricks as a left handed Koscheck, and Koscheck had nothing for GSP in either of his fights.

[SDM]

I might have read that wrong but I don't think gsp is going to get decisioned. Ktfo sure, someone beating him over 4 rounds I dunno... Unless its like Velásquez over dos Santos and gsp gets rocked early and worked from there by someone tenacious.

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Sorry, Condit. Not GSP. I agree with GSP being nearly impossible to decision.

[REDDzone]

Bern, I didn't see anything wrong with what Askren did. He kept walking forward for the glove touch, he didn't shoot with the guy's arms extended. He was just slowly coming forward. At least imo. But even if that were true, Askren WAS going to take him down at some point. He got the takedown but Koreshkov gave no resistance whatsoever once it happened, Askren had mount 10 seconds into the fight, and backmount not too much longer after. He would have had to offer at least some semblance of resistance to the pass and mount and backmount after the takedown for me to think he had any chance whatsoever.

[cowboyronnie]

It makes some sense to have their first PPV appeal to multiple dimensions. I assume Tito vs Rampage as the ME will be backed with appearances by Lima and Chandler and Schlemwhomever and their real sensational talent.

It's painful to imagine that Tito is surely going to make a massive purse for it, though. He held out for a long time, flirted with orgs, negotiated in the media. That man has done more with a losing streak than anyone ever. LMAO if Rampage KTFOs him. He'll finish his career on a 1-1-8 streak.

Askren at least had dynamic grappling, I didn't mind it. "A real liberal dude", nah, no one can have a crowd chant "USA" and be real liberal.

Rickels we knew was going to be a dud opponent...and he out-did himself.

That right hand Chandler landed was beautifully thrown.

The HW fight was nonsense. That Russian ain't ****.

[REDDzone]

Askren at least had dynamic grappling, I didn't mind it. "A real liberal dude", nah, no one can have a crowd chant "USA" and be real liberal.

I think he's just that big of a troll man lol. I know I was listening to a Belcher interview and he was staying with Askren and he was saying how Askren and his fiance were crazy/hippie/treehuggers or some such. I mean, he later referred to new mexico as mexico and called them all communists, safe to say he's just a huge troll. Dude has a smiley face tattoo that says be happy or something, and calls himself a hippie when asked about it. We are also talking about the same guy who trolls Ariel with every chance he gets, doing things like cooking meals and banging pots together whenever he gets on phone interviews.

Have you ever seen anyone use such weird grappling positions as Askren does? He was sitting in positions for long periods of time where I legit thought to myself 'I have never seen this before'. When he does that weird kneeling position where one foot is between his opponent's legs and the other is behind his back, and his knees are just up? I didn't really understand why Koreshkov didn't just go to half guard from there, instead of just ceding backmount, etc.