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

Bernman · Post #1 » by **Bernman** » Mon May 20, 2013 1:12 am

Fight Card:

Michael Chandler vs. David Rickels, Bellator LW World Title
Ben Askren vs. Andrey Koreshkov, Bellator WW World Title
Vitaly Minakov vs. Ryan Martinez, HW GP Title
King Mo vs. Jacob Noe, LHW GP Title
BW GP Semi
BW GP Semi
Patricio Freire vs. Rob Emerson

REDDzone · Post #2 » by **REDDzone** » Tue May 21, 2013 3:29 am

I feel like Lima has Saunder's nice and 'alpha'd" mentally at this point. Which sucks.

ShowtimeFan · Post #3 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Wed May 22, 2013 7:56 pm

Great card, I had not seen this announced, I always want sanders to win, he is one of my top MMA favs, but I will be very surprised if he can beat Lima..

Askern is a strange looking dude, but he is undefeated and pretty much unchallenged, he takes you down, twists you around, pounds your face and submits you, nothing flashy, just great, kinda like the Tim Duncan of MMA, I would sure love to see Ben against some of the top UFC guys...

How long until the UFC buys Bellator?

Bernman · Post #4 » by **Bernman** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:04 pm

Lima has Saunders psycho-f'ed because he's the much better fighter. Saunders knows he's in over his head. The only reason Saunders has made finals is because of easy roads. He's beating guys like Cisneros, Adzitzo, and Amaya (twice). His only decent win in Bellator is Sapo Santos, who got cut after losing his next fight.

Askren could win easily again, with his improvement, and dogged determination to get and keep fighters down, but Koreshkov definitely has the tools to beat him. He's long, moves well, has good straights and uppercuts, and is a smart, well-measured fighter. Even if he doesn't win, I've always seen great things for him in the future.

There are challenges for Askren in Bellator. They have a good WW division. He's just faced some guys he matched up well with and also fought him foolishly. Either way, UFC is not buying out Bellator with the money they have behind them and their rivalry.

REDDzone · Post #5 » by **REDDzone** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:15 pm

Lima may be better but even objectively it would be better if Saunders won this. At least Saunders vs Askren would be something new.

Bernman · Post #6 » by **Bernman** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:20 pm

I disagree. Lima was 24 last time he faced Askren, was very cocky about his BJJ, and fought like an idiot from his back and all the power shots. Kind of reminded me of Pettis vs. Guida. I think it's more likely he learns, and improves, with his talent, than Killa B ever giving the Funk a run for his money. He got grapple-humped by Baker, who Lima just flattened with one punch.

REDDzone · Post #7 » by **REDDzone** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:21 pm

I don't think either fight is competitive with Askren. But again, at least vs Saunders is something new.

SDM · Post #8 » by **SDM** » Thu May 23, 2013 12:41 am

Lima's the only Askren fight I'd be interested in seeing. He's much better. Saunders is Saunders. It's something new in the way that Anderson fighting Camozzi would be something new, he's not going to trouble Askren at all.

REDDzone · Post #9 » by **REDDzone** » Thu May 23, 2013 3:00 am

SDM wrote:Lima's the only Askren fight I'd be interested in seeing. He's much better. Saunders is Saunders. It's something new in the way that Anderson fighting Camozzi would be something new, he's not going to trouble Askren at all.

Lima is much better than Saunders, or Lima is much better than last time he got dominated by Askren?

This may seem like a silly argument by me but remember, 1) I love Saunders, and 2) I hate rematches, especially ones than take place like 1-1.5 years later.

SDM · Post #10 » by **SDM** » Thu May 23, 2013 3:08 am

Sorry-- Lima's improved quite a bit since the Askren fight.

All good... I know you think he's Saunderful. Agree on rematches, but there's no depth in Bellator.

REDDzone · Post #11 » by **REDDzone** » Thu May 23, 2013 3:20 am

I hope Saunders jeet kune do's the sh*t out of Lima...just to rib you guys a little.

ShowtimeFan · Post #12 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Fri May 24, 2013 7:31 pm

REDDzone wrote:
SDM wrote:Lima's the only Askren fight I'd be interested in seeing. He's much better. Saunders is Saunders. It's something new in the way that Anderson fighting Camozzi would be something new, he's not going to trouble Askren at all.

Lima is much better than Saunders, or Lima is much better than last time he got dominated by Askren?

This may seem like a silly argument by me but remember, 1) I love Saunders, and 2) I hate rematches, especially ones than take place like 1-1.5 years later.

I AGREE and I am with you 100% RZ on wanting Saunders to beat Lima, he just needs to take the lead on offense and NOT be counterpunching Lima...

Lima will still NOT beat Askern, no how, no way, I agree with giving Saunders a go at him...

REDDzone · Post #13 » by **REDDzone** » Fri May 24, 2013 7:42 pm

FWIW I don't think Saunders beats Askren either. I'm actually excited to see Askren again. He looked great his last time out. I felt sorry for his opponent, which is usually a great sign that the fighter in question looked awesome. lol

Bernman · Post #14 » by **Bernman** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:27 am

Supposedly now they're going to start the BW 4-man GP on this night too, so this could be a really stacked card. You got those two fights, plus the ww and lw titles, and the hw and lhw finals. If it doesn't fall apart, and they match up the BW's competitively, that could be a really fun night of free fights.

Bernman · Post #15 » by **Bernman** » Tue Jul 9, 2013 6:26 pm

Full Card Released, and it may be Bellator's best ever:

MAIN CARD

Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. David Rickels (11-0), WW Title
Ben Askren (11-0) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (13-0), LW Title
King Mo (10-2) vs. Jacob Noe (12-2), LHW Tourney Champ
Vitaly Minakov (11-0) vs. Ryan Martinez (10-2), HW Tourney Champ
Patricio Pitbull (17-2) vs. Jared Downing (9-2)

PRELIMINARY CARD:

Rafael Silva (19-3) vs. Rodrigo Lima (11-1), BW Semi
Anthony Leone (12-5) vs. Frank Baca (16-2), BW Semi
Jeremy Kimball (9-3) vs. Keith Berry (15-10)
Will Brooks (9-1) vs. Cris Leyva (9-5)
Cliff Wright Jr. (7-4) vs. Donald Sanchez (28-13)
Bubba Jenkins (3-0) vs. Mike Barreras (5-6)
Adrian Cruz (4-0) vs. Felipe Chavez (5-3)
Shawn Bunch (1-0) vs. Steve Garcia (1-0)
Javier Palacios (1-0) vs. Richard Jacques (1-0)

ShowtimeFan · Post #16 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Tue Jul 9, 2013 8:16 pm

Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. David Rickels (14-1), WW Title
I love watching Rickels fight, but no way he beats Chandler

Ben Askren (11-0) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (13-0), LW Title
More wins and more knockouts will not help Andrey, once Ben gets ahold of him and throws him on the mat!

King Mo (10-2) vs. Jacob Noe (12-2), LHW Tourney Champ
Does King Mo understand that he needs to take opponents serious and not toy with them? If so, he will win by knock-out.

Patricio Pitbull (17-2) vs. Rob Emerson (15-10)
LOL, hey Pitbull can you beat a 15 & 10 guy?

Bernman · Post #17 » by **Bernman** » Tue Jul 9, 2013 9:13 pm

You watch, Koreshkov will beat Askren. His distance control, accuracy, and power are real strengths. And his counter-grappling is solid. His only weaknesses are gas tank and like all Rusfighters members he gives up his back to get a fight back to the feet. But I don't think that strategy will cost him against someone with Askren's BJJ, and the tiring is a product of all the spinning attacks which I think he's smart enough to dial back with this being a 5-rounder and a top wrestler his opponent.

What about Minakov-Martinez and the BW tourney fights?

Cammo101 · Post #18 » by **Cammo101** » Tue Jul 9, 2013 10:56 pm

I have been a huge Koreshkov fan for a long time now, but I just can't see him beating Askren. I hope I'm wrong.

REDDzone · Post #19 » by **REDDzone** » Tue Jul 9, 2013 11:53 pm

Rooting for Askren and Chandler and whoever is fighting King Mo.

Bernman · Post #20 » by **Bernman** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 1:37 am

REDDzone wrote:Rooting for Askren and Chandler and whoever is fighting King Mo.

Unlike you, I don't just root for fighters because they're from my hometown. :-P

WAR Andre Spartan!