Bellator 145: Pitbull/Straus 3, Brooks/Held, Nov. 6

Bernman · Post #1 » by **Bernman** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:52 pm

Full Card:

Main:

Patricio Freire vs. Daniel Straus, FW title
Will Brooks vs. Marcin Held, LW title
Michael Chandler vs. David Rickels
Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Justin Lawrence
Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson

Prelims:

Augusto Sakai (8-0) vs. Alex Huddleston (6-1)
Chris Heatherly (9-3) vs. Vince Eazelle (11-2)
Kevin Engel (4-0) vs. Kyle Kurtz (4-1)

Really exciting group of fights on the main card. High chance for a classic or two. Straus-Pitbull 2 was. Pitbull needed a dramatic comeback sub to win. This is the big test for Held. Brooks has a lot of physical advantages, but Held has overcome them in the past with his super craftiness. A couple notable Roufusport fighters between Held and Sanchez. I know that interests some others here. The card is weak on prelims, so hopefully it holds together.

REDDzone · Post #2 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:59 pm

Rematch city. At least not immediate rematch city.

Bernman · Post #3 » by **Bernman** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:11 pm

I don't understand why we needed to see a rematch of a fight where Chandler made Rickels look like he was in quicksand for 30 seconds. Must have been getting ko'ed by Patricky since. Rickels is a decent fighter. I just don't get the point of the rematch. It's not like they have a dearth of quality LW's. I think Spike just tries to push guys they see have personality over substance. Rickels is nicknamed Caveman, he walks out with a club and a dinosaur, and he likes to bang bro. Let's give this another shot.

I love the Pitbull-Straus rematch though. More rematches of classic fights where it wasn't clear who was better at the end, please.

REDDzone · Post #4 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:53 pm

Yea, the only thing that wasn't quick in that Chandler/Rickels match was Rickels.

REDDzone · Post #5 » by **REDDzone** » Wed Nov 4, 2015 11:01 pm

So apparently Brooks/Pitbull brothers got into a brawl at the hotel. Brooks claims to have video evidence of them starting the fight. If not though, it looks bad for him, he said on twitter he was going to physically slap Pitbull when he saw him next. Ariel later asked him if he meant it and he said something stupid like as a man I keep my word (so basically yes I'm going to slap him lol).

Bernman · Post #6 » by **Bernman** » Wed Nov 4, 2015 11:12 pm

Well, that doesn't set up anything realistically with Brooks/Patricky. Although I could see Spikeforce trying to stretch it for story purposes. Fits their personality angle.

More interesting from a serious fan perspective though would be a super-fight between Brooks and Patricio. Patricio would be dealing with a reach disadvantage, but he does that with Straus too. And Straus is more potent from there. Brooks can baby leg kick, jab, and dance, but eventually he's going to have to come in to seriously engage and wrestle, which would create openings which we've seen Patricio is ready to take advantage of with his timing, power, and combos. Would be a fun fight. But if Brooks lost they'd be in bad shape. They can afford it with the smaller guy, because he's supposed to lose. They weren't scared to risk Shlemenko, which aided an interesting event, but kinda backfired.

Bernman · Post #7 » by **Bernman** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 1:31 am

Everybody is healthy and made weight. Should be a fun night of fights tomorrow if you stick to the tv portion.

I like Pitbull over Straus, again. I just think there's an intangible desire that makes Pitbull a winner, and lack of desire or at least poise from Straus. He gave away both the Curran and Pitbull fights he was in pretty good shape in getting his back taken and then not protecting his neck. The Weichel fight wasn't going Pitbull's way either, but he stayed in there and knocked him out. He's got that one hitter quitter in his back pocket, or the wrestling and jiu-jits.

Brooks-Held should be interesting, man. Brooks is starting to get really cocky. I think he's going to leave some openings for Held to do his crazy rolling leg attacks. Brooks doesn't pose much deterrence with a lack of knee game and baby leg kicks just to score and keep distance. Also think a couple td's can get home for Held with Brooks upright, and punches with the lateral + in and out movement with Brooks heavy on that back leg. Ultimately though, Held will probably be on the run, and frenetic, so that means wearing down later on. And I don't think Held will get a sub home. Brooks gets himself in dangerous positions but has the awareness and strength to get out of them, and then score with a little gnp, and top control. 3-2 Brooks in one that the hardcores should really appreciate, if not the casual fan.

Bernman · Post #8 » by **Bernman** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 2:20 am

Whoops, this is going on tonight/right now. I got crossed up because their big events are usually on Saturday. Hope I didn't cause anybody to miss it who wanted to catch it.

REDDzone · Post #9 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:38 am

Getting home now, tuned in in time to see the Chandler postfight interview.

REDDzone · Post #10 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:39 am

I hope Held wins because Brooks is a top 3 emo mma fighter. Just all negativity all the time, I'm not a fan.

REDDzone · Post #11 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:43 am

Dear god they found a girl bigger than Gabi for her to fight.

Bernman · Post #12 » by **Bernman** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:51 am

I'm pretty sure that's a dude.

Chandler-Rickels was as pointless as thought beforehand, unless you're just bleed guy. That was like a horror movie. Chandler just has too much pace and power for slow ass Rickels.

I thought Sanchez got a little bit of a favorable decision vs. Lawrence. He was a step behind the pace, but he's constantly coming, and then looking for some creative opening in the pocket, usually with a kick off a punch or movement fake. That changed the momentum of the fight. But then he threw it away largely by getting reckless on a back take. Gotta love how he goes for finishes though. Pretty good rep for Duke Roufusport.

I think Brooks is trying hard to get attention because it's tough in Bellator. Before the first Chandler fight he was openly just trying to promote it. He's not King Mo. You can't spell emo without mo.

REDDzone · Post #13 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 3:55 am

He's way, way too low for that kneebar Jimmy. lol

Brooks good defense and nice job staying out once he was out, good smash/crossface/going to over/under to stop the inversion when Held was trying to get back to the kneebar.

Now Held is mounted, that's one problem for always inverting for those kneebars. If you DO get smashed, you are helpless.

REDDzone · Post #14 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 4:17 am

I wonder if you don't see dudes going calf crush because of the gloves.

Brooks is just a beast man. So much stronger, gotta admire Held for always attacking though.

REDDzone · Post #15 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 4:35 am

Shamrock vs Gracie. lmfaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

REDDzone · Post #16 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 4:45 am

I'm a fan of Straus.

Jasen777 · Post #17 » by **Jasen777** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 4:59 am

REDDzone wrote:Shamrock vs Gracie. lmfaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

With Kimbo as co-main.

You know you're watching.

I did winch in embarrassment a little though.

REDDzone · Post #18 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 5:03 am

Pitbull eats a lot of shots his last few fights. Can't believe he almost hit that armbar lol, talk about mat time, that was instinctual.

REDDzone · Post #19 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 5:07 am

Jasen777 wrote:
REDDzone wrote:Shamrock vs Gracie. lmfaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

With Kimbo as co-main.

You know you're watching.

I did winch in embarrassment a little though.

Just a little? Kurt Angle? Royce in a gi. Shamrock in general lol.

The most embarrassing part though is that despite the fact that those four fighters have a combined age of like 220 years old, none of them would be the most shot fighter on the card tonight (looking at you James Thompson).

edit: meh maybe that's unfair, didn't realize he had won a few in a row. I feel like everytime I see him fight he is getting KOed by a jab.

Jasen777 · Post #20 » by **Jasen777** » Sat Nov 7, 2015 5:11 am

REDDzone wrote:Just a little? Kurt Angle? Royce in a gi. Shamrock in general lol.

I typically have a high level of embarrassment tolerance. Legendary even. Not enough to look up who Dada 500 is though.