Bellator puts another double card together for the Italian crowd. There are several Italian fighters on the card looking to show out for the Milan crowd. The evening is full of strikers so it should produce some fun slugfests. My picks for both events are listed below.

Bellator 230
Welterweight: Walter Pugliesi (4-2) vs Andrea Fusi (8-4)- Fusi Unanimous Decision
Pugliesi is a big Welterweight with knockout power in his hands. He likes to pressure forward, and let his hands go from the opening bell. This will actually be a rematch with Fusi winning the first bout. Pugliesi hasn’t been tested on the mat much in his fight career, but comes into this contest with back to back losses. Fusi has shown an ability to land takedowns, and use his ground and pound to open up the submission game. He is less aggressive on the feet, and tends to perform better on the mat. This was a very close fight the first time around, and I am going to stick with Fusi in the rematch. I believe he can dictate where the fight goes, and has more experience.

Heavyweight: Dragos Zubco (2-1) vs Hesdy Gerges (0-1)- Gerges KO
Dragos is in the early stages in his career, but has a well rounded kickboxing background. He has shown power with his hands, and has some solid kicks as well. His one loss came against a superior grappler, but shouldn’t have to worry about that against Gerges. Gerges is a famous kickboxer competing the majority of his career under the Glory banner. Gerges is a top level striker, and holds a victory over the dangerous Badr Hari in a kickboxing rule set. Gerges has brutal leg kicks and head kicks along with powerful hands. He has transitioned to MMA, and is still trying to develop a ground game. I like Gerges in this fight because he has the better overall striking. He is facing a fellow striker which should play into his game.

Heavyweight: Domingos Barros (6-0) vs Kirill Sidelnikov (11-6)- Sidelnikov Unanimous Decision
Domingos is a rising prospect with an undefeated record. He is a massive Heavyweight, and has serious power in his hands. He holds a victory over Hesdey Gerges finishing the fight with ground and pound. Barros has decent takedowns, but hasn’t faced off against elite competition to this point. Sidelnikov is a training partner of the great Heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko. Kirill is known for his extensive background in Sambo with great takedowns and grappling skills. He does have power in his hands, but tends to struggle against strikers. The majority of his losses have come against fighters with knockout power. I am going to pick Sidelnikov in this matchup because of his ability to mix in takedowns. He will be the toughest test of Barros career, and should give him issues with his takedowns.

Light Heavyweight: Rafael Carvalho (16-3) vs Vadim Nemkov (10-2)- Nemkov Unanimous Decision
Carvalho is the former Bellator Middleweight champion moving up a weight class. Carvalho is known for his elite level muay thai, and feels the weight cut hurt his effectiveness. He has brutal leg kicks, and has finished several fights with head kicks. Carvalho is dangerous in the clinch as well with elbows and knees. He can be effective striking from distance or in the pocket on the feet. His one definitive loss came when he couldn’t stop the takedown against Gegard Mousasi. He is working to improve his ground game, but is already an elite level striker. Nemkov is a underrated striker who lit up Phil Davis in his last fight with leg kicks. Nemkov is a physical specimen, and has knockout power in his hands. He is very aggressive on the feet, and constantly presses forward working his kicks. Nemkov is a accomplished Sambo practitioner as well who can mix in the takedowns as well. He has solid top pressure, and will use ground and pound to put away opponents. His two losses have come against superior strikers who were able to negate his grappling. I like Nemkov because he won’t be overmatched on the feet, and has a distinct advantage in terms of grappling. I feel he can make this fight a wrestling match if he has trouble in the striking exchanges.

Bellator Milan
Light Heavyweight: Alessio Sakara (20-13) vs Canaan Grigsby (8-7)- Sakara KO
Sakara has been the face of Italian MMA for many years fighting since 2002. Sakara has fast hands, and packs a heavy punch in either hand. He actually competed as a pro boxer further proving his hands are dangerous. Sakara likes to press forward and let his hands go not using kicks often. His biggest issues in the past have come against wrestlers and grapplers taking him off his feet. Grigsby lives and dies by the sword when it comes to striking. Like Sakara, he has knockout power in his hands and has a propensity to engage in brawls. He also has lost most of his fights against superior wrestlers and grapplers. This fight really comes down to who lands the big shot. I will lean towards Sakara because he has the better striking and has fought higher level competition. He will also have the home crowd behind him, and has had success in the past fighting in Italy.

Lightweight: Kane Mousah (12-2) vs Rafael Macedo (9-4)- Mousah Unanimous Decision
Kane has a well rounded game, and is very technical on the feet. He likes to work the body with his hands and kicks. He fights well from distance, and his defense allows him to let his hands go. Mousah will mix in the takedowns on occassion, but tends to do his best work striking from the outside. Macedo is a last minute replacement, and will look to use his grappling in this fight. Macedo is very skilled on the ground, and has won the majority of his fights by submission. Macedo has the ability to land the takedown, but isn’t afraid to work his jiu-jitsu off of his back. Macedo isn’t a great striker, and tends to wing wild punches on the feet. I like Mousah in this fight based on his striking. As long as he can stay away from Macedo’s grappling he should be able to outpoint him on the feet.

Welterweight: Stefano Paterno (12-3-1) vs Ashley Reece (8-1)- Paterno Split Decision
Paterno is a dangerous striker with legit knockout power. He loves to press the action, and walks his opponents down letting his hands fly. Paterno has good knees as well, and has hurt his opponents in the past in the clinch. Paterno isn’t a great grappler, but has improved his takedown defense as his career has moved forward. He tends to use a boxing heavy approach and doesn’t throw a lot of kicks. Reece is a well rounded fighter, and a blue chip prospect out of England. Reece is technical on the feet, and likes to work the body and legs with his kicks. He is a solid athlete with a good burst on the feet behind his fast hands. Reece is the better grappler, and has shown an ability to mix in takedowns. Reece hasn’t fought against elite level competition, and will have his biggest test to date Saturday. I like Paterno because of his experience, and he seems to be the better striker. As long as he keeps the fight standing I believe he can outwork Reece on the feet, and possibly get a finish with his powerful hands.

Light Heavyweight: Melvin Manhoef (31-14-1) vs Yannick Bahati (9-4)- Manhoef TKO
Manhoef is a legend known for his powerful Dutch Kickboxing approach. Manhoef has scary power in his hands, and has some of the most brutal leg kicks in MMA. Manhoef can finish the fight in the clinch as well with his knees and elbows. At times, he does leave himself open on the feet and can be too aggressive. His chin has failed him due to the extensive amount of fights in MMA and Kickboxing. His cardio has been in question in the past, and has had issues with superior grapplers. However, he possesses the ability to change the fight with one shot. Bahati will have a massive size advantage standing at 6’2 with a 80 inch reach. Bahati is a solid striker who can land from the outside with his massive reach. Bahati will mix in the kicks from distance as well. He does have power in his hands, but should avoid a striking battle with Manhoef. Bahati will mix in takedowns, and has won several bouts in the past by way of submission. His long arms allow him to lock up tight chokes from any position. His biggest issues has come against powerful strikers as he tends to leave himself open on the feet. If Bahati can land takedowns he should have the advantage in this fight. However, I am going to lean with Melvin Manhoef finishing the fight with a knockout blow. I expect him to be prepared in the wrestling department, and if the fight stays on the feet he should have a significant advantage over the inexperienced Bahati.

Photo Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR6AwbT86qI