While the UFC might be the world’s No. 1 mixed martial arts organization, I’ve come to love the often, thrill-a-minute action that Bellator brings to the table. With that said, I’m going on record right now to say that this weekend’s Bellator 206 card could turn out to be the best MMA card of the entire 2018 docket.
You see, the main card of Bellator 206 is highlighted by a pair of intriguing bouts that both look like they fit the bill as no-stop, action-packed affairs that are going to end with a bang. In the headline bout, will feature one of the most significant middleweight title fights in recent memory in any organization when Gegard Mousasi defends his belt against Bellator’s welterweight king, Rory MacDonald.
But what makes Bellator 206 an absolute must-see event is the headliner. The two biggest names in the promotion, Gegard Mousasi and MMA Odds favorite Rory MacDonald, meet for a double-champ fight to contest the middleweight title. Bellator spent a ton of money to get both fighters away from the UFC and they’ve wasted no time in setting up this super-fight.
In the biggest match just prior to the headliner, aging veterans Quinton Jackson and Wanderlei Silva will meet for the fourth time in another pairing that looks like a thriller just waiting to happen. Let’s examine the odds surrounding the top two fights at Bellator 206 while I offer up my expert pick on the outcome of both bouts.
Bellator 206 Odds & Expert Predictions – September 29th
.@BellatorMMA champion @PatricioPitbull has what @AaronPicoUSA is gunning for – that title belt. “He will fall when I face him.” But first, a tough matchup with Leandro Higo awaits at #Bellator206. 5 reasons to watch: https://t.co/6sRxq6tQV6 pic.twitter.com/A3RKvNG7rq
— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) 28 de septiembre de 2018
Quinton Jackson (37-13 MMA/4-2 Bellator) vs Wanderlei Silva (35-13-1 MMA/0-1 Bellator)
- Bellator 206 Odds: Wanderlei Silva +245 / Quinton Jackson -315
40-year-old Memphis native Quinton Rampage Jackson and 42-year-old Brazilian Wanderlei Silva will be locking horns for the fourth time in their illustrious careers. Unfortunately, both of these aging fighters are now just a shell of their former selves.
Silva had a four-year layoff from the sport before facing veteran Chael Sonnen last year and going down via unanimous decision at Bellator 180 in June. Not only that, but Silva has only won four of his last 12 fights while suffering four KO losses and four decision defeats during the span.
Rampage Jackson has dropped two straight and also lost to Chael Sonnen in his last fight, via unanimous decision at Bellator 192 in January. Prior to that, Jackson lost to Muhammad Lawal at Bellator 175 in March of 2017. The good news is that Jackson did win five straight fights prior to dropping his last two with one of those victories being a unanimous decision win over Lawal in May of 2014.
The first time these legends met was way back at Pride Final Conflict in 2003 in a bout that saw Silva finish off Jackson in the first round with a series of knees to the face. The rematch between the two took place at Pride 28: High Octane and saw Silva again finish off Jackson with a series of knees to the face, this time in the second round. The pair then met at UFC 92 in December of 2008 with Jackson getting some revenge by brutally knocking out Silva with one punch in the first round.
Prediction
I know Quinton Rampage Jackson is no longer the elite fighter he used to be, but Wanderlei Silva certainly isn’t either and I believe he’s suffered a bigger drop-off in skills than Jackson has, simply because Silva took a whopping four years off from the sport.Rampage Jackson has the much tougher chin in this one, having suffered each of his last four defeats via unanimous decision while Wanderlei Silva has been floored twice in his last five bouts. Inactivity will be the doom of Wanderlei Silva in this fight as Rampage Jackson evens the record between these two at 2-2.
Pick: Rampage Jackson Via Second Round KO
Gegard Mousasi (44-6-2) vs. Rory MacDonald (20-4)
- Bellator 206 Odds: Rory MacDonald +195 / Gegard Mousasi -250
29-year-old Rory MacDonald stands 6’0” with a 76-inch reach. The Canadian has won two straight since joining Bellator and comes into this bout off a unanimous decision win over Douglas Lima at Bellator 192 in January. Prior to joining Bellator, MacDonald lost both of his final two fights in the UFC. The versatile MacDonald has recorded seven KO wins in his career, seven more via submission and six by way of decision. MacDonald has also been on the wrong end of two KO losses and a pair of decision defeats. This fight will mark a jump up in weight class for MacDonald.
33-year-old Gegard Mousasi stands 6’2” with a 76-inch reach. The native of Iran is on fire right now, having won seven straight fights, including five straight before bolting on the UFC following his second round TKO (knees) win over Chris Weidman in April of 2017. The super active fighter has won 24 fights via KO, 12 by way of submission and eight via decision. Mousasi has also been on the wrong end of on KO loss, three submission defeats and a pair of decision losses.
Prediction
While I’m expecting an epic brawl and I certainly don’t see Rory MacDonald just rolling over, it’s almost impossible for me to pick against Gegard Mousasi in this bout. The reigning Bellator middleweight champ is at his natural weight while Rory MacDonald may or may not be able to adjust to a new weight class. Gegard Mousasi is absolutely explosive offensively as his five KO finishes in his last seven fights indicates.With Rory MacDonald losing both of his last two fights against elite competition before beating up on two weaker opponents in his first two Bellator fights, I think Gegard Mousasi will not only get the win but do so in stunning KO fashion. I’m going with the reigning champ for the third round KO and you should too!
Pick: Gegard Mousasi Via Third Round KO
