If you are a fan of MMA and are looking for fights in between UFC bouts, there are plenty of organizations putting on great events between each UFC Fight Night. Perhaps the most popular of the bunch is Bellator, whose cards very often have fighters who have spent some amount of time in the UFC, as well as some who are knocking on the door and ready to move up. The next Bellator event comes on Friday night and has a main card that has 5 very good fights on tap. Let’s break down each of those bouts and toss in some predictions while we are at it so you can bet against their Bellator odds.
Bellator 256 Betting Preview | MMA Analysis
Dan Moret Vs Goiti Yamauchi
The main card begins with a Lightweight bout that, on paper at least, looks to be a little one-sided. Moret comes into this one with a 14-6 record and a run of recent form that is not great. He did win last time out, but that victory snapped a run of 3 losses in a row. Yamauchi, on the other hand, has won 3 in a row, as well as 6 of his last 7, taking his career mark to 25-4. I would not be surprised to see Yamauchi get the submission win in the early rounds.
Cat Zingano (-805) Vs Olivia Parker (+555)
The women are up next for a Featherweight bout that has a bit of a veteran going against an up and comer. Zingano plied her trade in the UFC for a while, fighting the best that they had to offer there, but after losing 4 of her last 5, she switched to Bellator, where she won her opening bout. This time around, she will be taking on a relative newbie in Parker, who is 4-1 in the early part of her career. This should be a win for Zingano, although it might take all 3 rounds to get it.
Jeremy Kennedy (-125) Vs Adam Borics (+105)
At first glance, you have to say that this Featherweight bout looks to be very evenly matched. Through his last 5 fights, Kennedy has won 4, lost 1, and seen the other end in a no contest, with that run taking his overall record to an impressive 16-2. Borics lost the first fight of his pro career after winning the first 14, but he has bounced back with 2 straight wins, with both going the distance. I am on Borics to win this one by decision.
Liz Carmouche (-170) Vs Vanessa Porto (+145)
It’s the women back in the spotlight, this time for a Flyweight bout that should be fun to watch. Carmouche is another fighter who spent time in the UFC before moving to Bellator, where she won her first fight via submission. After a run that saw her win 4 in a row with Invicta, Porto is making the leap to Bellator for her first fight under this banner. I think we see this one go the distance, with Carmouche doing just enough to win.
Ryan Bader (-300) Vs Lyoto Machida (+240)
We end the night with a Light Heavyweight bout that is actually a rematch, although it has been 9 years since these two last met. Bader is 27-6 and trying to bounce back from a loss his last time out, but he is going to have a tough time against a fighter who beat him in their previous meeting. Machida is 2-2 since joining Bellator, but those losses, both of which were split decisions, came in his last 2 fights. I think the losses continue, as I like Bader by KO.
