Light Heavyweight Bout: Ken Shamrock (28-16-2) vs. Royce Gracie (14-2-3)
Nolan Howell: Hoo boy, this main event would have brought the house…or the tent on the fairgrounds down 20 years ago. Shamrock has always been the more complete fighter and I can’t imagine Gracie has added anything to his standup in, well, however long it’s been. I seriously love this freak show fight and I think it will be a good ride into the sunset (God willing) for Shamrock. Ken Shamrock by first-round TKO.
Luke Irwin: Yikes. Just yikes. Anywho, Shamrock is the fresher fighter, and I can’t imagine in his nine years away from the cage, Gracie has all of a sudden developed a striking game. Shamrock can just pull the worst Matt Hughes impression on Earth, fall on Gracie, then just patter away until the ref has seen enough. Shamrock via R1 TKO.
Heavyweight Bout: Dada 5000 (2-0) vs. Kimbo Slice (5-2)
Nolan: I’m going to go against the grain and probably all logic here. Kimbo is the more complete fighter by miles, but I’m going to buy into the narrative that DADA 5000 has a chip on his shoulder and puts it all out there on Kimbo, who really seems to be about cashing checks more so than usual. DADA 5000 by first-round KO.
Luke: Follow the money. Apparently an inordinate of money is coming hard and late on Dhafir. Dada via R1 KO.
Featherweight Bout: Daniel Pineda (21-11) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (12-2)
Nolan: Sanchez has shown some good things as a young RoufusSport product, but Pineda really seemed to get some ridiculously tough matchmaking in the UFC and I think he feasts on anyone not at that level. Daniel Pineda by unanimous decision.
Luke: Sanchez is a good young fighter who will only get better as he gets older, but this is a tough matchup for him. Pineda is a tough out and can grind people down. Pineda via R3 Submission.
Lightweight Bout: Derek Campos (15-6) vs. Melvin Guillard (32-15-2)
Nolan: Guillard has no reason to lose here, which means he will look like shit to win a decision that had no right being as close as it was. Melvin Guillard by unanimous decision.
Luke: I think Marvin ends this contest rather abruptly. Guillard via R1 KO.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Emanuel Newton (25-9-1) vs. Linton Vassell (15-5)
Nolan: Newton plays it safe to make sure to keep his status in the Bellator light heavyweight picture. Emanuel Newton by unanimous decision.
Luke: Their first contest was a pretty awesome, dramatic affair. This is my darkhorse for best fight of the entire weekend. Vassell had Newton dead to rights multiple times in their last bout, but Newton had superhuman recoverability and resilience. This could mean Newton plays it closer to the vest and doesn’t get into trouble, or he gets caught, because it’s impossible he slithers out of it like last time. Vassell via R2 Submission.
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