Predictions! Bellator San Diego Full Main Card Preview, Picks
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After a lengthy layoff, Bellator is back to present its latest “Champions Series” events later TONIGHT (Sat., Sept. 7, 2024) in inside Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Headlining the event will be a lightweight title fight between division champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, and Alexandr Shabliy. In the co-main event, welterweight heavy hitters, Lorenz Larkin and Levan Chokheli, will throw down in a lightweight scrap.
Champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexandr Shabliy
The Nurmagomedov family simply isn’t used to losing, and Usman is one of the most dominant members of the famed fight camp. He had won 17 straight fights, which includes going perfect (6-0) under the Bellator banner and won the 155-pound strap thanks to a dominant win over Patricky Pitbull. However, his first blemish came at Bellator 300 after defeating Brent Primus. Shortly after his big win, it was revealed that he had failed a post-fight drug test. That said, the champ was not stripped of his title and maintained his stance of not purposely taking a banned substance. With that behind him, he is out to remind the fight world just how dangerous he can be. He will be facing a man who is on a mission of his won in Shabliy, who has not tasted defeat in eight years. Currently on nine-fight win streak, Shabliy has gone 5-0 in the Bellator cage, and now all his hard work has culminated in his first-ever major title fight. Shabliy got the nod for his shot at the 155-pound title after defeating Patricky Pitbull at Bellator 301 in the Lightweight Grand Prix semifinal, and though this fight won’t be the $1 million bout he was hoping for, it’s still a huge opportunity for him.
Prediction: Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision
Lorenz Larkin vs. Levan Chokheli
Longtime veteran, Larkin, has been fighting professional for 15 years now, and “The Monsoon” is still fighting at a high level. The man has competed in all of the major MMA organizations, including UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator and PFL. In fact, he made a splash in his PFL debut by knocking out Alan Dominguez in the very first round, and he wants to build on that momentum with a win over Chokheli, who has found his stride over his last few fights. Winner of three straight — all inside the Bellator cage — Chokheli was last seen destroying Sabah Homasi via first round technical knockout (TKO) at Bellator 299 a year ago (see it again here), so he is itching to get back into action. Of his 13 wins, 10 have come by way of knockout, while Larkin has 14 knockouts on his resume. Don’t expect this fight to go the distance, but do expect to be entertained for as long as it lasts.
Prediction: Larkin via second-round TKO
Douglas Lima vs. Aaron Jeffery
Lima has long been a tough competitor, but it’s safe to say that the man has seen better days inside the cage. Sure, he is coming off a big win over Costello van Steenis at Bellator 296, but prior to that “The Phenom” had lost four straight. Granted, it was against great competition, losing to Gegard Mousasi, Yaroslav Amosov, Michael Page and Jason Jackson, but the fact remains a loss is a loss. At 36 years of age, it’s easy to say he’s lost a step or two, but he is still chugging along and is determined to show he has plenty left in the gas tank after inking a contract extension earlier this year. As for Jeffery, he has been a bit inconsistent himself, going 3-2 under the Bellator cage, dropping big fights to Fabian Edwards and John Salter. Still, Jeffery is all about toughness and grit, and this is his opportuntiy to pick up the biggest win of his career.
Prediction: Jeffery via third-round TKO
Yancy Medeiros vs. Jora Ayvazyan
Like Douglas Lima, Yancy Medeiros snapped his four-fight losing streak by defeating Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 279, though his follow up win over Charles Leary was overturned to a “no contest” after failing a post-fight drug test. He hopes to turn a new page and put that behind him when he welcomes Jora Ayvazyan to the Bellator cage. Ayvazyan is 14-1 in his pro MMA career and is currently enjoying a five-fight win streak. This will be his first big test in the big leagues, and I fully expect him to shine, further adding to Medeiros’ woes.
Prediction: Ayvazyan via second-round submission
Mackenzie Stiller vs. Sumiko Inaba
After Keri Taylor Melendez withdrew from her fight against Inaba due to an injury, Mackenzie Stiller got the call. Furthermore, after the event lost its co-main event bout between Raufeon Stots and Marcos Breno, this bout was elevated to the main card. Stiller got off to a great start with Bellator by winning her first two fights with the promotion, and then went on to win a fight on the regional circuit before getting the call back. She is 3-0 in her young MMA career, and a showdown against Inaba is a huge step up. That’s because Inaba is as experienced as they come in women’s MMA. During her four-year career, she has amassed a 7-1 record. won her first four fights inside the Bellator cage via stoppage, with her lone loss coming against Denise Kielholtz. She bounced back nicely with a a successful PFL debut against Saray Orozco this past summer. At the end of the day, she will be too much, too soon, for Stiller,
Prediction: Inaba via unanimous decision
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