Bellator announced that its welterweight tournament will begin on September 29th, at an event taking place at the SAP Center, in San Jose (USA). In the first fight of the quarterfinals, the Brazilian Douglas lima face the Russian Andrei Koreshkov. The highest ranked fighters in the division will face each other throughout the year in elimination matches, and whoever survives will be crowned the grand champion.
At a press conference, president Scott Coker revealed the names of nine of the ten competitors. In addition to Lima and Koreshov, the current belt holder, Rory McDonald, the undefeated Michael Page, Neiman Gracie, Ed Ruth and Yaroslav Amosov, as well as Lorenz Larkin and Jon Fitch, former UFC fighters. There will also be a reserve athlete (undisclosed) to replace any of the participants in case of injury.
“We have the best welterweights in the world here and we have the best welterweight division, better than any other organization,” declared the big man.
If you already have a hunch, anticipate your bets and guarantee the best return margins with the odds Oddsshark.com. Check out who emerges as the favorite and find out the chances of each of the competitors.
Rory McDonald
Rory McDonald He shook off his bad phase by leaving the UFC for Bellator. He started off on the right foot in the new franchise by finishing the British Paul Daley, and last January he surpassed the Brazilian Douglas lima in the fight for the belt. He faces the Iranian Gegard Mousasi on September 29th, and could make history by unifying the middleweight and welterweight division titles.
The Canadian is on the crest of the wave, and is the big favorite for the title. If he is the champion, the bettor's profit will reach 200%.
Douglas lima
The Brazilian Douglas lima He was the champion of the welterweight tournament in 2011 and 2013, and has been at the top of the division's rankings for six years. He won the belt for the first time in 2014, but lost it in his first defense to the Russian Andrei Koreshkov. In 2016, he knocked out the same opponent to regain the title, which he let slip again in early 2018 after being defeated by Rory McDonald.
Right at the premiere, Lima will come face to face with his main antagonist. The new fight against Andrei Koreshkov It will be a kind of showdown, as each side scores a triumph. Only one of them will survive.
If the Brazilian continues in contention and reaches the third title, the bettor's investment will be quadrupled.
Michael Page
The English Michael Page I already said what happened in his first fight for Bellator. He needed just 10 seconds to knock out Ryan Sanders, and just over five years later, he is already more than established as one of the top names in the division.
At 31 years old, and with 13 official fights under his belt, Page still doesn't know the frustrating feeling of losing a fight. However, he has yet to face any of his title competitors, and his biggest challenges are yet to come.
Whoever gives Page a vote of confidence will now pocket seven times the amount bet if he is declared champion at the end of the year.
Jon fitch
At 40 years old, the experienced Jon Fitch arrived at Bellator in 2018 after fighting for eight years for the UFC and another three for the WSOF (World Series of Fighting), where he became champion. He has an extensive record of 31 wins, seven losses and one draw, and since 2014 he hasn't known what it's like to suffer a setback.
The American, however, still needs to be tested against the organization's main fighters. His only fight so far was against Englishman Paul Daley, at Bellator 199, and the victory was by unanimous decision.
The odds for Fitch's eventual victory are R$7,50/R$1,00.
Andrey Koreshkov and Lorenz Larkin
the russian Andrei Koreshkov and the American Lorenz Larkin appear on equal footing on the betting exchange, with a return of R$8,00 for each real bet.
Koreshkov has already won the tournament twice, in 2012 and 2014, and until the arrival of Rory McDonald, polarized with the Brazilian Douglas lima the fight for the division belt. He has a respectable record of 20 wins and two losses, but he hasn't stepped into the Octagon for a year. In his last engagement, he knocked out Chidi Njōkuani at Bellator 182.
Larkin, in turn, left the UFC in 2016, when he was going through a good phase, and found it difficult to find himself in Bellator. After losing his first two fights to Douglas lima and Paul Daley, finally achieved victory when he faced his compatriot Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 193, in January. His record is 19 wins and seven losses.
Both are on the outside in the fight for the title.
Neiman Gracie and Yaroslav Amosov
Emerging as the biggest underdogs is the Brazilian Neiman Gracie and the Ukrainian Yaroslav Amosov, who according to the Oddshark.com, will guarantee the bettor a profit margin of 1500% in case of winning the title.
Gracie carries in his surname all the tradition of a family that made history in the world of fights, and he does a good job in his career, with an undefeated record of eight fights, six of them with Bellator, who signed him in 2015.
Amosov arrived at the franchise in 2018, and just over a month ago he debuted with a victory over Gerald Harris by unanimous decision at Bellator 202. His resume is excellent, with eight knockouts, nine submissions and three victories by judges' decision, and for example of the Brazilian, he has not yet suffered any setback in 20 fights. However, he lacks greater expertise in fights against top opponents.
Odds for Bellator Welterweight Tournament winner
Rory McDonald – R$3,00/R$1,00
Douglas lima – R$4,00/R$1,00
Michael Page – R$7,00/R$1,00
Jon Fitch – R$7,50/R$1,00
Andrei Koreshkov – R$8,00/R$1,00
Lorenz Larkin – R$8,00/R$1,00
Ed Ruth – R$13,00/R$1,00
Neiman Gracie – R$16,00/R$1,00
Yaroslav Amosov – R$16,00/R$1,00
Other fighters – R$11,00/R$1,00
Comments