PFL vs. Bellator predictions, full fight previews | ‘Seize the Throne’

Skilled Fighters League (PFL) and Bellator MMA are set to usher in a brand new period in combined martial arts (MMA) this Saturday (Feb. 24, 2024) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as the 2 promotions go head-to-head in a historic occasion.

Headlining the “Champion vs. Champion” occasion can be PFL’s Heavyweight champion, Renan Ferreira, taking over Bellator 265-pound kingpin, Ryan Bader, Co-headlining the occasion can be a Middleweight title battle as Impa Kasanganay will drop all the way down to 185 kilos to battle Bellator’s champion, Johnny Eblen.

The winners of these two title fights will stroll away with this superb custom-made belt.

However the primary card motion doesn’t cease there as a result of Bruno Cappelozza will welcome former Bellator Gentle Heavyweight champion, Vadim Nemkov, to the Heavyweight division. Additionally, Bellator Featherweight champion, Patricio Pitbull, will face off in opposition to 2023 PFL Featherweight finalist, Gabriel Braga. Plus, Thiago Santos will face off in opposition to Yoel Romero, whereas Clay Collard and A.J. McKee will throw down in a 155-pound bout.

PFL

Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader

Let’s get straight to the meat and potatoes of it: Renan Ferreria is large! That was evident when he got here face-to-face in opposition to Bader in the course of the press convention to advertise their title battle. “Problema” stands at 6’8’’ whereas “Darth” is available in at 6’2” and is a pure Gentle Heavyweight. Nonetheless, Bader isn’t any stranger to preventing greater males, as he has gone toe-to-toe in opposition to Cheick Kongo and Valentin Moldavsky. However Ferreira nonetheless has dimension on each of these males, and his knockout energy is leaps and bounds forward of them, as properly. Of his 12 wins, Ferreira has obtained 10 of them by knockout, seven of them within the very first spherical. Whereas “Darth” isn’t any slouch on the toes, he’ll undoubtedly look to depend on his wrestling to get the job carried out. Bader’s background within the self-discipline will give him a leg up on his foe as soon as the battle hits the bottom, however conserving him there can be one other battle given the scale distinction. Denis Goltsov did have some success in opposition to Renan within the finals as soon as he took him down, so Bader is aware of what he has to do if he desires to come back out on prime. If he stays true to his sport, then Bader can pull it off, but when he goes toe-to-toe it can show disastrous for him. It doesn’t take a lot for Ferreira to place his opposition to sleep, and I see one in all his haymakers discovering its spot.

Closing prediction: Ferreira through second spherical knockout

Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen

Impa Kasanganay will put his first-ever Gentle Heavyweight title protection on maintain in the intervening time as he drops all the way down to Middleweight to face undefeated sensation, Johnny Eblen. Kasanganay has been on a tear since becoming a member of PFL, going 5-0 and culminating with him successful the Gentle Heavyweight title in Nov. 2023. 4 of his wins, by the best way, have come through stoppage. As for Eblen, he has been nothing wanting excellent his total professional MMA profession, amassing a 14-0 file, together with going 10-0 contained in the Bellator cage. He has defended his Middleweight title twice, most just lately knocking out Fabian Edwards at Bellator 299. Right here’s the factor, regardless of Kasanganay preventing at Gentle Heavyweight, Eblen is not going to be at a weight or top drawback come battle night time. The place he may have a obvious benefit, nonetheless, can be within the wrestling division. The previous NCAA Division 1 wrestler has grappling expertise to provide anybody hassle, and Kasanganay doesn’t precisely shine there. It received’t be a straightforward battle by any stretch of the creativeness, but when Eblen can dictate the battle on the bottom as a lot as doable, he’ll edge out a win. However Eblen likes to stand-and-bang, which is able to give Kasanganay a punchers probability. And everyone knows how that may prove.

Closing prediction: Eblen through unanimous resolution

Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series: Jackson v Stewart

Jason Jackson vs. Ray Cooper III

Jackson was presupposed to face off in opposition to PFL’s Welterweight king, Magomed Magomedkerimov earlier than he was pressured out of the occasion. Stepping in to save lots of the day is Cooper III, who’s in determined want of a win. Certainly, the previous PFL champion is simply 1-2 in his final three outings and is coming off a unanimous resolution loss by the hands of Derek Brunson. As for Jackson, he’s on an absolute tear, successful seven straight, which incorporates his knockout win over beforehand undefeated champion, Yaroslav Amosov, at Bellator 301, bettering his file to 8-1 contained in the Bellator cage. Cooper has a tad bit extra preventing expertise than Jackson, and has underrated wrestling when he decides to make use of it. However as now we have grown accustomed to seeing, Cooper prefers to let his fists do the speaking contained in the Good Cage. The realm the place Jackson has a bonus can be cardio. If Jackson can push the tempo and maintain the strain on as he likes to do, it could possibly be an extended quarter-hour for the Hawaiian knockout machine.

Closing prediction: Jackson through unanimous resolution

Patricio Pitbull vs. Gabriel Braga

Pitbull was in-line to face off in opposition to PFL’s Featherweight king, Jesus Pinedo, however a late withdrawal on Pinedo’s half allowed Braga to step away from his scheduled battle in opposition to Aaron Pico to fill the void. Pico will stay on the cardboard to face off in opposition to Henry Corrales on the undercard. Pitbull finds himself in very unfamiliar territory having misplaced two straight fights. After failing to win the Bantamweight title off Sergio Pettis, the Brazilian bomber was then knocked out by Chihiro Suzuki a month later after accepting a last-second battle. Braga was the proper alternative for Pinedo seeing as how he got here up quick in opposition to the 145-pound champion within the finals final yr. That loss snapped Braga’s undefeated streak of 12 straight wins. If Pitbull isn’t cautious, he might wind up with a 3rd straight defeat. so I count on a extra cautious method from the champion. Braga may be very aggressive as evidenced by his 5 knockout wins, however Pitbull is much from a slouch within the putting division. Whereas many could really feel the Bellator champion is on the draw back of his fight profession, I wouldn’t be too shocked if we see a rejuvenated fighter come battle night time.

Closing prediction: Pitbull through unanimous resolution

Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov

Nemkov opted to vacate his 205-pound title and forego a doable matchup in opposition to Impa Kasanganay at this occasion in an try to make a run on the Heavyweight belt. Nemkov is on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, successful 11 fights to go together with a No Contest (NC) in opposition to Corey Anderson. He has a file 5 title defenses beneath the Bellator banner, which is why maybe he felt there was nothing left to show within the division. As for Cappelozza, the 2021 PFL event winner is coming off a No Contest (NC) ruling in opposition to Matheus Scheffel. He initially received the battle through TKO however was overturned after he failed a drug take a look at. He’ll try to battle his ship by giving Nemkov a impolite welcome to the land of the massive males. Nemkov has the grappling benefit right here, however Bruno has the sting in the case of sheer knockout energy, successful 14 of his 15 fights through strikes. He has by no means gone the gap. which bodes properly for Nemkov if he can drag the battle into deep waters. On the finish of the day, nonetheless, Cappelozza will discover a ok opening to clobber the ex-champion with an enormous shot to provide him a stoppage win.

Closing prediction: Cappelozza through second spherical technical knockout

Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero

Romero is adamant that his age has nothing to do together with his earlier woes contained in the cage, however as he creeps up on 47 years of life, as soon as can’t assist however to marvel simply how lengthy “Soldier of God” can battle at this stage. He’s simply 2-5 in his final seven outings so it’s exhausting to disregard the struggles. Nonetheless, the hulking Cuban is adamant we’ll see an improved fighter come battle night time. As for Santos, he hasn’t precisely been lighting it up as of late. both. He’s 1-5-1 in his final seven fights courting again to his time with Final Preventing Championship (UFC). After leaping ship to PFL, “Marreta” didn’t make the splash he would’ve hoped, falling to Rob Wilkinson through unanimous resolution in his debut. That was overturned, nonetheless, to a No Contest (NC) after Wilkinson examined optimistic for elevated testosterone. Santos in determined want of a win right here, but it surely’s not like he’ll get his strolling papers with one other loss. Each longtime veterans are struggling, however one will get a much-needed win in what is going to show to be a hard-fought battle.

Closing prediction: Santos through unanimous resolution

Clay Collard vs. A.J. McKee

McKee’s tenure at Light-weight has confirmed fruitful up to now, successful all three of his fights since transferring up in Oct. 2022. He’s contemporary off a unanimous resolution win over Sidney Outlaw at Bellator 301, and now he’ll look proceed his momentum beneath the re-invented promotion when he battles 2023 event finalist, Clay Collard. “Cassius” got here up quick in his bid to win the Light-weight ultimate, dropping to Olivier Aubin-Mercier in Nov. 2024. The loss snapped his three-fight win streak, however he has an opportunity to bounce again in an enormous manner with a win over McKee. That is an evenly-matched battle as a result of each males excel in all areas of the battle sport, which is why choosing a winner is not a straightforward activity. It’s going to come all the way down to who can capitalize on the alternatives once they current themselves and “Mercenary” would be the one to do it.