Bellator Predictions: Bellator 20 Preview & Predictions
Pro Fighting Fans is the home of Bellator MMA fans across the globe and we now bring you the best place to find the latest Bellator news as well as the latest preview & predictions. Bellator Fighting Championships 20 is the 8th event of Bellator's second season taking place on Thursday night May 27, 2010 and our Bellator predictions & fight previews will be posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the Bellator 20 results and buy Bellator MMA tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!
Bryan Baker vs. Eric Schambari
Eric Schambari (12-1) will try and get some revenge against Bryan Baker (12-1), who was the only fighter to defeat him, in a Bellator 20 main card bout which is included in the semifinal round of the middleweight tournament.
Baker defeated Schambari at the December 2007 WEC 31 via split decision. He did lose to Chael Sonnen in his very next bout at WEC 33. Since that loss, he has won 8 consecutive including his Bellator 16 middleweight quarterfinal bout against Sean Loeffler on April 29th.
Schambari, a Cobra Kai fighter, won his first seven fights before dropping his WEC 31 bout to Baker. He has since posted five straight victories (4 stoppages) including his latest at BFC 16, a submission victory over Luke Zachrich in a middleweight quarterfinal bout on April 29th.
Prediction – Baker TKO
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Alexander Shlemenko vs. Jared Hess
Russian-born, Alexander Shlemenko (28-4) will try and advance in the middleweight tournament against former D-II wrestling All-American Jared Hess (11-1-1) in a Bellator FC 20 middleweight semifinal bout.
Shlemenko won his first fifteen bouts before dropping three straight bouts. Since hitting his rough patch, he has won 13 of 14 while fighting all over the world in organizations like Sho XC and Bodog Fight. His most recent victory was a BFC 16 (April 29) unanimous decision victory over Matt Major in the quarterfinal round.
Hess, who trains in San Diego at The Arena MMA, was undefeated through ten bouts before losing to Hector Lombard at BFC 12 in the season 1 middleweight final. Since that June 2009 loss, he has won back-to-back fights including BFC 16 (April 29) submission over Ryan McGivern in the quarterfinal round of the middleweight tournament.
Prediction – Shlemenko TKO
Eddie Sanchez vs. Wayne Cole
Former UFC heavyweight Eddie Sanchez (11-3) will try and continue his positive progress since being released by the UFC in 2008 when he takes on veteran heavyweight Wayne Cole (15-13) in a non-tournament bout at Bellator 20.
Sanchez won his first 6 fights including his UFC debut at UFC 63, and overall went 3-3 in the organization. He received his pink slip after dropping back-to-back bouts in 2008. He has since posted three victories without a loss including a BFC 7 win last May.
His opponent, Wayne Cole, 39, is a five year professional who won 7 of his first 10 bouts while earning roster positions with the IFL, Strikeforce, and Elite XC. He did pull off one of his biggest career victories in March 2008 on the Strikeforce “Shamrock vs. Le” card when he submitted Mike Kyle. Cole hasn’t had a lot of success lately, losing six of his last nine bouts. He is 0-1 in Bellator action and lost in his most recent action in February falling to UFC veteran Carmelo Marrero via submission.
Prediction – Sanchez TKO
Mark Oshiro vs. Nick Mamalis
Two up-and-coming bantamweights will go head-to-head in a non-tournament bout as Hawaii-native Mark Oshiro (12-2) meets Wyoming-based Nick Mamalis (8-4) at Bellator 20 on the main card.
Oshiro debuted in 2004 and would go on to fight for notable promotions like Superbrawl, Icon Sport, Elite XC, among others. After winning 11 of his first 12, he has split his last two bouts. He dropped an August 2008 bout against Bao Quach and then rebounded with a submission victory over Felipe Chavez in September 2009.
Mamalis, 23, debuted in 2006 and was nothing short of mediocre through his first six bouts (2-3, 1 NC). However, over his last seven bouts, he has lost only once. He picked up a unanimous decision over Zach Wolff at VFC 30 in February in his most recent action.
Prediction – Oshiro submission
By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer
More Bellator Fighting Championships MMA Predictions:
- Bellator 19 predictions & preview
- Bellator 18 predictions & preview
- Bellator 16 predictions & preview
- Bellator 15 predictions & preview
- Bellator 14 predictions & preview
- Bellator 13 predictions & preview