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Bellator Predictions: Bellator 23 Preview & Predictions

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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 23 is the 11th event of Bellator's second season taking place on Thursday night June 24, 2010 and our Bellator predictions & fight previews will be posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the Bellator 23 results and buy Bellator MMA tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!



Patricio Freire vs. Joe Warren

Undefeated Brazilian submission specialist, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (14-0) will challenge American Greco-Roman wrestler Joe Warren in the Bellator Season 2 Featherweight Final at Bellator 23.

Freire, 22, is a six-year professional who hails from the Team Nogueira camp. He picked up 12 consecutive victories over the first five plus years as a professional. He then came to Bellator and made his organizational debut April 22nd at BFC 15 where he submitted William Romero in the quarterfinal round. He advanced into the final with his unanimous decision victory over Wilson Reis at BFC 18 on May 13th in the semifinals.

Warren, 33, is a former amateur wrestler who now trains MMA at Team Quest in Oregon. He made his fighting debut in March 2009 as a participant in the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix. He advanced into the semifinals with victories over Chase Beebe and Norifumi Yamamoto, but his title run was ended with a loss against Bibiano Fernandes at DREAM 11. He switched organizations and made the move to Bellator where he was entered into their FW tournament. He defeated Eric Marriott at BFC 13 in the quarterfinals and then earned another decision victory over Georgi Karakhanyan at BFC 18 in the semifinals.

Prediction – Warren TKO

 

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Bryan Baker vs. Alexander Shlemenko

Bryan “The Beast” Baker (13-1) will try and continue his torrid pace as he goes for his eighth consecutive victory against Russian, Alexander Shlemenko (29-4), in the Bellator Middleweight Tournament Final at Bellator 23.

Baker, 24, is mostly known as a striker but also has a well rounded ground game. The Team Wildman Vale Tudo fighter has been competing as a professional since January 2007. He was undefeated after four bouts when he signed with the WEC. He won his first two bouts for the WEC but was left go after his WEC 33 loss against Chael Sonnen. He hasn’t lost since, winning seven straight including three in the Bellator organization. He defeated Sean Loeffler at BFC 16 and then Eric Schambari at BFC 20 to advance into the final.

Shlemenko, 26, is a Russian-born fighter who has knockout power in both hands. He made his debut in 2004 and went on to fight in his home country for his first year and a half as a pro. He won fifteen bouts in Russia, but it wasn’t until he left for Brazil and Jungle Fight that his career hit a skid. He lost three consecutive in late 2007-2008 but quickly recovered. He made his United States debut in October 2008 when he fought for Pro Elite’s ShoXC. He signed with Bellator this year and defeated Matt Major and Jared Hess in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.

Prediction – Baker TKO

 

 

Nick Mamalis vs. Albert Rios

Nick “Garfield” Mamalis (9-4) will try and go two for two in Bellator bouts when he takes on California-based Albert Rios (12-4) in a Bantamweight non-tourney bout on the Bellator 23 fight card.

Mamalis is an all-rounder who completes his training at the Grudge Training Center in Colorado. He made his pro debut in 2006 and bounced around different organizations trying to catch on throughout his first three years. It wasn’t until he entered and won the 2009 “Fight to Win” Featherweight Grand Prix that he found some consistency. He also picked up a Victory FC 30 win over Zach Wolff before joining Bellator. He debuted at BFC 20 on May 27 th and upset Mark Oshiro via 2 nd round submission to claim his fourth consecutive victory.

Rios is primarily a ground fighter who trains out of Subfighter MMA. He debuted in 2004 and fought for a variety of organizations including Kage Kombat, Total Fighting Alliance, Cage of Fire, and Total Combat among many others. He started a streak where he won five straight from April 2007 until May 2009 including a victory in the Affliction organization. He split his last two bouts, losing to Georgi Karakhanyan last May in Call to Arms and defeating Alberto Crane in January at Called out MMA.

Prediction – Mamalis submission

 

 

Rosi Sexton vs. Zoila Frausto

England’s Rosi Sexton (10-1) will face Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto (6-1) in what may be a “tune-up” bout for the upcoming Bellator Women’s 115-pound tournament this August. This Bellator 23 bout will be contested on the main card and is expected to be seen on Fox Sports Net.

Sexton, 32, is a British-based submission expert who made her debut in 2002. She won her first five bouts while fighting primarily in her home country. Her only loss came at the September 2006 World Pro Fighting Championships against Gina Carano losing via 2 nd round KO. She has since recovered and won five more defeating Carina Damm, Debi Purcell, and Valerie Coolbaugh while fighting for Bodog Fight, Sho XC, and Bellator organizations. She hasn’t fought in a year when she picked up a BFC 12 victory over Coolbaugh.

Frausto is also a submission fighter who fights out of the California-based Team Buhawe. She debuted in February 2009 and won her first five professional bouts; coming out on top of four by decision. She lost a Sho MMA 7 bout this March to Miesha Tate by submission. She has since picked up another victory at TWC 8 on May 16 th over Michele Ould (verbal submission).

Prediction – Sexton decision

 

 

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer

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