Bellator Predictions: Bellator 52 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 52 will take place on Saturday, October 01, 2011 and our Bellator predictions & fight previews will be posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the Bellator 52 results and buy Bellator MMA tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!

Mark Holata vs. Ron Sparks

Grappling-based Mark Holata (11-2) will enter the Bellator Heavyweight Tournament with a Quarterfinal Round Bout against two-time Bellator veteran Ron Sparks (7-0) on the main card of the Bellator 52 event.

Holata, 29, is an Oklahoma based mixed martial artist who fights out of the USA Stars fight team. The 6’3” 260-lbs. fighter began his professional career in 2007 and won his first three bouts while competing for the Oklahoma based Masters of the Cage organization. He would then drop back to back bouts including a ’08 match up against The Ultimate Fighter 10 participant Darrill Schoonover. Since his losing streak in 2008, Holata has won his last eight fights while competing for C3 Fights and Bellator. He is 2-0 for Bellator including a Bellator 43 submission victory over Tracy Willis this past April.

Sparks, 36, is a Kentucky based mixed martial artist who fights out of Louisville MMA. The boxing/wrestling specialist made his professional debut in 2005 and won his first five bouts, including four by way of stoppage, while fighting on the regional circuit in several different organizations. He made his Bellator debut at BFC 30 with a KO win over Greg Maynard and then followed that with a May 2011 Bellator 43 submission victory over Vince Lucero. Sparks has five TKO/KO victories to his credit and six stoppage victories over the course of his five year career.

Prediction – Sparks TKO

Eric Prindle vs. Abe Wagner

Seven-year professional Eric Prindle (7-1) will shoot for back to back Bellator victories when he meets The Ultimate Fighter 10 competitor Abe Wagner (10-4) in a Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal Bout on the Bellator 52 main card.

Prindle, 35, is a Pennsylvania native who fights out of Arizona with the Death Clutch Gym. The knockout artist made his professional debut in 2004 and won six of his first seven while fighting in Mexico, Arizona, California, and Singapore for organizations like Rage in the Cage and Gladiator Challenge. Prindle won his Bellator 40 debut this past April with a TKO of Josh Burns. All but one of his seven victories has ended by way of stoppage.

Wagner, 31, is a Nebraska native who fights out of the Omaha-based Mid America Martial Arts gym. Wagner began his professional career in 2006 and won eight of his first eleven fighting mostly for Iowa based Victory Fighting Championships where he eventually became the Heavyweight Champion. In January 2011, Wagner earned a TKO victory over former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia at Titan FC 16 but dropped his TFC 17 bout two months later against UFC veteran Aaron Rosa. Wagner did win his most recent Victory FC 35 bout this past July with a submission victory over Justin Grizzard.

Prediction – Wagner submission

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Blagoi Ivanov vs. Thiago Santos

Former World Sambo Champion Blagoi Ivanov (4-0, NC) will search for his second victory under the Bellator banner while participating in a Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal Bout versus promotional rookie Thiago Santos (8-1) on the Bellator 52 main card.

Ivanov, 24, is a Bulgaria native who has made the transition from Sambo and Judo into mixed martial arts. Ivanov made his professional debut in 2008 with a victory and then fought to a no contest in his second career bout while fighting in his native country for the Real Pain Challenge. He also recorded a victory in August 2009 for the Japanese-based Sengoku promotion defeating veteran Kazuyuki Fujita. After the biggest victory of his short career, Ivanov returned to Real Pain Challenge for his third career win before winning his Bellator 38 debut this past March via TKO over William Penn.

Santos is a Brazilian native who fights out of Rio de Janeiro at the Top Brother Fight team. The submission specialist made his professional debut in 2007 and won his first six bouts while competing in multiple regional promotions throughout Brazil. His first loss came in November 2009 at the IAFC – Mayor’s Cup against veteran Alexey Olenik. Since his lone loss, Santos has produced back to back victories in his native land for the Amazon Fight promotion.

Prediction – Ivanov submission

Neil Grove vs. Mike Hayes

Former UFC Heavyweight Neil Grove (11-3-1) will take on the well rounded Mike “300” Hayes (15-4-1) in a Bellator 52 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal Bout in the main event.

Grove, 40, is a South Africa native who now fights out of London, England. The hard hitting Grove made his professional debut in late-2006 and went on to win seven of his first eight while competing in England mostly for the Cage Rage promotion. He earned a UFC 95 bout in February 2009 but was easily submitted by Mike Ciesnolevicz ending his octagon career after only one appearance. Grove fought twice more on the British regional scene before signing with Bellator as a participant in the organizations’ first Heavyweight Tournament in 2010. Victories in both the quarterfinal and semifinal round earned him a chance in the final; however he was defeated by current Champion Cole Konrad at Bellator 32. Since his defeat against Konrad, Grove has fought only one time, winning at Bellator 47 this past July via TKO against The Ultimate Fighter 10 veteran Zak Jensen.

Hayes is a four year professional who fights out of Ring Demon Jiu-Jitsu in Washington State. “300” won his first seven bouts and eventually won 11 of his first 14 overall while competing for multiple regional promotions such as Rumble on the Rock, Cage Sport, Palace Fighting Championships, and Strikeforce. He then split a pair of Bellator bouts in 2010 defeating Steven Banks at Bellator 21 and losing to Alexey Oleinik at Bellator 26. Since his August 2010 loss to Oleinik, Hayes has won three in a row while fighting on the regional circuit in the state of Washington. His most recent action took place this past January at ROTR 16 winning via submission over Matt Kovacs.

Prediction – Grove TKO

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

Bellator Predictions: Bellator 52 Preview & Predictions

Mark Holata vs. Ron Sparks

Eric Prindle vs. Abe Wagner

Blagoi Ivanov vs. Thiago Santos

Neil Grove vs. Mike Hayes

More Bellator Fighting Championships MMA Predictions: