Bellator Predictions: Bellator 48 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 48 will take place on Saturday, August 20, 2011 and our Bellator predictions & fight previews will be posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the Bellator 48 results and buy Bellator MMA tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!

Juan Barrantes vs. Rene Nazare

Undefeated Bellator veteran Rene Nazare (9-0) will welcome promotional newcomer Juan Barrantes (7-5) into the organization when the two meet at Bellator 48 in a main card bout contested in the lightweight division.

Barrantes, 24, is a six year professional who fights out of the Gracie Barra fight team. After making his professional debut in 2005, Barrantes went undefeated after his first six bouts fighting exclusively for Costa Rica – Fights. He hasn’t had the same success recently; the submission specialist has lost five of his last seven bouts including match-ups against Elite XC veteran James Edson Berto, DREAM vet Bibiano Fernandes, and Shooto standout Antonio Carvalho. His most recent bout was over a year ago losing against Carvalho last June.

Nazare, 28, is a Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native who now fights out of New York with Team Bombsquad. The accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner made his professional debut in 2004 and won his first seven bouts on the regional circuit to earn a chance to fight for Bellator. Nazare won his Bellator 39 debut this past April with a TKO victory over Luiz Azeredo and then won his second consecutive bout for the promotion at Bellator 45 this past May with a submission victory over Kelvin Hackney.

Prediction – Nazare submission

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Ricco Rodriguez vs. Seth Petruzelli

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez (47-11) and Seth Petruzelli (14-6) will make their respective Bellator debuts against each other at Bellator 48 in a main card heavyweight bout.

Rodriguez, 33, is a California native who fights out of the American Fight Club in his home state. “Suave” made his professional debut in 1999 and won five of his first six bouts before gaining interest from the PRIDE organization. He won all three of his PRIDE bouts before bolting Japan for the UFC in 2001. While in the UFC he won his first five octagon bouts including the organizations’ Heavyweight Championship against Randy Couture before dropping back to back bouts shortly after. Following the end of his UFC contract in 2003, Rodriguez bounced around fighting in multiple promotions like the WEC, Yamma Pit Fighting, and Shark Fights before signing with Bellator this year. He will come into his Bellator debut on the strength of a twelve fight winning streak which includes his most recent victory, a submission over journeyman Doug Williams this past July at Shark Fights 17.

Petruzelli, 31, is a Florida native who fights and trains at The Jungle MMA and Fitness in Orlando. The former wrestler and football player made his professional debut in 2000 and won seven of his first nine to earn a chance to fight in the UFC. He did appear on The Ultimate Fighter 2 but his official debut came at Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3 where he lost against Mat Hamill. He followed his debut with another loss against Wilson Gouveia at UFC Fight Night 9 in April 2007. After receiving his release from the promotion, Petruzelli won four consecutive including his now famous 1 st round TKO victory over Kimbo Slice at an Elite XC event in 2008. He was invited back into the UFC but didn’t take advantage losing to Ricardo Romero at UFC 116 and to Karlos Vemola at UFC 122. Petruzelli did bounce back this past April at WEF 46 with a TKO victory over David Mewborn.

Prediction – Rodriguez decision

Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello

Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Champion Cole Konrad (7-0) will face Mixed Martial Arts journeyman Paul Buentello (29-13) in a Bellator 48 non-title bout on the main card.

Konrad, 27, is a former University of Minnesota wrestler who fights out of Team Death Clutch. Konrad didn’t make his professional debut until January 2010 and won a pair of bouts on the regional scene. He was scooped up by Bellator and made his debut in May of last year and won a pair of bouts prior to entering the promotion’s Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament. Konrad cruised to unanimous decision victories over Rogent Lloret in the quarterfinals and Damian Grabowski in the semifinals before submitting Neil Grove in the finals to become the inaugural Bellator Heavyweight Champion.

Buentello, 37, is a Texas born mixed martial artist who fights out of the Grudge Training Center in Colorado. Buentello made his professional debut in 1997 and spent several years fighting on the regional scene before signing with the UFC in 2003. He won three of four in his first stint inside the octagon before leaving to fight for Strikeforce and Affliction. A return to the UFC in 2009 wasn’t as kind to Buentello; he dropped back to back bouts against Stefan Struve and Cheick Kongo. He was released shortly after his loss to Kongo, but he rebounded to win two of three since. After losing to Tim Sylvia last summer, he picked up a decision victory over Kerry Schall last December at Nemesis Fighting from the Dominican Republic.

Prediction – Konrad decision

Pat Curran vs. Marlon Sandro

Well-rounded Pat Curran (15-4) will battle Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Marlon Sandro (19-2) for a 145-pound title opportunity when the two meet in the finals of the Bellator 48 Featherweight Tournament.

Curran, 23, is an Illinois native who fights out of the Curran Martial Arts Academy in Island Lake. He made his professional debut in 2008 and won ten of his first thirteen while fighting on the regional scene for promotions like XFO and Adrenaline MMA. He made his Bellator debut in 2010 while in the Lightweight Tournament and went on to win three straight to earn a chance to fight Eddie Alvarez for the organization’s 155-pound title. He dropped a decision to Alvarez and immediately dropped to featherweight so that he could compete in the current Featherweight Tourney. To get to this point, Curran defeated Luis Palomino in the quarterfinals and Ronnie Mann in the semis.

Sandro, 34, is a Brazilian native who fights out of his home country at the Nova Uniao Jiu-Jitsu gym. Sandro began his professional career in 2004 and won his first nine while competing in local Brazilian promotions. He left Brazil competition to fight in Japan in 2007 for Pancrase and Sengoku. He would become Champion in both organizations, although did lose to recent UFC signee Hatsu Hioki to lost his Sengoku belt before leaving to pursue a career in Bellator. So far Sandro has defeated Genair da Silva in the quarterfinals and Nazareno Malegarie in the semifinals to earn his spot in the tourney finals.

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

Bellator Predictions: Bellator 48 Preview & Predictions

Juan Barrantes vs. Rene Nazare

Ricco Rodriguez vs. Seth Petruzelli

Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello

Pat Curran vs. Marlon Sandro

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