Bellator Predictions: Bellator 49 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 49 will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2011 and our Bellator predictions & fight previews will be posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the Bellator 49 results and buy Bellator MMA tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!

Chris Lozano vs. Brent Weedman

Season 4 Welterweight Tournament participants Chris Lozano (8-1) and Brent Weedman (18-6-1) will meet at Bellator 49 in Atlantic City, NJ in the quarterfinal round of the season 5 WW Tourney.

Lozano, 28, is an Ohio native and former NCAA division 1 wrestler who fights out of the Strong Style Fight Team. Lozano made his professional debut in the summer of 2009 and went on to win five consecutive, all via TKO/KO, while fighting for NAAFS in his home state. Lozano defeated UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida at the September 2010 Bellator 31 event in his promotional debut that earned him a chance to fight in last season’s welterweight tournament. The KO expert lost to Lyman Good in the quarterfinals but won back to back bouts for NAAFS to re-establish his position in the Bellator 170-pound division.

Weedman is a six-year mixed martial arts veteran who fights out of the Louisville, Kentucky based Team Haycraft. After a 2005 professional debut, Weedman won fourteen of his first twenty bouts while competing throughout the southern United States regional scene. It was time to step up in competition, which he did when signing with Bellator in 2010. Weedman won bouts over Rudy Bears, John Troyer, and Jacob McClintock to earn his way into last season’s Welterweight Tournament. In March of this year, Weedman won a decision over Dan Hornbuckle in the quarterfinals round but lost a Bellator 40 semifinal bout against Jay Hieron this past April to end his immediate title hopes.

Prediction – Lozano TKO

Luis Santos vs. Dan Hornbuckle

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Dan Hornbuckle (22-4) will try to capture his first Bellator Welterweight Tournament in his third attempt when he meets longtime mixed martial arts veteran Luis “Sapo” Santos (49-6-1) at Bellator 49 in a 170-pound quarterfinal bout.

Santos is a Brazil native who fights out of his own Sapo Fight Team. “Sapo” began his professional career in 2000 and went on to win his first 18 bouts while competing throughout the regional scene in his homeland. However after losing a June 2005 bout, he went on to win 11 consecutive and continued this trend throughout his career putting together long winning streaks. The well-rounded Santos won his only Bellator bout to date when he took a decision from Nicolae Cury at Bellator 45 this past May. Since his Bellator debut he fought one time in his native Brazil where he battled his opponent to a Draw. He is currently on a nine fight unbeaten streak.

Hornbuckle, 30, is an Illinois native who fights out of Florida at the American Top Team. Hornbuckle began his professional career in 2006 and won a quick 15 of his first 16 official bouts competing on the mid-major circuit in organizations like Hook n Shoot, Bodog Fight, and HCF. The submission specialist began to gain notoriety in 2008 when he started to compete in Japan for Sengoku where he defeated two of his three opponents including Akihiro Gono and Nick Thompson. He was also a participant in the season 2 Bellator Welterweight Tournament where he made it to the finals but lost a decision against current Champion Ben Askren. Following the loss to Askren, he defeated UFC veteran Brad Blackburn to earn his way into the season 4 170-pound Tournament but lost in the Bellator 35 quarterfinals against Brent Weedman this past March.

Prediction – Hornbuckle TKO

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Ben Saunders vs. Chris Cisneros

The Ultimate Fighter 6 veteran Ben Saunders (10-3-2) will appear inside a Bellator cage for the second time, this time (Bellator 49) in search of a victory in the organizations’ Welterweight Tournament when he meets promotional newcomer Chris Cisneros (11-3), who is a replacement for an injured Rick Hawn.

Saunders, 28, is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida native who stays near home to train out of the American Top Team. “Killa B” began fighting as a professional in 2004 and fought exclusively for the Florida-based Absolute FC organization posting an unbeaten (4-0-2) record through his first six bouts. He earned a position on TUF 6 and won a bout while in the house but didn’t he solidify his position with the organization until defeating Dan Barrera at the live finale. Overall, he won four of his first five inside the octagon highlighted by a November 2009 UFC 106 KO victory over Marcus Davis. Saunders then hit rough times losing back to back UFC bouts against Jon Fitch and Dennis Hallman which earned him his release from the promotion. Since his 2010 release, Saunders has won back to back bouts including an April 2011 Bellator 39 debut TKO over Matt Lee.

Cisneros, 31, is a Hawaii resident who has made his home base at the Lava MMA gym. The boxing specialist made his professional debut in March 2005 and won six of his first eight while competing all over the Hawaiian island in multiple regional promotions. After dropping a 2008 bout against TUF 3 competitor Kalib Starnes in regional action, he began his current five fight winning streak. Among his recent victories include, an April 2011 TKO victory over Gabe Rivas in the Hawaiian based X-1 promotion.

Prediction – Saunders TKO

Steve Carl vs. Douglas Lima

Grappling experts Steve Carl (14-2) and Douglas Lima (18-4) will meet at Bellator 49 in a Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal bout that is located on the main card in the main event slot.

Carl, 26, is an Iowa born mixed martial artist who fights out Team Hard Drive. The six year professional made his official debut in November of 2005 and went on to win twelve of his first thirteen while competing on the regional scene throughout much of the Midwest United States. He made his Bellator debut in April 201 at Bellator 15 and produced a split decision win over Brett Cooper in the season 2 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinals. He lost in the semifinals at Bellator 19 after being submitted by veteran mixed martial artist Dan Hornbuckle last May. Carl then won a Bellator 26 bout last August with a technical submission victory over Tyler Stinson.

Lima, 23, is a Brazil native who fights out of the American Top Team gym in Atlanta, Georgia. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay-Thai specialist made a July 2006 professional debut and won 15 of his first 19 while competing throughout the southern United States for organizations such as the AFL, King of the Cage, and Ring of Fire. In September 2010, Lima began to compete for Maximum Fighting Championships in Canada where he won back to back bouts over Ryan Ford and Jesse Juarez to capture the organizations’ 170-pound title. He has since defended his title once when he defeated Terry Martin at the April MFC 29 event.

Prediction – Lima submission

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

Bellator Predictions: Bellator 49 Preview & Predictions

Chris Lozano vs. Brent Weedman

Luis Santos vs. Dan Hornbuckle

Ben Saunders vs. Chris Cisneros

Steve Carl vs. Douglas Lima

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