Bellator 166: Dantas vs Warren 2 (December 2nd, 2016)

Hugo de Naranja · 11-30-16, 12:52 AM

Originally posted by Sanity Check

Eduardo Dantas (c) vs. Joe Warren
Marcos Galvão vs. L.C. Davis
Chris Honeycutt vs. Ben Reiter

Treston Thomison vs. Ray Wood
Chris Jones vs. Derrick Adkins
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. John Lair
Chance Rencountre vs. Levi Queen
Gregory Babene vs. Emiliano Sordi

"Liking all the favorites"
-JIBBBY

Hugo de Naranja · 11-30-16, 12:53 AM

Probably will parlay up Honeycutt and Dantas at plus odds.

Thrilla · 11-30-16, 10:13 AM

Sanity Check · 11-30-16, 02:50 PM

Tough picks.

I feel tempted to say LC Davis and Warren will win via wrestling.

But between Bubba Jenkins, Ryan Couture, Brandon Halsey, Tito Ortiz and Darrion Caldwell.

Bellator is fast becoming a fade-the-wrestler organization, which complicates things.

Sanity Check · 12-02-16, 02:36 PM

MMA MANIA short reads and predictions -

135 lbs.: Eduardo Dantas (18-4) vs. Joe Warren (14-5)
The last time these two men met was the main event of Bellator 128 more than two years ago. Dantas came in with two successful title defenses since beating Zach Makovsky at Bellator 65, but former Featherweight champion, Warren, was a man on a mission who had already claimed an interim version of the belt at Bellator 118. Warren used his amateur Greco-Roman wrestling experience to good effect throughout the fight, but it was so close that an accidental illegal kick in the fifth round nearly cost him dearly. Warren ultimately edged out a 48-47 decision from all judges to unify the two titles.
Since that time we've seen a chain of succession that saw Warren lose the title to Marcos Galvao in a rematch, which he then coughed up to Dantas in a rematch. Are you sensing a theme here? The latter fight was arguably Dantas' best performance since first claiming the gold. The speed difference between the two left Galvao frozen in his tracks, eating an increasing amount of damage in the latter rounds to the point a stoppage would have been merciful, but instead drew out to a lopsided five-round decision with scores of 50-45, 50-44 and a rarely seen (but accurate) 50-43.
Warren has already figured out Dantas once, something Galvao couldn't do on two different attempts. Dantas is 27 years old, 5'10" and has a 69" reach, while Warren is 40 years old and 5'6" -- but he also has a 69" reach. Still you'd have to give the physical advantage in speed and power to the younger Dantas, which Warren negated by turning their fight into a grappling war where he could impose his will with superior takedown technique. If Nova Uniao has successfully drilled his takedown defense for this fight, the speed and stamina advantages will be more evident here.
Final prediction: Eduardo Dantas retains the Bantamweight title via unanimous decision

145 lbs.: A.J. McKee (5-0) vs. Ray Wood (7-2)
Bellator has slowly and carefully brought along A.J. McKee, son of mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and former MFC Lightweight Champion, Antonio McKee, and that booking has thus far paid dividends. McKee has yet to fight a bout that went past the second round, scoring three knockouts and two submissions, emerging as a young stud in Bellator's fiercely competitive Featherweight division. Some might argue that McKee hasn't faced a real test yet in the promotion, but it's hard to blame a promoter for trying to create meaningful stars who could hopefully challenge for a title in the future.
McKee was set to face "El Matador" Emmanuel Sanchez, but since he has withdrawn from the card because of an injury, Ray Wood (7-2) has agreed to face McKee on just one week's notice. Wood is "All Business," but in his last Bellator appearance, Adam Piccolotti gave him the business and choked him out. Even though he was originally scheduled for a "Prelims" undercard bout and is probably in shape for the fight, I can't see a late change of opponent benefiting Wood more than McKee, who should dispatch him just as handily as Piccolotti did.
Final prediction: Antonio McKee finishes Ray Wood with a rear-naked choke submission

135 lbs.: Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) vs. L.C. Davis (23-7)
As previously noted, Galvao is a former champion who beat Warren and was subsequently beaten (for the second time) by Dantas. He'd love to get back into the Bantamweight title picture, but given the one-sided beating he took in his last fight, he'd need a really convincing win (or two) to do it. Davis was on the cusp of a title shot after anexciting fight with Hideo Tokoro, but deja vu may kick in when I tell you Warren beat Davis to end that dream. That's the Bantamweight division for you. Davis is older (36 to 34), but more experienced, and has a small reach advantage (69" to 67"), and Galvao only has finishes in 29 percent of his wins (five out of 17) compared to 65 percent for Davis (15 out of 23).
Final prediction: L.C. Davis scores a technical knockout win over Galvao

185 lbs.: Chris Honeycutt (8-1, 1 NC) vs. Ben Reiter (17-1-1)
Rounding out the first of two nights of fights in Thackerville is a Middleweight war between two fighters who would undoubtedly like to face the winner of "Carvalho vs. Manhoef 2" one week later. Reiter has won three out of four in Bellator and was a knockout artist before he came to the promotion. With nothing but decisions in the promotion, his average has dropped to just over 40 percent of his wins (seven out of 17), but nonetheless, there's power in reserve. Honeycutt was an outstanding collegiate wrestler, then scored a couple of impressive technical knockout wins once he joined Bellator. Since getting blasted in a Paul Bradley rematch, he has outlasted several tough opponents by continuing to rely on his hands. Since Reiter's lone loss is a submission and Honeycutt's is a knockout, this could go either way, but "The Cutt" seems stronger since returning to Middleweight and I believe the less strenuous weight cut gives him the edge.
Final prediction: Chris Honeycutt scores a first round knockout

(Thx Jibby)

JIBBBY · 12-02-16, 02:47 PM

^^ Sure Sanity, thks for starting 2 Bellator threads...

Going with Dantes... Joe Warren is 40 years old... Dantes 27 need I say more? Highly doubt Joe pulls out a decision win again in this rematch..

May even take Dantes ITD.. There are some basic props out for this event..

Joe Warren vs Eduardo Dantas - Bantamweight 5 rounds - Bellator 166


Fri 12/2	3003 Warren / Dantas goes 5 round distance		+140
10:30PM	3004 Fight won’t go 5 round distance		-180
Fri 12/2	3005 Warren wins inside distance		+461
10:30PM	3006 Not Warren inside distance		-782
Fri 12/2	3007 Warren wins by 5 round decision		+280
10:30PM	3008 Not Warren by 5 round decision		-400
Fri 12/2	3009 Dantas wins inside distance		-116
10:30PM	3010 Not Dantas inside distance		-124
Fri 12/2	3011 Dantas wins by 5 round decision		+300
10:30PM	3012 Not Dantas by 5 round decision		-420
Fri 12/2	3013 Warren / Dantas draw		+7500
10:30PM	3014 Fight not a draw		-20000
any victory inside distance is a winner for selected fighter, see sportsbook rules for grading details
Fri 12/2	3017 Warren points handicap	+5½ +145
10:30PM	3018 Dantas points handicap	-5½ -175
Ray Wood vs AJ McKee Jr - Featherweight 3 rounds - Bellator 166
Fri 12/2	3103 Wood / McKee goes 3 round distance		+300
10:00PM	3104 Fight won’t go 3 round distance		-420
Fri 12/2	3105 Wood wins inside distance		+655
10:00PM	3106 Not Wood inside distance		-1365
Fri 12/2	3107 Wood wins by 3 round decision		+1035
10:00PM	3108 Not Wood by 3 round decision		-2105
Fri 12/2	3109 McKee wins inside distance		-285
10:00PM	3110 Not McKee inside distance		+205
Fri 12/2	3111 McKee wins by 3 round decision		+390
10:00PM	3112 Not McKee by 3 round decision		-590
Fri 12/2	3113 Wood / McKee draw		+9000
10:00PM	3114 Fight not a draw		-25000
any victory inside distance is a winner for selected fighter, see sportsbook rules for grading details
Fri 12/2	3117 Wood points handicap	+3½ +350
10:00PM	3118 McKee points handicap	-3½ -485
LC Davis vs Marcos Galvao - Bantamweight 3 rounds - Bellator 166
Fri 12/2	3203 Davis / Galvao goes 3 round distance		-175
9:30PM	3204 Fight won’t go 3 round distance		+135
Fri 12/2	3205 Davis wins inside distance		+442
9:30PM	3206 Not Davis inside distance		-725
Fri 12/2	3207 Davis wins by 3 round decision		+200
9:30PM	3208 Not Davis by 3 round decision		-280
Fri 12/2	3209 Galvao wins inside distance		+254
9:30PM	3210 Not Galvao inside distance		-360
Fri 12/2	3211 Galvao wins by 3 round decision		+162
9:30PM	3212 Not Galvao by 3 round decision		-212
Fri 12/2	3213 Davis / Galvao draw		+6000
9:30PM	3214 Fight not a draw		-15000
any victory inside distance is a winner for selected fighter, see sportsbook rules for grading details
Fri 12/2	3217 Davis points handicap	+3½ -180
9:30PM	3218 Galvao points handicap	-3½ +150
Ben Reiter vs Chris Honeycutt - Bantamweight 3 rounds - Bellator 166
Fri 12/2	3303 Reiter / Honeycutt goes 3 round distance		-125
9:00PM	3304 Fight won’t go 3 round distance		-115
Fri 12/2	3305 Reiter wins inside distance		+360
9:00PM	3306 Not Reiter inside distance		-540
Fri 12/2	3307 Reiter wins by 3 round decision		+350
9:00PM	3308 Not Reiter by 3 round decision		-530
Fri 12/2	3309 Honeycutt wins inside distance		+187
9:00PM	3310 Not Honeycutt inside distance		-267
Fri 12/2	3311 Honeycutt wins by 3 round decision		+150
9:00PM	3312 Not Honeycutt by 3 round decision		-190
Fri 12/2	3313 Reiter / Honeycutt draw		+6500
9:00PM	3314 Fight not a draw

THE_LOCKSMITH · 12-02-16, 11:26 PM

john mccarthy trying to fuk him with that point deduction

JIBBBY · 12-02-16, 11:31 PM

As I've been preaching all year always bet the favorites in Bellator

.. Odds makers know what's up with Bellator.. You almost don't even need to cap these fights with Bellator...

Parlay them up in 2's, 3's and even 4's and chances are you will get paid every time.. No different tonight..

Hugo de Naranja · 12-02-16, 11:32 PM

Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren II

Straight Parlay:
Honeycutt/Dantas (+103) +2.06u

Finally won a Bellator event!

The judge who scored that a draw is a fuckingg idiot!

JIBBBY · 12-02-16, 11:47 PM

Originally posted by Hugo de Naranja

"Liking all the favorites"
-JIBBBY

Smart man!!!!

JIBBBY · 12-03-16, 01:25 AM

Forgot to mention this kid A.J. McKee is the real deal.. He will be fighting in the UFC soon and winning.. This is one kid you do want bet on in the future..

Most promising talent I've seen in Bellator in a long while... Very impressive talent and has the full package...

Hugo de Naranja · 12-03-16, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by JIBBBY

Forgot to mention this kid A.J. McKee is the real deal.. He will be fighting in the UFC soon and winning.. This is one kid you do want bet on in the future..

Most promising talent I've seen in Bellator in a long while... Very impressive talent and has the full package...

I've also been impressed with McKee so far. It will be interesting to see how he handles a step up in competition.