Bellator 48 (August 20, 2011)

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

MAIN CARD

• Pat Curran vs. Marlon Sandro (featherweight-tourney finale)
• Champ Cole Konrad vs. Paul Buentello (heavyweight non-title fight)
• Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricco Rodriguez
• Juan Barrante vs. Rene Nazare

PRELIMINARY CARD

• John Clarke vs. Dan Cramer
• Andrew Calandrelli vs. Matt Nice
• Brett Oteri vs. Ryan Quinn
• Nik Fekete vs. Mark Griffin
• Saul Almeida vs. Tateki Matsuda

[Vaughany]

Thinkin Seth might be able to pull off the upset against Ricco. Ricco looked average when I watched him decision McSweeney a few months ago.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

[omalley21]

I'm playing Petruzelli and Sandro.

[flickavic]

main event is a tough one to call..Leaning Curran but have not made up mind yet...i wonder if 5dimes will have props for this card..Have they had props for bellator in the past??

[Beelzebubzy]

im taking the juice on Konrad. Buentellos weakness is takedown defense and no Bellator Champ has lost in a non title 'super' match

[The Bet Master]

The Polar Bear returns!!! -540 isn't really worth it though.

[PunisherIND]

im taking the juice on Konrad. Buentellos weakness is takedown defense and no Bellator Champ has lost in a non title 'super' match

technically correct, but anyone who watched joe warren vs marcos galvao knows that galvao won that fight (except the judges).

that said, i agree with you. the michelin man wins this fight by 15 minutes of blubbering top control.

[sirchadwick1]

Love Konrad but my god his line is always too inflated. Maybe parlay material. I do see him winning this with his heavy top control though and wouldn't be surprised if he sinks in a choke.

[PunisherIND]

main event is a tough one to call..Leaning Curran but have not made up mind yet...i wonder if 5dimes will have props for this card..Have they had props for bellator in the past??

to the best of my memory, i have never seen props for bellator events on 5dimes.

[PunisherIND]

main event is a tough one to call..Leaning Curran but have not made up mind yet...i wonder if 5dimes will have props for this card..Have they had props for bellator in the past??

bodog just released lines for this event. i played 2 units on curran at +135. i think he grinds out the decision.

[sirchadwick1]

I'm 50/50 on the Curran/Sandro fight so I'm rolling with Pat at +135 also. He's a huge FW and his striking has looked very good lately. The only thing I'm worried about is that he patiently picks his shots and sometimes that doesn't look like he's active to the judges. But he does pack some power and can take it to the ground if he wants. If this fight stays on the feet, then Sandro could surely walk away with it on points. But hell, I've been rolling w/ Curran as a dog in most of his fights and he's done me well... so 2u on Pat.

[PunisherIND]

I'm 50/50 on the Curran/Sandro fight so I'm rolling with Pat at +135 also. He's a huge FW and his striking has looked very good lately. The only thing I'm worried about is that he patiently picks his shots and sometimes that doesn't look like he's active to the judges. But he does pack some power and can take it to the ground if he wants. If this fight stays on the feet, then Sandro could surely walk away with it on points. But hell, I've been rolling w/ Curran as a dog in most of his fights and he's done me well... so 2u on Pat.

GL man.

[urge2kill]

bodog just released lines for this event. i played 2 units on curran at +135. i think he grinds out the decision.

Bodog has a few props up now. Curran by decision is +160.

[sirchadwick1]

Konrad by DEC I like at -130. I know there is a chance that he finished Buentello on the ground... but Paul is pretty tough and I can see this most likely going the distance. Considering Cole is -650 straight up, this bet makes me happy.

[rocky mattioli]

I'm 50/50 on the Curran/Sandro fight so I'm rolling with Pat at +135 also. He's a huge FW and his striking has looked very good lately. The only thing I'm worried about is that he patiently picks his shots and sometimes that doesn't look like he's active to the judges. But he does pack some power and can take it to the ground if he wants. If this fight stays on the feet, then Sandro could surely walk away with it on points. But hell, I've been rolling w/ Curran as a dog in most of his fights and he's done me well... so 2u on Pat.

very well said...i`m becoming a big curran fan......the worrisome thing is his patience...sometimes he waits a little too long and can get outworked....but he can strike...he can grapple...he has a sub game....he`s big at the weight....he`s young and relatively long at 145....he`s on a roll....

it`s a toss-up fight....sandro has a big rep.....but since coming out of japan,he`s not exactly dummying guys like he was(haven`t we seen that scenario before)....at +140(sportsbook),i feel almost obligated to take a shot with curran....i played malagarie small vs sandro....but it seems like curran has more stand-up and strength than a finesse fighter like malegarie...and he`s a counter puncher....that may work vs an offensive guy like sandro that tends to come in wide on occasion....i`m in on pat...

[Beelzebubzy]

I’m out there to win. I’m not out there to see if I can hang with this guy on my feet,” Konrad says. “I’m a wrestler. You’re going to have to beat that to beat me. This is my job. I’m here to win. I’m going to do what I have to [in order] to win.”
bouts.
Konrad shows particular vitriol for those wrestlers who decide to channel their inner Anderson Silva, insisting on going blow-for-blow with well-known strikers rather than using their base skill in an attempt to neutralize the advantage of their opponents.

“My biggest pet peeve is when a wrestler tries to act like a striker against a striker,” he says. “I don’t understand it. It blows my mind.”

[sirchadwick1]

And that's why I like Konrad by decision right there. He's smart and will just go for the W. Many will hate and bring up the 'bore' factor, but I agree with him.... it's smart to get the fight to the ground as soon as possible. It's his best strength and he needs to avoid flying hands at all costs. This is a punchers chance fight for Buentello.

[Beelzebubzy]

You dont think Konrad can get a sub or finish him.

[sirchadwick1]

You dont think Konrad can get a sub or finish him.

I think it's possible, but wouldn't bank on it. Buentello hasn't been truly submitted since 2001.
That's not including his tapping out to strikes against Kongo and Ubereem who are obviously in another league when it comes to striking. Konrad will most likely just be happy to win on scorecards here and play it safe. But if you think he has a good shot to get the choke in, you should play it at +150.

[v1y]

I’m out there to win. I’m not out there to see if I can hang with this guy on my feet,” Konrad says. “I’m a wrestler. You’re going to have to beat that to beat me. This is my job. I’m here to win. I’m going to do what I have to [in order] to win.”
bouts.
Konrad shows particular vitriol for those wrestlers who decide to channel their inner Anderson Silva, insisting on going blow-for-blow with well-known strikers rather than using their base skill in an attempt to neutralize the advantage of their opponents.

“My biggest pet peeve is when a wrestler tries to act like a striker against a striker,” he says. “I don’t understand it. It blows my mind.”

I just became a huge cole konrad fan.

(Well, i was already, but now moreso)

[Beelzebubzy]

Im playing straight and by decision.

Konrad has 1 sub win. I think Buentello can avoid the subs.

[bogbat]

Konrad by DEC I like at -130. I know there is a chance that he finished Buentello on the ground... but Paul is pretty tough and I can see this most likely going the distance. Considering Cole is -650 straight up, this bet makes me happy.

Buentello is actually quite mentally weak. He reportedly breaks down and sobs before every fight and has to be convinced to fight by his trainers. Also, against Kongo he tapped to strikes to the thigh.

[sirchadwick1]

Mentally weak or not, I still like the fight to go to a decision. Konrad is still developing and isn't exactly a submission artist... nor has he shown us big KO power. He's ever-improving and I'm sure he'll pick up his finishes soon enough but I like him as a blanket here considering the price tag.

[Vaughany]

Konrad key-locked Neil Grove in first round so is not a complete novice in submissions. And bare in mind that he fought Grabowski and Lloret who are both decent grapplers so not surprising he didnt submit them. Of course most likely is decision but wouldnt rule out similar result to Grove, especially as Buentello is just a fat 205er

[FightFightFight]

Can't forget burntello has tapped to strikes on the ground twice.

[sirchadwick1]

You guys need to pound Cole at +150 if you think he's going to make Buentello tap! Pound away!

[NunyaBidness]

Konrad key-locked Neil Grove in first round so is not a complete novice in submissions. And bare in mind that he fought Grabowski and Lloret who are both decent grapplers so not surprising he didnt submit them. Of course most likely is decision but wouldnt rule out similar result to Grove, especially as Buentello is just a fat 205er

So, you're saying it'll be a fair fight.

[omalley21]

I think Konrad is improving while Buentello is obviously on the decline. Cole will look for a finish here. I think he'll get it. V had good points about the guys he decisioned having good bjj and Buentello can definitley be stopped.

How recent were his comments on wrestlers striking? I just read a recent article where he said he's been working extensively on his striking and he seems like he wants to try it out. I'll take a chance at +150 inside the distance.

[NunyaBidness]

I think Konrad is improving while Buentello is obviously on the decline. Cole will look for a finish here. I think he'll get it. V had good points about the guys he decisioned having good bjj and Buentello can definitley be stopped.

How recent were his comments on wrestlers striking? I just read a recent article where he said he's been working extensively on his striking and he seems like he wants to try it out. I'll take a chance at +150 inside the distance.

If there's a chance he's going to try it out, I think you'd be smarter to take Buentello inside the distance at +500. Buentello is no worldbeater at this point, but he's a strong accurate striker with decent fundamentals.

[Vaughany]

Seth at +285 now, if it hits +300 im pulling the trigger.

[illmatick]

I have small plays on Sandro and Seth.

[PunisherIND]

If there's a chance he's going to try it out, I think you'd be smarter to take Buentello inside the distance at +500. Buentello is no worldbeater at this point, but he's a strong accurate striker with decent fundamentals.

you can get buentello straight at +500 (5dimes) , or inside the distance at +550 (bodog).

which do you guys think is the better play?

[Kaladarus]

If he were to win he would most likely do it inside the distance. If I liked Buentello here I'd be happy getting the +500 for a win. +550 isn't much of a difference at those odds and I wouldn't risk it on something that already pays out so much. At +600 or more probably, but the difference isn't much for the small chance. Buentello has to finish the fight over 90% of the time he wins for this to be profitable. The number might be close to that. Either way, the difference isn't significant enough for the extra risk in my opinion.

I am also on Sandro and Seth like many others.

[NunyaBidness]

What do people see in Seth? Ricco is obviously not as good as his record indicates, but what has Seth shown that makes people think he has a chance? He's lost to every b+ fighter he's ever come across. He looked good in rd 1 against Romero, but still managed to get himself caught up. He's a sloppy grappler and Ricco is slick. Thought this line would open -350 or -400, pounded the opener.