Bellator 293: Pechanga Resorts & Casino; Temecula, California
When a fighter has power in his hands, a fight is never over. It’s the greatest equalizer. For two-rounds in his first-main event slot Marcelo Golm did everything right. He chopped away at Daniel James lead leg in hopes of making him a stationary target. When in close he touched his body trying to weaken James’ gas tank. But in a flash of 26-seconds of round three the coming forward pressure of the Chicago native ended it all with a thunderous combo. So is Bellator’s Predator for real as a challenge to Ryan Bader?
The heavyweight champion was there cageside and post-fight, the 41-year old was very complimentary of the strap owner. But he let it be known he want’s his shot. As good of a story that that may be, it won’t happen. At least anytime soon.
Bader has Linton Vassell to deal with first. Davis came into the fight ranked-7. He’ll probably grab Golm’s slot at five. Which leaves a decent amount of talent still between him and the champion. But make no mistake about it James is a biiiig man with dynamite. That’s why his 80-inch reach should be tested next against Steve Mowry. His fighting clock may be ticking, but there’s no need to rush him up for a title fight.
Is Bellator’s Predator For Real… Time Will Tell
What Mowry would try to do is pull him into the abyss and tap him. Although James is now on a five-fight win streak, all knockouts he may have a hard time landing on Mowry. He generally moves better, and he can bang as well. Vassell is clicking right now and he too is a finisher. And let’s not forget also in the mix is Valentin Moldavsky. Although, the Russian has shown a suspect chin at times.
James didn’t check any of the kicks he faced. And Golm laid down a partial blue-print to defeat him. He controlled him on the mat, and had success on the inside. It might even be worthy of a rematch. Again, until he faced an angry blitz of a right uppercut left hook and another uppercut. But moving forward he’s now entering the creme of the division. So we shall see if he has another flurry in him.
But with Francis Ngannou still out there, imagine the story line of a Predator vs Predator fight. Sounds like a new Hollywood script, doesn’t it?
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