Bellator 46 – Featherweight Tournament pre-event preview and predictions (Quarter-Finals)

Fast-rising promotion Bellator Fighting Championships returns this weekend with ‘Bellator 46’ which showcases the quarter-final matchups of Bellator’s ‘Summer Series’ featherweight tournament. The event, which goes down on Saturday, June 25^th in Hollywood, Florida, features all four tournament bouts and MMABay are on hand with your guide to the quarter-finals and a look at what could go down this weekend.
Bellator featherweight tournament quarter-finals

Genair da Silva (10-3) vs. Marlon Sandro (17-2)

The Lowdown: Brazilian newcomer to the Bellator ranks, Genair da Silva has been carving a reputation in his homeland and the 145lb prospect will make his Bellator debut having won his last five fights with only one going the distance. ‘Junior PQD’ represents the Renovacao Fight Team and the Brazilian banger holds six wins via TKO or knockout.
Da Silva will square-off with fellow Brazilian Marlon Sandro who is also making his Bellator debut having earned the reputation as one of the world’s premier featherweights fighting mainly in Japan. The Nova Uniao fighter most recently dropped a decision to top-ranked Hatsu Hioki but prior to that Sandro had scored three straight knockouts in Sengoku including one in just nine seconds.

The Verdict: If Genair da Silva is a prospect, then Marlon Sandro is a bona fide blue-chipper. The Brazilian is one of the most feared featherweights in the world and will not have to worry about the grappling game this weekend, which has in the past been Sandro’s undoing. Expect the two Brazilians to slug it out and put some money on another incredible highlight-reel finish for the Bellator archives as Sandro puts da Silva to sleep in the first round. Sandro, (T)KO, 1^st round.


Ronnie Mann (19-2-1) vs. Adam Schindler (9-1)

The Lowdown: British talent Ronnie ‘Kid Ninja’ Mann enters the Bellator tournament as a strong favourite to at least reach the finals and the Team Trojan sparkplug hasn’t lost since a 2009 submission at the hands of top featherweight Hatsu Hioki. Mann has since won three in a row, including a dominant decision over Josh Arocho at Bellator 42 and the well-rounded Gloucestershire boy has ten submission wins on his resume.
A native of Houston, Texas, Adam Schindler is a former lightweight who hasn’t lost since April 2009 and has since won six in a row in the little leagues. Schindler fought at Bellator 20 in May 2010, beating Brian Melancon by unanimous decision and also picked up a first round submission on the undercard of ‘Strikeforce: Houston’ in August.

The Verdict: Schindler seems to be at home on the ground and has shown decent wrestling and BJJ thus far, however, the American has fought a low level of competition so far and Ronnie Mann will be too big of a leap for Schindler this weekend. The Brit has also faced an inconsistent level of competition in his career but ‘Kid Ninja’ is dynamic and inventive when he needs to be and we should see Mann sneak a submission off his back to advance. Mann, submission, 2^nd round.


Pat Curran (13-4) vs. Luis Palomino (16-6)

The Lowdown: Bellator fans will be familiar with Pat Curran as the veteran won the season four lightweight tournament, beating Toby Imada by split decision in the final having upset former UFC contender Roger Huerta in the previous round. The Team Curran fighter earned a shot at Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez in April and despite showing heart was battered to a unanimous decision defeat. The Illinois native makes the cut to 145lbs to join the Bellator featherweight tournament.
Luis ‘Baboon’ Palomino fights out of Miami, Florida and has fought several times in the past in Bellator, most recently in August 2010 when he dropped a unanimous decision to Yves Edwards. Palomino has since won three in a row and last fought in May when he submitted Peter Grimes in the fourth round with an armbar to earn the Champions Fighting Alliance belt.

The Verdict: Two of the more experienced fighters in this tournament, Curran and Palomino are both great grapplers but Curran’s wrestling will be the key in this fight. ‘Baboon’ has arguably the better striking but won’t have many windows of opportunity as Curran will close the gap and take him down repeatedly en route to a dominant decision win. Curran, decision.


Jacob Devree (10-1) vs. Nazareno Malegarie (19-1)

The Lowdown: Arizona’s Jacob Devree is a 10-1 prospect who trains with the Power MMA camp and has not lost since September 2008. Devree has won seven in a row since that loss with only two fights going the distance and the wrestler finished four of those opponents via submission.

South American export Nazareno ‘Naza’ Malegarie landed in Bellator in time for season four as 19-0 hot prospect fighting out of Florianopolis, Brazil, who had cruised through the local competition with his incredible submission game. The Ataque Dojo featherweight fell at the first hurdle though when he lost by split decision to eventual finalist Daniel Straus.
The Verdict: Devree is just a little overmatched here to say the least but the wrestler could follow a similar blueprint to that laid down by Straus when he beat Malegarie in season four. If Devree can keep the fight standing he could grind ‘Naza’ down and get a late stoppage or at the least the decision. However, Malegarie’s ground game is too inventive and too slick for Devree who has never fought a grappler remotely close to ‘Naza’s skill level and barring a huge upset Malegarie should dispatch of the American with some ease. Malegarie, submission, 1^st round.

That’s a wrap for the quarter-finals of the Bellator summer series featherweight tournament, be sure to stay tuned to MMABay for a breakdown of the semi-finals once the dust has settled.