Bellator Fighting Championships returns for their third season with Bellator 24. The card will feature first-round bouts in the 115-pound women’s tournament and the heavyweight tournament. The promotion’s middleweight champion Hector Lombard will also be in action.
Carla Esparza vs. Megumi Fujii
This fight actually got a lot more interesting with the last-minute replacement. Carla Esparza will bring a strong wrestling and top-position grappling game to the cage. Megumi Fujii relies on her own grappling game to carry her to victories and she will be the smaller fighter. With that being said, Fujii is the best female fighter in the world and really excels at blending her grappling game into MMA fights.
Pick = Megumi Fujii by decision
Jessica Aguilar vs. Lynn Alvarez
Bellator should be lauded for putting together this match up. It should be an entertaining fight. Jessica Aguilar will be the more experience fighter and better wrestler. Expected her to grind out a decision against a quality fighter.
Pick =Jessica Aguilar by decision
Hector Lombard vs. Herbert Goodman
Pick = Herbert Goodman really only has success when he is able to drag opponents to the ground, but he is not a very good wrestler. Hector Lombard is the better grappler and an extremely physical fighter. If Lombard can’t land heavy strikes on the feet, he will take the fight to the ground and win by TKO.
Pick = Hector Lombard by TKO
Neil Grove vs. Eddie Sanchez
Pick = Like most British heavyweights with a pulse, Neil Grove got a shot in the UFC. Mike Ciesnolevicz quickly submitted him and tour up his knee with a heel hook. On the feet, Grove is a respectable fighter, but he is more than allergic to the ground game. Eddie Sanchez might not be the striker that Grove is, but he will be able to ride his more diverse game to a decision victory.
Pick = Eddie Sanchez by decision
Yves Edwards vs. Luis Palomino
If you are wondering why Jorge Masvidal was not invited back for last season’s Bellator lightweight tournament, the answer is Luis Palomino. “Baboon” took a controversial decision over Masvidal in February. It is possible that Palomino could draw Edwards to a grappling affair and take the decision. However, it is more likely that Edwards will land the meaningful strikes and take the decision.
Pick =Yves Edwards by decision