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Bellator MMA travels to the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Isreal for Bellator 234. The main event takes place in the heavyweight division where Sergei Kharitonov takes on Linton Vassell. The co-main takes place in the lightweight division where Roger Huerta goes up against Sidney Outlaw.
The main card also includes a lightweight bout between Aviv Gozali and Zaka Fatullazade, in the welterweight division Haim Gozali goes up against Artur Pronin and Grachik Bozinyan vs. Austin Vanderford in a battle of middleweights.
The prelims will stream on DAZN and the Bellator mobile app beginning at 5:00 PM (CST). The main card will air on the Paramount Network starting at 8:00 PM (CST).
Note: The predictions in this column do not necessarily mean that I will be betting them. I have changed my mind in the past and gone the other way after conducting more research. For all my official bets follow me on Twitter @MichaelGrocke.
Main Card
Sergei Kharitonov (29-6, 2 NC) vs. Linton Vassell (18-8, 1 NC) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
Current Odds: Kharitonov -165; Vassell +140
Sergei Kharitonov is 6-0 with two no-contests in his previous eight fights. His most recent fight was at Bellator 225 where he finished Matt Mitrione in the second round. The Russian born fighter has finished all but two of his twenty-nine career victories. Nineteen via knockout and eight by way of submission. He’s was finished in five of his six losses. The thirty-nine-year-old will make the walk for the thirty-eighth time when he steps into the cage opposite Vassell.
Linton Vassell comes into his fight against Kharitonov on a three-fight losing streak. His most recent loss was at Bellator 218 where he dropped a unanimous decision to Valentin Moldavsky. Fourteen of the English born fighter’s eighteen career wins ended inside the distance. At thirty-six-years-old, Vassell will make the walk for the twenty-eighth time.
My official pick: Kharitonov by (T)KO.
From a betting perspective: Pass
Roger Huerta (24-11-1, 1 NC) vs. Sidney Outlaw (12-3) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: Outlaw -550; Huerta +400
Thirty-six-year-old MMA veteran Roger Huerta enters the fight on a two-fight skid, both losses were under the Bellator banner. He lost to Benson Henderson via submission at Bellator 196 and his most recent loss was to Patricky Freire via knockout at Bellator 205. Huerta’s career stems all the way back to 2003 and he’s fought for the UFC, ONE Championship and Bellator to name just a few. Seventeen of his twenty-four pro victories ended inside the distance. Twelve via knockout and five by submission. This will be Huerta’s thirty-eighth professional fight.
After losing to Gregor Gillespie at Ring of Combat 55 via split decision, Sidney Outlaw has won his last seven in a row. His most recent victory was at Island Fights 51 where he defeated Zach Fears via submission. This will be the twenty-seven-year-old’s Bellator debut. He’s finished seven of twelve wins, all but one is by submission. This will be Outlaw’s sixteenth pro fight.
My official pick: Outlaw by submission.
From a betting perspective: Pass
Aviv Gozali (3-0) vs. Zaka Fatullazade (14-8) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Aviv Gozali is 3-0 as a pro with all three victories by way of submission and under the Bellator banner. His most recent win was at Bellator 225 where he submitted Eduard Muravitskiy. The Israeli fighter will look to 4-0 when he steps into the cage opposite Fatullazade.
Ukrainian born fighter, Zaka Fatullazade was on two-fight win streak until losing his most recent fight to Abylay Tolesh at Gorilla Fighting 17. Fatullazade’s fight against Gozali will be his Bellator debut. Nine of his fourteen victories ended inside the distance. Two via knockout and seven by submission. The twenty-two-year-old will make the walk for the twenty-third time.
My official pick: Gozali by decision.
From a betting perspective: N/A
Haim Gozali (11-6) vs. Artur Pronin (16-3) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Forty-six-year-old Haim Gozali enters the fight on modest three-fight win streak. His most recent victory occurred at Bellator 222 where he subbed Gustavo Wurlitzer a minute into the fight. Gozali finished all eleven of his pro wins. One via knockout and ten by way of submission. The Renzo Gracie product will make the walk for the eighteenth time.
Thirty-one-year-old Artur Pronin will be making his Bellator debut when he steps into the cage opposite Gozali. He enters the bout riding a seven-fight unbeaten streak. His most recent victory was at Russia Battle Masters 3 where he subbed Edik Khuntsary. Pronin has yet to get out of the first round in nineteen professional fights. All sixteen of his victories ended inside the distance. He’s also been finished in all three of his losses.
My official pick: Pronin by decision.
From a betting perspective: N/A
Austin Vanderford (8-0) vs. Grachik Bozinyan (10-3) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: Vanderford -550; Bozinyan +400
Austin Vanderford is undefeated in eight pro fights and 2-0 in Bellator. His most recent win was at Bellator 225 where he defeated Joseph Creer via TKO. Vanderford also picked up a win over Angelo Trevino at Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in July of last year. The twenty-nine-year-old has six finishes in his eight wins. Three via knockout and three by way of submission.
Grachik Bozinyan will be making his Bellator debut when he goes up against Vanderford. The Russian born fighter was riding a five-fight win streak until he lost his most recent fight to Jonas Billstein via second round submission at ACB 62. All ten of his pro victories ended inside the distance. Four by knockout and six via submission. The twenty-four-year-old will make the walk for the fourteenth time.
My official pick: Vanderford by (T)KO.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Prelims Quick Picks
Tomer Maslis (0-0) defeats David Malka (0-0) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Olga Rubin (6-1) -305 defeats Sinead Kavanagh (5-4) +245 – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Itay Tratner (2-1) defeats Elias Mamadov (1-1) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Nizim Rosales (0-0) defeats Noam Voldman (0-5) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Nika Ben Tuashy (2-0) defeats Rafael Aronov (1-3) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Itay Lipszyc (0-0) defeats Itzik Yakobov (0-0) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Eli Arnonv (3-0) defeats Sari Hleihil (2-1) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Maxim Tkachuk (0-0) defeats Ben Cohen (0-0) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Artem Kazartsev (0-0) defeats Ron Becker (3-2) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Mikhail Dulger (3-1) defeats Ofir Leibel (0-0) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Raz Bring (4-2) defeats Naziri Daniliuk (2-1) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Akhmed Fararzha (6-1) defeats Kirill Medvedovsky (11-7) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Vuqar Keramov (13-3) defeats Gustavo Wurlitzer (22-23) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Simon Smotritsky (5-0) defeats Ilya Gladkiy (3-0) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Vladimir Fedin (10-5, 1 NC) defeats Adam Kersh (2-0) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
Robson Gracie (2-0) defeats Ameer Basheer (0-1) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Enjoy the fights!