the site takes out a prediction text for 2017 from the archive, in which he foresaw the defeat of Fedor Emelianenko, the triumph of Anthony Joshua and Vasily Lomachenko.
1. Alexander Shlemenko will sign a contract with the UFC - No
Unless something unexpected happens, Shlemenko may work out a contract with Bellator in the near future, but for whom to stay there? Rafael Carvalho, who was beaten by Melvin Manhoef, and Melvin Manhoef himself, who was beaten by Alexander Shlemenko. Shlemenko needs challenges. And where to get them, if not in one of the most dense and competitive divisions of the UFC, where Michael Bisping, who is familiar to Alexander, champions, where there is a sworn friend Hector Lombard and there are guys like Luke Rockhold and Chris Wideman? There should be no problems with financial conditions - given the spectacular style of Alexander, with each of his performances he will be able to claim an additional 50 thousand dollars.
2. Fedor will lose for the fourth time in the USA - Yes
Matt Mitrione may look unmotivated and abusive, but 10 of his 11 victories have come by knockout. Yes, Fedor did not fly to Japan, but we are still very worried about his preparation, because Matt continues to develop and get something new. Emelianenko only gives and teaches. At the moment, Fedor's record in the USA is 3-3, his contract is for four fights and it is better not to miss even a little bit in any of them.
3. Khabib won't take full UFC title - Yes
Dana White threatens to bring McGregor to Russia, but it all looks more like good PR before entering a new market. McGregor won't fight until March, and Tony Ferguson still looks like the most logical opponent but needs a lot of money. Jose Aldo appears on the horizon, Khabib's manager announces Conor's welterweight fight with Tyron Woodley, and we're getting tired of too many questions. But the main thing has not changed and will not change in the coming year - Nurmagomedov is one of the most stylistically bad fights for the main UFC star, the fight with which will be postponed until the last. Temporary title - we believe, of course.
4. A fighter who has been a UFC champion for the past three years will compete in the DIA - No
Vinnie Magalhães, Norman Park, TUF winner Saul Rogers. What is called selection in football works very well in ACB. Point signings of strong fighters who are quite far from the decline. The former UFC champion is one more, perhaps the last step in strengthening the status of the best Russian promotion. Considering Fabricio Werdum's love for Chechnya and his problems with Reebok, one can imagine the performance of the Brazilian in ACB under the comments of Frank Mir. Or will they meet in a cage?
5. Wladimir Klitschko will lose to Anthony Joshua and retire in his next fight - Yes/No
Wladimir Klitschko has missed a year and will go home to the most athletic super-heavyweight of modern times a month after his 41st birthday. Let's be honest - this fight is organized for a direct transfer of power. As in those films, when a student must defeat his teacher, well, or a young lion defeat the current leader in order to become the leader in this jungle. In fact, Tyson Fury has already done this, but no one took the funny fat man in a Batman suit seriously. Another thing is the muscle-flexing former London Olympic champion who poses for pictures with Michael Phelps and whose fights sell out tens of thousands of tickets in a matter of hours. Joshua may not be experienced enough, and the strength of his chin unknown, but Klitschko should not and cannot interrupt the logical flow of history.
6. Lomachenko will climb into the TOP-3 p4p - Yes
Vassily Lomachenko is arguably the best boxer in the world right now, but he lacks a few high-profile victories and achievements. Either way, it's been a great year. He makes history in seven fights and reminds everyone else that there can be competitive fights in boxing. What's even better - Vasily ideological. For him, achievements in sports and a place in history are really more important than money, otherwise, the Ukrainian would not have offered Walters money from his own pocket in the spring. Forecast in the forecast - Vasily will take the belt in the third weight category. And if he looks like he did in the fight with the Jamaican, he will be in the top three.
7. Kovalev will only be able to rematch Ward in Russia - No
Andre Ward is threatening to end his career, Sergey Kovalev is active on social networks and selective in his threats - the promotion of the second fight has begun. Andre furrows his brow and promises to think about it, but in fact he signed a contract for the second fight, leaving an autograph under the first contract. Here everything can rest against the fee of an American and the HBO channel. After the failed sales of the first fight, it would not be very far-sighted to conduct a rematch according to the same system. But doing such a fight on free television, where the budget for the entire boxing evening may not exceed $ 3 million, is very expensive and difficult. The situation will be saved by some millionaire from Yekaterinburg or Moscow, who really wants justice and three Russian judges in the center of Russia.
8. There will be news with Alexander Emelianenko with the words "in a state of intoxication" - No
Family life very often changes people, but the soul of a joker always wants a little freedom. The point may be not only in Alexander himself, but also in his image, which contributes to various provocations. Whatever it is, it will be difficult for Emelianenko not to get into at least one scandalous chronicle, even if it is sucked out of thin air.
9. Alexander Povetkin will not finish his career and will have one fight - Yes / No
Alexander Povetkin is in for a tough year. His main fights will take place in different courtrooms - mutual lawsuits with the team of Deontay Wilder and the continuation of the unhealthy tendency of VADA to find something from Alexander on the eve of the fight. It will be very difficult for Andrei Ryabinsky to defeat such a giant, and the World Boxing Council, under pressure from the Western press, will not be able to simply wag a finger at the “doped Russian” again. Most likely, Povetkin will be disqualified for an insignificant period in the form of an unpleasant, but compromise. Alexander will miss the first half of the year, spend the entire summer in a training camp, and enter the ring in the fall. And don't laugh if it's another WBC tryout for Deontay Wilder.
10. Egor Mekhontsev, Grigory Drozd and Ruslan Provodnikov will end their careers - Yes / No
Grigory Drozd missed this year, was recovering from injury and getting used to the TV. Grigory has long been equally comfortable in a commentator's chair and a business suit. Drozd's interests are not limited to boxing alone - he is the president of the Muay Thai Federation in Moscow and the vice president of the Thai Boxing Federation in Russia. Gregory is 37, he is a “champion on vacation”, but, by and large, he has no reason to return. A lot has changed in the heavyweight division during the year of absence, and so far Drozd's place here is quite difficult to find.
Egor Mehontsev unexpectedly stalled at the beginning of his professional career. I don’t want to write “it didn’t work”, but more convincing victories were expected from Yegor. The Olympic champion goes the full distance with those who should be removed without options. A bad bell was the last fight between Mekhontsev and Alexander Johnson, which ended in a draw. Egor is 32, and, in a good way, the next year should be decisive for him.
Ruslan Provodnikov will return. Here one cannot but agree with Art Pelullo - such a boxer should leave differently and leave a completely different aftertaste. There is no doubt that Siberian Rocky should be enough for another big fight. The only question is who Ruslan can find motivation for.
11. UFC will take place in Russia - No
How many years of expectations and conversations, and now we are very close to this. Vitaly Mutko is in his own style, but he talks about it, and his words are confirmed by Dana White, who threatens to make Nurmagomedov-McGregor in Russia. So far, it is not clear how, where and for how long all this will happen, but on the eve of 2017 we are overwhelmed with optimism, and the UFC in Russia, as a PR campaign for the World Cup, looks very logical.
12. Conor McGregor won't fight in boxing - No
Conor McGregor sparring with the former world champion and getting a boxing license, and his fight with Mayweather is one of the most discussed topics. You can live with illusions and hope to see the Irishman in the ring, but as long as he is the main star of the biggest fighting promotion, his fight is not possible anywhere else. Elementary because of contractual obligations to the UFC. Everything else is just lyrics and mutually beneficial PR for everyone.
13. The highest paid boxer will earn more than an MMA fighter - Yes
We can even call this person Saul Alvarez. No, it may be Floyd Mayweather returning from another exotic country in his anniversary fight, but it will probably be Canelo. The Mexican can hold two tasty fights - with a compatriot and the son of a legend, Chavez Jr., the fight with which will be redeemed by the entire population of Mexico; and a fight with Gennady Golovkin, where only the second would claim a minimum of $10 million. Also, do not forget about Manny Pacquiao, who at the best of times for the third and not very important fight with Bradley earned more than $ 20 million. But it is even more likely that big money will begin to pour into the awakened heavy weight.
14. Fight Nights M-1 or DIA will hold a joint tournament - No
Kamil Hajiyev does not mind, Mairbek Khasiev does not dare, and Vadim Finkelstein is somehow out of work. Holding a joint tournament is something completely unprecedented and cool for the mixed martial arts industry in our country. The last year taught us to good fights and high competition. So why not detonate the bomb? In ACB they can show their self-sufficiency as much as they want, but such a tournament, coupled with the release and consolidation on the federal channel, will be a very good decision in the long run. There is no need to talk about the fans at all.
15. Someone other than Conor will make a million dollars in MMA (guaranteed fee) - Yes
The main contender is Ronda Rousey in a rematch with Holly Holm in a duel for two belts. Among the less obvious candidates - Brock Lesnar, who decided to return once more, well, or Jon Jones. But if the shares of the second fell monstrously, then the return of the first will not survive Mark Hunt. More exotic options include Khabib freaking out and fighting in Fight Nights for $5 million. There is also an opinion that if Emelianenko does not make a million in the first fight, he will be very close. On the other hand, we are talking about guaranteed and published fees. Either way, it will be fun.
The fight of Alexander Shlemenko against Gegard Mousasi is expected as one of the most important events in. This fight is the main fight card of the Bellator 185 tournament, which will be held in the USA. On the night of October 20-21, all the attention of mixed martial arts fans will be riveted to the American Uncasville. It is there that the fate of the best fighters in the Bellator promotion will be decided. What is the forecast: will our Russian “Storm” - Shlemenko, or the extremely dangerous Dutchman with Armenian roots - Mousasi, win?
The Shlemenko-Musashi fight is scheduled for October 21, 2017 at 4:00 Moscow time. MMA fight will take Mohegan Sun Arena, Ancassville, in Connecticut, USA, but it does not matter: the live broadcast will be conducted on one of the Russian sites.
Alexander Shlemenko- 33-year-old Russian fighter of the mixed style, mega titled fighter of the Bellator organization in the middleweight division. Shlemenko is a 12-time winner of the tournament, who managed to defend his title three times, as well as his other trophy - the Bellator Grand Prix. Shlemenko spent 66 fights, of which 56 ended as a winner, 9 fights he lost.
Geghard Mousasi(Movsesyan) is a 32-year-old mixed martial artist from Holland, but of Armenian descent. Mousasi had an astonishing career in the UFC prior to his arrival at Bellator in July 2017 and was considered one of the top contenders for the middleweight title until his departure. Geghard is a four-time world champion in the middle and light heavyweight divisions according to Dream, Strikeforce and Cage Warriors. Musashi participated in 50 fights, in 42 of which he won, lost in 6, and 2 fights ended in a draw.
Confrontation between Shlemenko and Musashi is a competition of two opponents in spirit and strength. Both, as titled fighters, have a claim to the championship, and deservedly so. None of them have any doubts about their victory. Taking into account the importance of the title fight of the tournament, Alexander and Geghard have already begun to give the first comments on the upcoming fight.
According to Shlemenko, the winner of this fight will become the "true Bellator champion".
“I believe that the winner of our fight with Mousasi will become the real champion of Bellator. I respect other fighters, but I think that our duel is much more important,” the “Championship” quotes the words of the ex-champion.
Shlemenko obviously has big plans for this fight:
“Hopefully the win will put me in the top three ranked middleweights in the world,” he continued.
Musashi keeps his presence of mind ahead of an important fight. Geghard is more than confident of his victory, and even explained why. Moreover, the Dutchman predicted an early victory over Shlemenko:
“Shlemenko has a lot of willpower and is a very tough fighter, but he has a lot of defensive flaws and I think I can take him down in two rounds. I surpass him in size, arm span, and my grappling is much stronger than his. I am confident that I can get an early victory over him, ”MMA Boxing reports, quoting Musashi.
Prediction for the fight is mixed, but, knowing the weak side of Shlemenko, which Musashi already mentioned - defense, and remembering the opponent's assertiveness and tirelessness, we can say that Musashi is the favorite. Thus, bookmakers accept bets on the victory of an ethnic Armenian with a coefficient of 1,51 , while the Russian can multiply the bet by 2,65 times, if, of course, he wins.
The live broadcast of the Shlemenko-Musashi fight, according to the announcement, will be held on the Sport-Express portal. Moscow time is 4:00.
Recall that the next day there will be another fight - a boxing match - the fight between Murat Gassiev and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk. It looks like the whole weekend all the attention of martial arts fans will be riveted to the screens.
One of the most anticipated fights in Bellator is scheduled for October 21, 2017. Former middleweight champion of the organization Alexander Shlemenko will try to defeat the unstoppable Gegard Mousasi. The fighters approach the face-to-face confrontation in high spirits and after several victories. Both are full of motivation and quite capable of delivering a quality fight. Geghard Mousasi is considered a small favorite among bookmakers.
Career of Alexander Shlemenko
A native of Omsk can be considered one of the greatest Russian fighters in MMA. His career is a real example for mixed martial arts fighters. Shlemenko had 65 professional fights by the age of 33. His record is 56-9. Unfortunately, Alexander never got a taste of the UFC, but he created a great career in Bellator. He won his first title in the organization in 2013 by beating Mikel Falkan. The next season was very difficult for the Russian fighter: two defeats in a row, and soon after winning the fight with Melvin Manhoef, Slam found doping.
Shlemenko returned to the Bellator cage in 2016 and celebrated his return with a victory over Kendall Grove. After that, the fighter warmed up in two light fights as part of the M1 organization. Now the Russian MMA veteran is ready to fight for the return of his title.
Geghard Mousasi
Mousasi's real surname is Movsisyan. He is an ethnic Armenian. This fact, of course, adds color to the upcoming confrontation. A huge Armenian diaspora supports Mousasi in all significant battles. At the same time, he formally stands for the Netherlands.
Musashi fought in the UFC for a long time during his career and left a good memory of himself there. Mousasi has crushed stars like Dan Henderson, Mark Hunt and Melvin Manhoef. There were, of course, defeats that prevented him from really claiming the title. In the strongest martial arts league, Musashi lost only two out of twelve fights. During his career, the ethnic Armenian has six defeats and two draws.
Musashi left the UFC for two reasons. First, he did not wait for the title fight. Secondly, the financial side of the issue played a role. The UFC banned Gegard from using some personal sponsors and refused to compensate him for these losses in a personal contract. As a result, Gegard signed a six-fight contract with Bellator. The match with Shlemenko is his debut in the organization.
Odds in 1XBet
Bookmakers consider Geghard Mousasi to be the obvious favorite. The coefficient on it is 1.53. The victory of the Russian is estimated at 2.6 quotes. Bookmakers also assume that there will be an early knockout. You can bet on the total less than 1.5 rounds at a coefficient of 1.6.
Forecast
Shlemenko himself admits that Geghard is a very uncomfortable fighter for him. Musashi has clearly come to dominate Bellator. Shlemenko always has a chance - this is a tough style and powerful blows. Another question is that Musashi looks better in all components. He will not shy away from a fight and can deliver a devastating attack while standing.
Musashi moves faster around the ring than Shlemenko. Perhaps, for a Russian fighter - a huge experience and a steel character, but Musashi has already ground a large number of famous champions in his career. In any case, betting on a quick knockout is an ignoble thing. Alexander is in good shape. He's not the favorite, but he won't lose quickly either. Accordingly, it would be reasonable to predict the fight more than 1.5 rounds. To this development of events in
“If the UFC turns on the head, they will understand that Volkov is able to assemble the “Olympic”
MMA fighters share their impressions of Volkov's victory over Werdum and talk about Alexander's chances to bring a UFC title fight to Russia.
The FIGHT NIGHT 127 tournament will go down in the history of Russian mixed martial arts as one of the most successful for us of all time. Heavyweight from the Moscow club "Strela" Alexander Volkov in the main fight of the evening, he knocked out the legendary ex-champion and offender Fedor Emelianenko –Fabricio Werduma. Drago should now be seen as one of the top contenders to fight the company's heavyweight champion. Will Volkov have enough victory over the third number of the rating to ask for a "title shot" now? Is it worth waiting for a championship fight with Volkov at a tournament in Russia? Sasha's colleagues in the shop answer.
Sergei Kharitonov, Bellator fighter who defeated Werdum in 2005:
He assumed that there might be a knockout, but still thought that Sasha would win on points. He is great! I was not worried about Werdum transferring the fight to the ground. Sasha was ready physically, mentally and technically. So I didn't even bother. I hope that after the victory at Werdum, he will give Volkov a title fight.
Alexander Shlemenko, former Bellator middleweight champion:
I expected victory from Sasha. True, I did not think that he would be able to knock out Werdum. But the more pleasant. I was not anxious when Fabricio tried to bring Volkov to the ground. The Brazilian does not have good takedowns, but he fights well on the ground. I knew that Werdum would run out of strength with such a development of events, and Sasha would take the ending. Almost so it happened - only not at the end, but in the middle of the battle. In the third round, Alexander took the initiative into his own hands and brought the fight to a knockout.
Volkov loudly declared himself: he not only won by decision of the judges, but finished a serious opponent. It is difficult to say whether they will give him a title. But if you look at the heavy weight, then they may well. Ngannou lost to Miocic, and I don’t see any more obvious contenders. But this is my opinion, the organizers may think otherwise. Volkov could be matched with Curtis Blades if he passes Overeem.
Eduard Vartanyan, former interim ACB lightweight champion, Volkov's teammate:
Blades let the vampires catch, and Sanya goes for the belt. He has excellent chances against Miocic. In the fight with Werdum, Volkov changed the haters very nicely. Very happy for him.
Sasha was ready for Werdum's tricks like his jump shots. I saw how Volkov prepared and I can say that his plan was not to let his opponent work on the ground. This is Werdum's forte. Also, according to the plan, Sasha had to keep the Brazilian at a distance due to longer levers. Did you see how Sanya worked from the left-handed stand? This is what they trained. And the combination - the left straight and the right uppercut - was constantly being worked out. God himself ordered Sanya to hit uppercuts with such hands.
For myself and for that guy! Volkov knocked out Werdum
The great Brazilian heavyweight defeated three Russians, but with Drago it turned out differently.
Nikita Krylov, ex-fighter:
I knew that Werdum had no chance in standing. There is no doubt about Volkov's shock. I really like the way Sasha leads his fights: at some moments he gives up the initiative, but then he definitely takes his own. This is his style.
Now, it is quite possible that Volkov will be given a title fight with the winner of the Miocic-Cormier pair. I think it will be Stipe. And Sasha is the only one who can give him a fight. If they turn on their heads, they will understand that the entire Olimpiysky will gather for Volkov and Miocic. Of this I have no doubt. Sasha is a ready contender! Around him you can gather a big tournament. He is handsome!
The Brazilian who defeated the Emelianenko brothers and was the UFC champion
Fabricio Werdum is a legendary heavyweight who, at 40, claims to be the greatest.
Albert Tumenov, ex-fighter, currently playing in ACB:
I watched the fight with my friends. They bet on Werdum to win, and I said that Volkov would win, and with my filing they changed their minds. I expected that Werdum would take the fight to the ground for the first two rounds, but he was still sure that Sasha would win. We need young and promising fighters, so I think Volkov can be given a title fight.
Vitaly Minakov, former Bellator champion who defeated Volkov in 2013:
This is not the first fight in which Volkov loses most of the fight. When the opponent sits down, Sasha begins to dominate and ends the fight ahead of schedule. There was a very good uppercut, and not just one.
Can Volkov be given a title shot after this victory? Perhaps he will, or perhaps there will be another test. We need to wait for the reaction of the management of the organization. We know there have been times in the history of the promotion when title fights have fallen to people who just made it into the top ten. In the story with Khabib, I can say that a man has long won the right to fight for the title, but he is not given it. But I think Sasha has every chance to get a title fight.
Pervert, Hillbilly and Skyscraper: whom Volkov beat before Werdum
We recall the main victories of the Russian contender for the UFC heavyweight title.
Ivan Bannikov, Alexander Volkov's manager:
We initially signed the contract so that if Sasha wins this fight, he will have a title fight if there are no force majeure.
Inside view
Alexander Volkov:
I would be happy if a victory over Werdum helps to get a title shot in the fall in Russia. If he gives me the opportunity, I will be very happy.
Miocic or Cormier? Both are very good and I respect them. I don't care who wins their fight, I'll wait for one of them. It really doesn't matter to me, I'll just bet on striking work and wait for the opponent's mistake in the stand, using my strengths. I think I deserved a title shot, I got four wins in a row and beat the ex-champ, so maybe my time has come.
Readers' opinion
Romchan:
With victory! This is how Volkov is growing before our eyes, turning into the top of the strongest league in the world. I added it in the functional area, I added a lot in the stand, and Alexander has enough dynamite in his fists. Well done what to say. I also note the iron chin, in heavyweights this is very important. But in fairness, the most serious tests are yet to come. Good luck to him, cheer for our guy.Fittipaldi:
Werdum was never great. He received this prefix due to victories over Fedor and Velasquez. Once he became a champion, but lost his first defense.zavodnoi-apelsin:
After each Volkov fight they write “nothing special”, I’m already used to it. Meanwhile, Sanya in each next fight wins more and more strong opponents. If a knockout victory over the third number of the rating is “nothing special”, then what is “special” then, I even find it difficult to imagine.
