Bellator 116 Date: April 11, 2014 Arena: Pechanga Resort Hotel & Casino City: Temecula, CA Welterweight bout: Nathan Coy (-200) vs Adam McDonough (+170) Fight Breakdown: The Bellator 116 preliminary card will be featuring a welterweight contest for the Bellator welterweight tournament semifinals, as Nathan Coy gets ready to take on Adam McDonough. Coy is currently the favorite in this match-up at -200 ($200 to win $100), while McDonough is the underdog at +170 ($100 to win $170) at Several Bookmakerss. Nathan Coy (14-4 MMA, 2-0 Bellator) is riding a six-fight winning streak that followed two consecutive losses in the now defunct Strikeforce promotion. He is a talented wrestler who likes to wear his opponents down. The 35-year old has great takedowns and a great sprawl to avoid being put on his back. Coy transitions well and is capable of taking an opponent’s back if given as little as a one second opening. His submission defense is worth mentioning, as well. He is not an easy man to tap, though he has suffered one submission defeat in his professional mixed martial arts career. Training out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL, the Portland native has decent conditioning and is average-at-best on the feet. At 35 years of age, he does not have the best chin, but he does have solid recovery. Adam McDonough (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is a skilled striker who likes to start off fast. He is explosive right out of the gate, looking to put his opponents away. He has some great knees, nice uppercuts, and likes to throw punches in bunches. The 28-year old has good footwork and head movement. He moves around the cage well, and puts together some very effective combinations. He has a pretty good kicking game, as well, including the spinning kicks he likes to use, such as the spinning back-kick he used to put away Johnny Buck at Bellator 100. McDonough’s takedown defense is not very good, and he generally has holes in his grappling game, which I think a talented wrestler like Coy will be able to take advantage of. Gabe’s Prediction: Simply put, I think Coy is going to take McDonough down, and work his ground and pound. Rinse and repeat en route to getting his hand raised. Gabe’s Call: Coy by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Plays: Nathan Coy (-200) 2u to win 1u
