Tale of the Tape is a brand new addition to MMAOddsbreaker.com, where I will break down in full detail the top two fights on every major UFC, Strikeforce, and Bellator card to further expand your knowledge base, so you will have more information at your disposal to make better-informed, winning bets. In future editions, expect detailed FightMetric statistics to be included in the analysis. If you have any suggestions of what other sorts of information you’d like to see included, email me at adam@mmaoddsbreaker.com. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy. — Adam Martin Event: Bellator 78 Matchup: Andrey Koreshkov (-245) vs. Marius Zaromskis (+185), Bellator Season 7 Welterweight Tournament Semifinal Location: Nutter Center, Dayton, OH Time: 8 p.m. (ET) How to watch: Spike.com, MTV2
TALE OF THE TAPE: THE FAVORITE
Name: Andrey “Spartan” Koreshkov (-245)
MMA Record: 11-0 Bellator Record: 3-0 Age: 22 Nationality: Russian Height: 6-0 Weight: 170 pounds Style: Striker Camp: RusFighters Sport Club
Strengths: Undefeated, Youthful, Knockout Power, Explosive and Unpredictable Striking, Offensive BJJ Weaknesses: Grappling, Defensive BJJ Last 5 Fights: W – Jordan Smith (UD), W – Derrick Krantz (TKO), W – Tiawan Howard (KO), W – Kyacey Uscola (TKO), W – Tadas Aleksonis (SUB) Notable Career Wins: Jordan Smith (UD), Kyacey Uscola (TKO) Notable Career Losses: None Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Use aggressiveness and explosiveness, attack Zaromskis’ chin early and often
TALE OF THE TAPE: THE UNDERDOG
Name: Marius “The Whitemare” Zaromskis (+185) MMA Record: 19-6, 1 No Contest Bellator Record: 3-0 Age: 32 Nationality: Lithuanian Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 pounds Style: Striker Camp: American Kickboxing Academy
Strengths: Momentum, Experience, Knockout Power (13 career wins via knockout), Powerful/Unorthodox Striker, Quick Starter (nine first-round finishes) Weaknesses: Suspect Chin, All Losses to High-level Competition Last 5 Fights: W – Nordine Taleb (UD), W – Waachiim Spiritwolf (SD), W – Waachiim Spiritwolf (TKO), W – Bruno Carvalho (KO), W – Eiji Ishikawa (UD) Notable Career Wins: Kazushi Sakuraba (TKO), Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (KO), Waachiim Spiritwolf x2 (TKO, SD) Notable Career Losses: Nick Diaz (KO), Evangelista Cyborg (TKO), Che Mills x 2 (KO, TKO) Notable Career Achievements: Former DREAM Welterweight Champion Keys to Victory: Weather the storm and drag the fight into deep waters, use veteran experience to dictate pace of the fight FIGHT BREAKDOWN, PREDICTION, PICK & BET Fight Breakdown: An exciting matchup pitting two explosive strikers sees Andrey Koreshkov and Marius Zarmoskis battle it out with the winner earning a spot in the Bellator Season 7 Welterweight Tournament Finals against either Lyman Good or Michail Tsarev. To get this far, Koreshkov decisioned Jordan Smith while Zaromskis decisioned Nordine Taleb, and with the prospect of making it to the final two, you know both Koreshkov and Zaromskis are going to do everything they can not to leave this fight in the hands of the judges. There is no question that both men can end fights with one strike. In Zaromskis’ case, however, all he really has in his toolbox is his striking, as 13 of his 19 wins have come via knockout yet he has only one victory via submission. The fact that he’s so one dimensional and that he prefers to stand and trade is a scary proposition against a powerful and unpredictable striker like Koreshkov, who not only has seven knockouts in his 11 wins, but also three submission wins, too. With Zaromskis having been knocked out four times in his career and facing a striking ace like Koreshkov, it spells trouble for the Lithuanian, who has looked rejuvenated since joining Bellator but who hasn’t fought someone like Koreshkov on his current run — but then again, Koreshkov hasn’t fought someone like Zaromskis, either. Seven of Koreshkov’s fights have ended in the first round, and 14 of Zaromskis’ fights have ended in the first, so don’t expect a feeling out process between these two. Instead, expect them to come out slugging, and look for Koreshkov to throw wild strikes right away as Zaromskis tries to keep his veteran composure and attempts to counter. In some ways, this fight is comparable to Zaromskis’ 2010 bout against young striker Jordan Mein, a fight Zaromskis lost via unanimous decision, so take that into consideration, as well. Adam’s Fight Prediction: Andrey Koreshkov is too powerful, aggressive, and explosive a striker for Marius Zaromskis to handle at this point of his career. Although the veteran Zaromskis has looked like he’s turned the corner in his last few fights, his Cinderella re-birth in Bellator FC will come to an end here as Koreshkov will stop him via strikes and continue the trend of Russian fighters winning in Bellator. Adam’s Pick: Andrey Koreshkov via first-round TKO Adam’s Recommended Play: Andrey Koreshkov (-245) is the bet to make.