Event: Bellator 80 Matchup: Wagnney Fabiano (-160) vs. Rad Martinez (+130), Bellator Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Semifinal Location: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida Time: 8 p.m. (ET) How to watch: Spike.com, MTV2 TALE OF THE TAPE: THE FAVORITE 
Name: Wagnney Fabiano MMA Record: 15-3 Bellator Record: 1-0 Age: 37 Nationality: Brazilian Height: 5-6 Weight: 145 pounds Style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Camp: Grant Brothers (Toronto) Strengths: BJJ, high-level experience, fairly well-rounded Weaknesses: Submission defense, age, inactivity Last 5 Fights: W – Akop Stepanyan (SUB), L – Joseph Benavidez (SUB), W – Frank Gomez (UD), W – Clint Godfrey (UD), L – Mackens Semerzier (SUB) Notable Career Wins: Fredson Paixao (UD), LC Davis (SUB), Ian Loveland (SUB) Notable Career Losses: Joseph Benavidez (SUB), Mackens Semerzier (SUB), Jeff Curran (SD) Notable Career Achievements: Former IFL Featherweight Champion Keys to Victory: Try to get the fight on the ground, look for subs and sweeps off back TALE OF THE TAPE: THE UNDERDOG Name: Rad Martinez MMA Record: 13-2 Bellator Record: 3-0 Age: 25 Nationality: American Height: 5-6 Weight: 145 pounds Style: Wrestling Camp: Victory MMA Strengths: Wrestling, will to win, heart, power Weaknesses: Finishing ability, no submission game Last 5 Fights: W – Nazareno Malegerie (UD), W – Douglas Frey (TKO), W – Greg McFarland (TKO), W – Brian Van Hoven (UD), L – Brian Cobb (SUB) Notable Career Wins: Nazareno Malegerie (UD), Joe Brammer (TKO) Notable Career Losses: Brian Cobb (SUB), Travis Marx (UD) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Stay active on the feet, if the fight hits the ground stay out of Fabiano’s submission attempts FIGHT BREAKDOWN, PREDICTION, PICK & BET Wagnney Fabiano made a triumphant return to MMA after a two-year layoff, as he submitted Akop Stepanyan in the featherweight tournament quarterfinals to punch his ticket to the semis. Fabiano is a gifted ground fighter who holds eight of his 15 career wins via submission. The Brazilian is a third-degree black belt in BJJ and a threat anytime the floor hits the mat. He is a long-time veteran of the sport and has fought some of the very best in the world, including Joseph Benavidez. But keep in mind, he’s 37 years old and has had only 3:24 of cage time in the last two years. At the end of the day, he isn’t the same fighter that won the IFL featherweight championship back in 2007. Rad Martinez made it to the semifinals by decisioning Nazareno Malegerie in the quarters. Martinez was a Division I wrestler at Clarion University and a teammate of former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, and he has used his wrestling to win MMA fights. Martinez is a very game fighter and possesses power in the standup as well as solid takedowns and ground control. Against a dangerous ground fighter like Fabiano, it’s probably best not to fight too much on the ground, but expect Martinez to mix in the takedowns in order to pick up points if he can’t knock out Fabiano on the feet. Having recently got engaged, expect Martinez to be super motivated to get to the finals of the Bellator Season 7 FeatherweightTournament. Adam’s Fight Prediction: I think Martinez is going to be able to mix in the striking with the takedowns and do enough to Fabiano for 15 minutes to get the judges’ decision. Fabiano will threaten at times, but overall I think Martinez will do enough to outpoint Fabiano. Adam’s Pick: Rad Martinez (+130) via unanimous decision (click for updated MMA odds). Adam’s Recommended Play: I do pick Martinez here, but the fight is pretty close to call. It wouldn’t surprised me if Fabiano got a submission off his back or swept Martinez and started to go to work on top. Not sure if it’s worth a bet, but I lean towards Martinez in this fight.
