Event: Bellator 84 Matchup: Richard Hale (-155) vs. Alexander Volkov (+125) for Heavyweight Championship Location: The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana Time: 8 p.m. (ET) on Friday, December 14, 2012 How to Watch: Spike.com, MTV2 TALE OF THE TAPE: THE FAVORITE Name: Richard “Rare Breed” Hale MMA Record: 21-4-1 Bellator Record: 6-1 Age: 27 Nationality: American Height: 6-4 Weight: 233 pounds Style: Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Camp: Koncrete Gym Strengths: Knockout power, speed, submissions Weaknesses: Size, chin Last 5 Fights: W – Thiago Santos (TKO), W – Mike Wessel (TKO), W – Josh Burns (TKO), W – Carlos Flores (KO), L – Christian M’Pumbo (TKO) Notable Career Wins: Santos, Wessel, D.J. Linderman (SD), Nik Fekete (SUB) Notable Career Losses: M’Pumbo, Jimmy Ambriz (KO), Matt Lucas (UD), Antwain Britt (MD) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Get the fight to the ground TALE OF THE TAPE: THE UNDERDOG Name: Alexander Volkov MMA Record: 18-3 Bellator Record: 2-0 Age: 24 Nationality: Russian Height: 6-7 Weight: 226 pounds Style: Striker Camp: RusFighters Sport Club Strengths: Striking, height, length, youth Weaknesses: Submission defense, inexperience in championship fights Last 5 Fights: W – Vinicius Queiroz (TKO), W – Brett Rogers (UD), W – Stefan Stankovic (TKO), W – Ricco Rodriguez (UD), W – Arsen Abdulkerimov (TKO) Notable Career Wins: Rogers, Rodriguez Notable Career Losses: None Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Keep the fight standing FIGHT BREAKDOWN, PREDICTION, PICK & BET The Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Finals between Richard Hale and Alexander Volkov should provide fireworks with the World Championship on the line. Hale is a heavy hitter with a savvy ground game and showed that he can compete as a heavyweight in his last fight when he TKOed Thiago Santos. Hale has been improving rapidly, and with his knockout power, he’s not an easy out at all for anyone in Bellator’s heavyweight division. But Volkov may be the man to defeat him. The young Russian has looked impressive in his Bellator tenure, knocking out former UFC fighter Vinicius Queiroz in devastating fashion, which followed on the feels of his dominant win over former Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers. Volkov is a very tall guy and has excellent striking, and if he can connect with Hale’s chin, he can finish him. Adam’s Fight Prediction: Alexander Volkov is going to use his length and reach to pick apart Richard Hale from the outside and, in a five-round fight, eventually stop him with a TKO via punches. Adam’s Pick: Alexander Volkov (+125) via TKO (click for latest MMA odds). Adam’s Recommended Play: I’m going with the plus money and taking a tiny stab on Alexander Volkov (+125) to come through here and defeat Richard Hale, probably by knockout.
