When Bellator ran their one-night, four-man light heavyweight tournament back in September, Phil Davis and Mo Lawal were expected to meet in the final. Each got the job done in their first round bout, but Lawal was not cleared to compete in the final. Instead, Davis knocked out Francis Carmont in just over two minutes to win the tournament, and make an immediate statement in his transition to Bellator. Eight months later, the promotion is set to host Davis/Lawal as the main event of Saturday night’s Bellator 154. The winner will face light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary later in the year. Aside from the main event, this card has been plagued with cancellations. The most notable of these was the unfortunate passing of Jordan Parsons due to a hit-and-run accident. Parsons was set to face Adam Piccolotti on the main card, but instead once-defeated Ray Wood will be stepping up a weight class on short notice for the bout. The biggest fight to be cancelled was the lightweight showdown between Michael Chandler and Josh Thomson. It has been reported that Thomson was forced out of the bout because he was knocked out in training by 19-year-old wrestling phenom Aaron Pico. If those reports are true, it will only serve to heighten the anticipation for Pico’s eventual MMA debut. One fight that remains on the card is the welterweight matchup between Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos and Saad Awad. Awad will be moving up a weight class to face the suddenly resurgent ‘Cyborg’ in the co-main event. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the main card of Bellator 154 today at Several Bookmakers. Check them out: ——————– Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo SAP Center | San Jose, California MAY 14, 2016 MAIN CARD (Spike TV, 8pm ET) Muhammed Lawal +175 Phil Davis -245 Over 2.5 -245 Under 2.5 +175 — Evangelista Santos +115 Saad Awad -155 Over 1.5 -150 Under 1.5 +110 — Rick Reger +300 Andre Fialho -420 Over 1.5 +120 Under 1.5 -160 — Ray Wood +265 Adam Piccolotti -385 Over 2.5 +110 Under 2.5 -150 — ——————– Brad’s Analysis: I’m really hoping that Davis/Lawal turns into a wrestling match instead of a kickboxing bout. Fifteen minutes of Lawal shoulder rolling and Davis tepidly throwing leg and body kicks from way outside of range would just be too much. I feel like the result will be the same regardless of where the fight plays out though. For as much grief as Davis gets for his striking, he is capable of outpointing the majority of light heavyweights (Lawal included), and his wrestling is still top notch. Lawal is a solid wrestler as well, and at his best when he uses that skill, but I just see him struggling to get Davis to the mat. At some point, ‘Cyborg’ is going to look like a fighter who is 38 and has been knocked out nine times in his career. It could be this fight, or he could use his significant size advantage to take Awad to the ground and grind out a decision. If I can get a plus number on Awad to be the fighter to capitalize on Santos’ age and chin, I’ll do it, otherwise I’ll pass this one. Andre Fialho seems like a good prospect, but he’s never really been pushed to this point in his career. The American Kickboxing Academy product has finished all of his fights, and all but one inside the first round. I think he impresses against Rick Reger, who seems like the typical fighter who excels on the lower regional circuit (all seven of his wins have come in Gladiator Challenger) but struggles when he moves up in competition. There are still question marks around Fialho’s wrestling and cardio, but I don’t expect those to be answered or even addressed in this fight. Adam Piccolotti is another good prospect, and it’s unfortunate for him that his performance here will be overshadowed by the Jordan Parsons tragedy. He’ll have to navigate a bit of a reach disadvantage against Ray Wood, but once inside Piccolotti’s size and strength should allow him to utilize his grappling advantage nicely. Wood has only been finished in the closing stages of a 25-minute title bout against WEC vet Anthony Morrison, so I’m not sure Piccolotti stops him here, but I think he wins a clear decision.
