Bellator returns this Friday (September 16, 2016) with Bellator 161: Kongo vs Johnson. The main card is set to kick off at 9pm ET on Spike TV, with preliminary action to precede it on the promotion’s website at 7pm ET. If interested in wagering on any this fight card, all betting lines will be made available at Several Bookmakerss. Here are my plays for Bellator 161: Bantamweight bout: Joe Warren (-125) vs Sirwan Kakai (-105) Gabe’s Thoughts: This is a bantamweight contest betwee a pair of talented grapplers, which means it could end up being a striking match, as is often the case when two grapplers are pitted against each others inside the cage. That said, I think there’s a good chance this particular fight hits the mat, as I think they will both be looking to prove that they are the superior wrestler. In either case, I expect a closely contested contest, as the betting odds suggest, and I do favor it to hit the judges’ scorecards for a decision more often than not, so I like the Total of Over 2.5 rounds at -180 for a play here. Gabe’s Call: Kakai by Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Over 2.5 rounds (-180) 1.8u to win 1u Women’s Flyweight bout: Anastasia Yankova (-435) vs Veta Arteaga (+325) Gabe’s Thoughts: I thought Yankova would have been a lock to win this contest and Arteaga appeared to be a can at first glance, however after doing my homework on the match-up, I think there’s actually a good chance at an upset here. I think Yankova is over-rated; she’s got decent kickboxing and grappling and is largely expected to defeat Arteaga via first round submission in this contest. I won’t be at all surprised to see Arteaga get the better of both the striking and grappling exchanges in this contest en route to a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards. I don’t either eighter fighter is very good but at this point in their careers, I think Arteaga may be slightly better, and at +325, I think there’s a lot of value in her. Gabe’s Call: Arteaga by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Plays: 1) Arteaga (+325) 1u to win 3.25u and 2) Over 1.5 rounds (-120) 2.2u to win 2u
