Bellator 185 Preview
Bellator has the spotlight as they present Bellator 185 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
With a preliminary card streaming here on FIGHTSPORTS.TV, and a live broadcast airing on Spike TV, here is a look at the main card.
Main Card: 9:00 PM ET on Spike TV
Middleweight: Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2 MMA) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (56-9 MMA; 12-3-1 Bellator)
Gegard Mousasi following a five fight win streak in the UFC (four by way of knockout), the free agent brought his talents to Bellator. As one of the top-5 middleweights on the planet, Mousasi is a versatile fighter who can be adept standing up or grappling, and walks in the cage a heavy favorite against the Bellator veteran, Shlemenko.
Yet, this will be the first time in a year that we will see Shlemenko fighting under the Bellator banner, as he last fought at Bellator 162 in a second round KO of Kendall Grove.
Welterweight: Neiman Gracie (6-0 MMA; 4-0 Bellator) vs. Zak Bucia (18-8 MMA)
Neiman Gracie has done his job in not only carrying the Gracie legacy, but be flawless in his development as a MMA fighter. Also, it is no surprise that Gracie has won five of his six fights by way of submission. After a plague of injuries ripped right through the Bellator 185 roster, Gracie now has the opportunity to shine in the co-main event against Zak Bucia. Bucia, a veteran of Strikeforce has been fighting as a pro for over a decade. Bucia has stopped 15 of his 18 opponents, 9 by way of submission. Will the wily veteran be able to take down the young man with the weight of a legacy on his shoulders?
(W) Flyweight: Heather Hardy (1-0 MMA; 1-0 Bellator) vs. Kristina Williams (Pro Debut)
Heather Hardy made the transition from boxing to MMA in June of this year, and utilized her punching power when she knocked out Alice Yauger in the 3rd round of their Bellator 180 meeting. Hardy looks to improve upon first outing and utilize skills she learned in camp to be more of a complete fighter inside the cage as she mentioned in her interview with FIGHT SPORTS. Kristina Williams will be making her professional debut, after being undefeated as an amateur (3-0). Williams is turning pro following a 3-0 amateur career. This fight may be a sleeper as both fighters look to prove themselves on national television.
Lightweight: Ryan Quinn (13-7-1 MMA; 7-1 Bellator) vs. Marcus Surin (4-0 MMA; Bellator Debut)
Ryan Quinn has had a silent, but powerful 7-1 record as a member of Bellator, as he’s only battled inside the Mohegan Sun Arena, the location of Bellator 185. At the last event in Uncasville, Bellator 178, Quinn was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision to Saad Awad. Marcus Surin makes his Bellator debut with a 4-0 pro record, and came away with a 2nd round TKO victory against Christen Torres in his last fight in June 2016.
(W) Flyweight: Ana Julaton (2-2 MMA; Bellator Debut) vs. Lisa Blaine (1-0 MMA; Bellator Debut):
Ana Julaton, much like Heather Hardy, is an accomplished boxer that is looking to make the cage their home. Julaton has already performed under the ONE FC banner, so she will be more than ready for the Bellator spotlight. Standing across the ring is Lisa Blaine, who successfully made her pro debut at Premier FC 23. Where in June of 2017 earned a 2nd round TKO of Tammy Worrick.