Bellator 173 Preview & Predictions

There is only one event this weekend from a major organization and that comes from Bellator MMA, with Bellator 173 being that event. The show will be headlined by a heavyweight division fight as former light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary faces Brett McDermott. Also, James Gallagher faces Kirill Medvedovsky and female MMA prospect Sinead Kavanagh is in action.

Main Event

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Division Fight

Liam McGeary (11-1-0) vs. Brett McDermott (7-4-0)

McGeary will be competing for the first time since losing the Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Title to Phil Davis at Bellator 163. McDermott will be making his Bellator MMA debut in this fight and he does so as a late replacement who took the fight on a few days notice. McGeary won the light heavyweight title back at Bellator 134, where he defeated Emmanuel Newton, he would defend the gold once before losing it. McDermott competed in the Rizin 2015 Heavyweight Grand Prix, losing to King Mo in the opening round.

Prediction: McDermott has virtually no training camp time before taking this fight, McGeary has a huge reach advantage and he picks apart McDermott on route to a first round TKO finish.

Co-Main Event

Bellator MMA Featherweight Division Fight

James Gallagher (5-0-0) vs. Kirill Medvedovsky (7-3-0)

Gallagher has already earned two wins under the Bellator MMA banner, defeating the duo of Mike Cutting and Anthony Taylor. Medvedovsky is currently winless in Bellator MMA competition, dropping a fight to Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 164. Gallagher also competed once in the UK-based BAMMA promotion, where he defeated Gerard Gilmore. Medvedovsky has only won just one of his last four fights, with that lone win coming over Evgeny Zhekalov at Real Fight Promotions 19.

Prediction: Gallagher is a reckless striker with a solid ground game that allows him to take chances, Gallagher takes down Medvedovsky before using ground and pound to get a first round finish.

Bellator MMA Women’s Bantamweight Division Fight

Sinead Kavanagh (4-0-0) vs. Iony Razafiarison (1-1-0-1NC)

Kavanagh has already competed once under the Bellator MMA banner, defeating Elina Kallionidou at Bellator 169. Razafiarison is currently winless in Bellator MMA competition, dropping a fight to Bryanna Fissori at Bellator 139. Kavanagh fought UFC veteran Anna Elmose as an amateur, that fight occurred in the Cage Warriors promotion. Razafiarison hasn’t earned a victory in well over three years, her lone pro MMA win came over Stephanie Guyodo at a 100% Fight event.

Prediction: Kavanagh is a really aggressive brawler and Razafiarison is probably the least dangerous opponent she has ever faced, Kavanagh decimates Razafiarison with strikes on her way to a decision win.

Bellator MMA Welterweight Division Fight

Colin Fletcher (13-7-0) vs. Alex Lohore (10-1-0)

Fletcher will be making his UFC debut in the fight and he has only won just one of his last three headining into the fight. Lohore will also be making his Bellator MMA debut in this fight and he is currently riding a six fight winning streak. Fletcher fought twice in the UFC, dropping fights to the duo of Norman Parke and Mike Ricci, he also made it to the finals of the UFC Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes. Lohore has sent the majority of his pro MMA career in the Ultimate Challenge MMA promotion, he earned six wins in the promotion.

Prediction: Fletcher will want to get this fight to the ground as quickly as possible, but Lohore has good wrestling, which he uses to counter Fletcher while using his striking game to earn a decision.

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Division Fight

Shay Walsh (14-4-0) vs. James McErlean (6-3-0)

Walsh will be making his Bellator MMA debut in this fight and he hasn’t earned a victory in well over a year’s time. McErlean will also be making his Bellator MMA debut in this fight and he enters the fight while riding a three fight winning streak. Walsh has fought and lost to three UFC veterans in his career, those UFC veterans are Tom Duquesnoy, Artem Lobov and Andy Ogle. McErlean has previously challenged for the Akuma FC Bantamweight Title , losing to Alan Philpott in 2014.

Prediction: McErlean will want to use his wrestling to get the fight to the ground, but Walsh counters with his striking game to get the decision.