Bellator 209: Freire vs. Sanchez - November 15 (OFFICIAL DISCUSSION)

Bellator
November 15, 2018
Menora Mivtachim Arena        
Tel Aviv, Israel

Main Card:
Patricio Freire (27-4)    vs. (17-3) Emmanuel Sanchez   
Main Event |  Title Fight | Featherweight | 145 lbs (66 kg)
Vadim Nemkov (9-2)    vs.               (19-4) Phil Davis   
Co-Main Event | Light Heavyweight | 205 lbs (93 kg)

Bellator will be heading back to Israel for the third time in the organization’s history as they’ll drop down in Tel Aviv at Menora Mivtachim Arena on November 15th. In the main event will the featherweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire defending against the red-hot Emmanuel Sanchez. In the co main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis will take on Russian fighter Vadim Nemkov .
 
Both Pitbull and Sanchez are two of Bellator’s top homegrown fighters. For Pitbull, he’s been with the promotion since 2010 and fought 19 times resulting in him holding the record for most wins (14) and finishes (10) in Bellator history. Sanchez joined in 2014 where he’s fought 11 times since.

The two-time champion Pitbull has had a total of seven title fights so far and they’ve been fought against only three different opponents.

In April 2017, Pitbull won back the title from his rival Daniel Straus that he had lost in 2015. Pitbull successfully defended the crown last month in a rematch against another rival in Germany’s Daniel Weichel.

Amassing a 9-2 record in Bellator (17-3 overall), Sanchez has been must-see TV and is finally getting his due.
Having racked up four straight victories with the most recent two coming via submissions over Sam Sicilia and the former champion Straus, Sanchez has more than proved that he’s ready for his shot. Before the Straus win, he also defeated another former champion in Marcos Galvao.

Davis (19-4, 1 NC) signed with Bellator in 2015 after several years as a top-10 fighter in the UFC. “Mr. Wonderful” won Bellator’s one-night 205-pound tournament, then bested Muhammed Lawal by decision to earn a title shot against Liam McGeary. Davis dispatched the Brit by decision to capture Bellator gold, but his reign was short-lived, as Ryan Bader beat him by split decision, just as he did when they were both under the UFC banner. Davis, 33, has won his past two fights, most recently score a head kick knockout against Linton Vassell in April at Bellator 200.

Nemkov (9-2) is currently riding a four-fight win streak with victories over Mikołaj Różanski, Alison Vicente, Philipe Lins and Liam McGeary in his last fight, all wins coming via first round knockout. Eight of his nine career wins have come that way.

Vadim's bigget test to date against Phil Davis. I will be pulling for him.

CDF47 wrote:Vadim's bigget test to date against Phil Davis.  I will be pulling for him.

Agree. It would also potentially lead to a fresh LHW Title fight.

Good move from Bellator as Davis is a good test for Nemkov and Sanchez deserves this title shot.

I agree Sanchez definitely deserves a shot at the belt and Phil will be the biggest test for vadim if he wins he should get the next crack at the title it will be a tough task

Rocksoldier84 wrote:

CDF47 wrote:Vadim's bigget test to date against Phil Davis.  I will be pulling for him.

Agree. It would also potentially lead to a fresh LHW Title fight.

True. He would become an instant top contender for Bader's belt.

westcott123 wrote:I agree Sanchez definitely deserves a shot at the belt and Phil will be the biggest test for vadim if he wins he should get the next crack at the title it will be a tough task

Agreed. I hope Vadim can pull this off.

Ryan Couture vs. Haim Gozali 2, Cindy Dandois vs. Olga Rubin set for Bellator's return to Israel

A member of Team Renzo Gracie, Gozali returns to the Bellator cage for the fifth time in his 20-year career. The Israeli fighter will once again fight Ryan Couture on Nov. 15, following a three-round thriller at Bellator 180 last summer. Fighting out of Bat Yam, Israel, "Batman" favors events on home turf, notching two opening round submission wins in each of his las two bouts inside Menora Mivtachim Arena. Now, with seven of his eight career victories coming by way of submission, the former Israeli army soldier hopes to keep his rematch with Couture out of the judges' hands.

Couture looks to duplicate the success he had in his first matchup with Gozali, when he picked up a unanimous decision win inside Madison Square Garden last June. A veteran of UFC and STRIKEFORCE, Couture has appeared six times in the Bellator cage and will make the jump back up to welterweight in hopes of collecting the 12th win of his career.A member of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, the Seattle native will look to play the role of spoiler to Gozali when the two rematch in Tel Aviv.

Israeli women's featherweight Olga Rubin steps back inside the Bellator cage for the third time to put her undefeated streak on the line in her home country. With her previous promotional victories at Bellator 164 and Bellator 188 coming via TKO, "Big Bad" has developed a reputation as one of the more dangerous prospects in the division. She is now set to take on UFC and Invicta FC veteran Cindy Dandois, who owns career wins over Marloes Coenen, Jorina Baars and Megan Anderson. Training out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, "Battlecat" is currently riding a four-fight win streak, which includes a victorious appearance in RIZIN.

This is already coming up this weekend.

This is such a big test for Vadim. If he can finish in fashion he could fly up the rankings. What a test though he has here.

Vadim won!

That is a big feather in his cap i think vadim should get the shot at the belt next year he did beat the number 2 guy in the division.

westcott123 wrote:That is a big feather in his cap i think vadim should get the shot at the belt next year he did beat the number 2 guy in the division.

I agree. He should be next in line.

How would a fight between vadim and Ryan go?

Pitbull has to be one of the greatest featherweight ever 28_4 overall 16-4 in one of the biggest promotions on earth multiple time champion.

westcott123 wrote:How would a fight between vadim and Ryan go?

Pitbull has to be one of the greatest featherweight ever 28_4 overall 16-4 in one of the biggest promotions on earth multiple time champion.

I think it would be a great fight I'd like to see. I think if Vadim could keep it standing and even land take downs against Davis, he could probably do the same against Bader. From there he might be able to take him on the feet.

Yeah, Pitbull has been up there for a while. He wants to fight Jose Aldo to claim the right, I think they said during the broadcast the other night.

http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/patricio-pitbull-would-beat-jose-aldo.3017625/

Old one on Pitbull wanting to fight aldo lol it is amazing seeing those ufc zombies getting their g strings in a twist anytime a champion from another organisation says i can beat whomever the ufc champion is at the time.

The way they carry on it's blasphemy when someone says that.

westcott123 wrote:http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/patricio-pitbull-would-beat-jose-aldo.3017625/

Old one on Pitbull wanting to fight aldo lol it is amazing seeing those ufc zombies getting their g strings in a twist anytime a champion from another organisation says i can beat whomever the ufc champion is at the time.

The way they carry on it's blasphemy when someone says that.

Oh wow, he did say that a while ago. I forgot about that. He said it again recently from the commentary of the Bellator bout. I think Michael Goldberg said he wants to show who the best Brazilian fighter is.

CDF47 wrote:

westcott123 wrote:How would a fight between vadim and Ryan go?, 

Pitbull has to be one of the greatest featherweight ever 28_4 overall 16-4 in one of the biggest promotions on earth multiple time champion.

I think it would be a great fight I'd like to see.  I think if Vadim could keep it standing and even land take downs against Davis, he could probably do the same against Bader.  From there he might be able to take him on the feet.  

Yeah, Pitbull has been up there for a while.  He wants to fight Jose Aldo to claim the right, I think they said during the broadcast the other night.

Yep Jose aldo is the goat featherweight Pitbull is up there along with urijah faber.

westcott123 wrote:

CDF47 wrote:

westcott123 wrote:How would a fight between vadim and Ryan go?, 

Pitbull has to be one of the greatest featherweight ever 28_4 overall 16-4 in one of the biggest promotions on earth multiple time champion.

I think it would be a great fight I'd like to see.  I think if Vadim could keep it standing and even land take downs against Davis, he could probably do the same against Bader.  From there he might be able to take him on the feet.  

Yeah, Pitbull has been up there for a while.  He wants to fight Jose Aldo to claim the right, I think they said during the broadcast the other night.

Yep Jose aldo is the goat featherweight Pitbull is up there along with urijah faber.

Agreed.