Bellator 78 Welterweight Tournament Discussion

October 26th 2012
Nutter Center - Dayton, OH



Welterweight Tournament Semifinal

Michail Tsarev vs Lyman Good
Andrey Koreshkov vs Marius Zaromskis

Who has the easier Semi Final bout?
Who will finish their opponent in impressive fashion?
Which fight will be a war?
Who has the most tool going in to the semifinals?
Which fighter is on the rise?
Which tow fighters will go on to the finals?

Lets get this going guys

Good is too big and too strong for Tsarev. Either a unanimous dec or late round stoppage for Good. Koreshkov will probably outpoint Zaromskis to a unanimous decision. I like Koreshkov but I don't like his chances against Good in the finals.

Zaromskis will headkick his way to the title fight.

P4P

I think Zaromskis and Good make it to finals. I think Good takes this but I'm hoping Zaromskis wins the tournament via head kicks and somersault kicks.

I just don't see Zaromskis getting a win unless he pulls out something spectacular, Koreshkov's striking is just so much more refined and accurate.

rooting for my fellow puertorrican lyman good.....well he is a newyorican but his mom is puertorrican, either way, rooting for him

Three more days! Can't wait.

Y'all got me feeling so uneducated! I only know two of the guys in the tournament. Got some research and fight watching to do!

Mikal wrote:Three more days! Can't wait.

Y'all got me feeling so uneducated! I only know two of the guys in the tournament. Got some research and fight watching to do!

welcome to the board, brethren!

you'll learn a lot here, so don't feel too out of the loop.

wekka wrote:

Mikal wrote:Three more days! Can't wait.

Y'all got me feeling so uneducated! I only know two of the guys in the tournament. Got some research and fight watching to do!

welcome to the board, brethren!

you'll learn a lot here, so don't feel too out of the loop.

haha it's crazy. Came over from Linker where it's all what UFC fighter tweeted what to who or who Jon Jones is fighting next. Refreshing to see all this real MMA discussion!

Thanks

Mikal wrote:

wekka wrote:

Mikal wrote:Three more days! Can't wait.

Y'all got me feeling so uneducated! I only know two of the guys in the tournament. Got some research and fight watching to do!

welcome to the board, brethren!

you'll learn a lot here, so don't feel too out of the loop.

haha it's crazy. Came over from Linker where it's all what UFC fighter tweeted what to who or who Jon Jones is fighting next. Refreshing to see all this real MMA discussion!

Thanks

Mikal's a long-time Linker member. I used to see him around there a fair bit. I can't quite remember but he must be pretty reasonable guy because we never crossed horns. Unlike the MANY that wanted to assassinate me there over the years.

Welcome Mikal! Glad to have your here.

Just like me and Johan... most here are on the 'complete' opposite side of the MMA political spectrum as 90%+++ of North American MMA fans. Most are not MMA fans really...right??? Their ONLY UFC fans. You could say (for the most part) we don't support Dana Wight, the Fertittas or the business of Zuffa and the UFC. We do watch UFC fights and luv the fighters. We just have big issues against the the UFC as a business and the owners of the company. Simple as that.

We follow ALL MMA wherever it is around the globe. ALL organizations and ALL fighters. Professional or amateur. We are not closed-minded here. I don't think any of us make our opinions based on MMA information coming from one single source... or sources that are dependent on a single MMA organization for their survival. That wouldn't be fair & balanced information.

G-MMA was also founded to be a bit of an occupy movement opposed to Zuffa and their quest to dominate world-wide major professional MMA. We don't think would be good for the fans, the fighters, or the sport itself.

So if new members feel OK with all that... that's great. If the aren't comfortable with that... then it probably isn't a good fit for them. And that's OK too.

Check out the forum rules...

https://global-mma.forumotion.com/t134-forum-rules-must-read


Good to have you aboard.


Dagwood
Admin

Dagwood wrote:

Just like me and Johan... most here are on the 'complete' opposite side of the MMA political spectrum as 90%+++ of North American MMA fans. Most are not MMA fans really...right??? Their ONLY UFC fans. You could say (for the most part) we don't support Dana Wight, the Fertittas or the business of Zuffa and the UFC. We do watch UFC fights and luv the fighters. We just have big issues against the the UFC as a business and the owners of the company. Simple as that.

We follow ALL MMA wherever it is around the globe. ALL organizations and ALL fighters. Professional or amateur. We are not closed-minded here. I don't think any of us make our opinions based on MMA information coming from one single source... or sources that are dependent on a single MMA organization for their survival. That wouldn't be fair & balanced information.

Exactly what I came here for. I still watch every UFC event and follow its fighters on a daily basis, I just don't care as much about what they tweeted to each other, who Dana White called a "fucking idiot" or more discussion on who would win in a Jones vs Silva fight anymore. I'd much rather spend my time learning about the other MMA organizations around the globe, see new prospects grow as fighters, and see fighters from other countries fight that I wouldn't otherwise get to watch.

Good to see ya again, Dagwood! I believe it was Johan that messaged me on Linker telling me about this place after having a conversation with him in one of his threads ^^

Mikal wrote:Three more days! Can't wait.

Y'all got me feeling so uneducated! I only know two of the guys in the tournament. Got some research and fight watching to do!

Welcome bro! Bellator tourneys are awesome and the´re only getting better. It would be cool to hear what you think about our rankings and if you have any suggestions for changes until next month.

https://global-mma.forumotion.com/t3536-global-mma-rankings-outside-zuffa-october-2012#25434

I´m rooting for Tsarev against Good. The russian is 24-2 with 19 submissions and 3 T(KO) wins.

Johan Lofgren wrote:I´m rooting for Tsarev against Good. The russian is 24-2 with 19 submissions and 3 T(KO) wins.

going with my puertorrican fellow lyman good...but its close

Bellator 78's Marius Zaromskis hopes tourney win reunites him with wife

Marius Zaromskis has put a little pressure on himself to win the Bellator welterweight tournament.

More than a fat $100,000 check and a title shot are on the line for the Lithuanian. Those surely are important. But Zaromskis wouldn't complain if a tourney win allowed him to get his wife to the United States.

Right now, Zaromskis lives in the U.S. while training, and his wife? She's in the U.K, where she can only watch his fights online.

Zaromskis (19-6 MMA, 3-0 BFC) on Friday faces Andrey Koreshkov (11-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC) in the semifinals of Bellator's Season 7 170-pound tournament, which takes place at Bellator 78 at utter Center in Fairborn, Ohio. The main card airs on MTV2 following prelims on Spike.com.

"My dream is to have my wife finally living with me in December after this tournament," Zaromskis said. "I want to win the tournament, and then that will enable me to move my wife here and we can finally be together."

Zaromskis, a former DREAM welterweight champ and Strikeforce welterweight title challenger, had to get past Nordine Taleb at Bellator 74 a month ago in the tournament's opening round. And that fight, his wife apparently watched online with a little concern.

"My wife was very excited for me after my win over Nordine Taleb," Zaromskis said. "I took some hard kicks, so she just wanted to make sure I was all right. I don't think she'll ever get used to seeing me get hit."

He might get hit against Koreshkov, and he knows it. Only one of the unbeaten Russian's 11 wins – his opening-round victory over Jordan Smith – has gone the distance. Of his 10 stoppages, seven are by knockout or TKO.

But Zaromskis, who has won five straight since a decision loss to Jordan Mein in June 2011, believes he has the edge against Koreshkov when it comes to their hands.

"I think I can knock out anybody if I land the perfect shot, and Andrey Koreshkov is no special exception," he said.

But he doesn't stop there. Ground game? He'll take an edge there, too, thank you very much, and he believes he owes that to his training at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif.

"I think my wrestling is better than Koreshkov's," Zaromskis said. "I also think my standup is better. I think I'm better all around. The difference between me and the other guys Andrey Koreshkov has beaten through his career is that I have had tougher and bigger fights. I think I have more experience than most of his previous opponents.

"Andrey Koreshkov and I both like to strike, but I'm training at AKA where there are many really good wrestlers, so I'm ready to take the fight anywhere."

Perhaps the one area Zaromskis believes his opponent might have an advantage, though, is the mental side of the sport. Or at the very least, he acknowledges that Koreshkov might be a threat in one key way.

"He is undefeated, so that already makes him dangerous because he doesn't know how to lose yet," Zaromskis said. "He's also tall, so he has a reach advantage. But I'm not concerned with what he's good at. I'm only concerned with what I'm good at.

"I will win this fight."

If he does, he'll be one step closer to his wife hoping he doesn't get hit from cageside instead of on a live stream.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/31279/more-than-a-tournament-finals-berth-on-the-line-for-bellator-78s-marius-zaromskis.mma

Bellator 78 weigh-in results: Season 7 welterweight semifinals official

Four fighters are one step closer to their shot at Bellator Fighting Championships' 170-pound title, as the company's season 7 welterweight tournament semifinalists all made weight for Friday's Bellator 78 event.

All four semifinalists, including Russian submission specialist Michail Tsarev and former champion Lyman Good, made weight on their first trip to scale.

Thursday's ceremony took place at the Wright Room at the Holiday Inn Dayton/Fairborn in Fairborn, Ohio. The nearby Nutter Center hosts Friday's event, which includes a main card on MTV2 and prelims on Spike.com.

Tsarev boasts an 11-fight win streak, and he's hoping a tournament win could vault him into international prominence.

"For me, it would mean a lot," Tsarev said through an interpreter. "It would mean the next step in my career. I trained very hard, and I hope the best fighter will win tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Good is hoping for a chance to regain the title he lost in 2010 to current champ Ben Askren

"I know that's going to be one step closer to me getting what I really want," Good said of a potential Bellator 78 win. "But I'm only focused on [Tsarev] right now, and that's all that's in my head."

In addition to the featured tournament participants, all 20 of the night's fighters made weight without issue. Additionally, there was one late change to the preliminary card, David Blattman replaced Jake Nauracy and now meets Justin McNally in a 140-pound catchweight fight.

The full Bellator 78 weigh-ins included:

MAIN CARD

Lyman Good (170.5) vs. Michail Tsarev (171) - welterweight-tourney semifinals
Andrey Koreshkov (170.5) vs. Marius Zaromskis (170.5) - welterweight-tourney semifinals
Alvin Robinson (145) vs. Daniel Straus (145.5)
Brian Rogers (185) vs. Dominique Steele (184.5)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Shaun Asher (183) vs. Jason Butcher (184)
Zoila Gurgel (123.5) vs. Casey Noland (125.5)
Billy Horne (184) vs. Trey Houston (185)
Jared Combs (184.5) vs. Mikkel Parlo (185.5)
Rocky Edwards (155) vs. Rob Hanna (154)
David Blattman (139) vs. Justin McNally (138)

http://mmajunkie.com/news/31297/bellator-78-weigh-in-results-season-7-welterweight-semifinals-official.mma

After first trip to scorecards, Bellator 78's Andrey Koreshkov finding his way in America

Like several of his countrymen making their Bellator debuts, Russian Andrey Koreshkov found out American competition was no joke.

A meeting with Jordan Smith in the opening round of the Season 7 welterweight tournament proved his toughest engagement to date.

"It was the first time I fought for the whole three rounds, and it was a tough three rounds," Koreshkov said. "It was good that I could feel that type of pressure."

Koreshkov (11-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC) now meets Marius Zaromskis (19-6 MMA, 3-0 BFC) in the tournament semifinals, which takes place Friday at Bellator 78 at Nutter Center in Fairborn, Ohio. Main-card fights air on MTV2 following prelims on Spike.com.

Koreshkov's teammate Alexander Sarnavskiy, who was touted as the centerpiece of an influx of Russian talent in Bellator, was upset at Bellator 77 this past Friday when UFC vet Rich Clementi handed him his first professional loss in 21 fights.

Koreshkov managed to protect his undefeated ledger against Smith, an occasional training partner of UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva's, but it wasn't easy.

"(Trainer) Alexander Shlemenko told me that I fought well and that fighting for three rounds was a good experience for me, so now I know how it feels in a real fight, not just in training," Koreshkov said. "He also told me that it made me stronger, and in the future I would be that much more prepared for a grueling three-round fight."

The Russians have sought to acclimate themselves to the level of competition by traveling to the U.S. with two-time Bellator tournament winner Shlemenko as part of the RusFighters team. They've been able to train with a variety of camps in preparation for the Bellator tournament.

Koreshkov said he constantly feels a responsibility to represent his team and country well. After all, they are now able to watch him.

"My whole family, all my relatives and friends, had this chance to watch my fight live on (TV station) Russia 2," said Koreshkov of the recent deal that brought Bellator to his home country. "I think it is great that not just my close ones, but all Russian people have this chance to watch us compete so far away from home and support us."

Zaromskis brings the most high-level experience of any opponent Koreshkov has faced. A onetime Strikeforce welterweight challenger and former DREAM champ, the Lithuanian has won three straight in the Bellator cage (though two of his wins came against opponent Waachiim Spiritwolf) and taken residence with the famed American Kickboxing Academy.

"Marius Zaromskis will be the best striker I have fought so far in my career," Koreshkov said. "However, in training, I have a chance to spar with great guys. I don't think that after working with my guys that Marius Zaromskis will be able to surprise me with anything. I watched a lot of his previous fights, and I'm sure we'll have a very exciting fight for the fans.

"If I'm able to knock Marius out in this fight, I would be very happy."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/31290/after-first-trip-to-scorecards-bellator-78s-andrey-koreshkov-finding-his-way-in-america.mma

Bellator 78's Lyman Good calls current champ Askren 'a gatekeeper for the belt'

Like most opponents in his position, Bellator's inaugural welterweight champ Lyman Good found himself smothered by Ben Askren.

Good ceded his belt to the standout wrestler two years ago and has since worked to shore up his weaknesses in grappling.

Now, he's confident a second meeting would go much differently, and he's working to make a rematch a reality with a win over Michail Tsarev in the semifinals of Bellator's season 7 tournament, which takes place Friday at Bellator 78.

"Askren is like the gatekeeper for the belt," Good said.

Good (13-2 MMA, 6-2 BFC) and Tsarev (24-2 MMA, 1-0 BFC) meet on the MTV2-televised main card of the event, which takes place at Nutter Center in Fairfield, Ohio. Preliminary-card fights stream on Spike.com.

Good stumbled in his first try at a rematch with Askren, losing by split decision to Season 4 finalist Rick Hawn. Now back in his third Bellator tournament, he started on the right foot with a dominant decision over Brit Jim Wallhead in the opening round of this season's competition.

Since the setback to Askren, he's obsessed over the loss to the outspoken champion, watching the fight so many times that he memorized its commentary.

"More importantly, I've watched it enough to get what I needed to learn from it," Good said. "I've learned and gained from my fight against Ben Askren. It was a blessing in disguise and a process that helped me to become a better fighter."

Askren, meanwhile, has continued to dominate the Bellator field, twice defending his welterweight title against the likes of Jay Hieron and Douglas Lima. While acknowledging his skill set to be rudimentary, the champ said he felt no pressure to change his style despite diligent work to improve his standup skills.

For Good, sharpened grappling chops should come in handy against Tsarev, who was less than transparent about his desire to smother opponent Tim Welch in the opening round of the tournament. After multiple submission attempts, he got Welch's back and secured a rear-naked choke.

Good can't compete with Askren when it comes to mat accolades, but he isn't worried that another smothering is in store against the Russian.

"Avoiding ground game is not my priority in this fight," he said. "It just enhances my ability to win. My only goal is to win. But with given opportunity, this fight will end early. Michail probably plans on submitting me, and I'm planning on knocking him out."

With a win on Friday, Good takes one step closer to a rematch with Askren, who is next scheduled to fight Season 6 tourney winner Karl Amoussou.

"It's not about the revenge, it's about regaining opportunity again," Good said. "Askren is just the one who happens to be standing in the way."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/31264/bellator-78s-lyman-good-calls-current-champ-askren-a-gatekeeper-for-the-belt.mma

So it's Andrey Koreshkov vs Lyman Good in the welterweight Finals This will be a very Interesting Final.

I expect it to be very action packed and a very violent battle

on a side note that ref is not qualified to oversee a match again because that could have been fatal

The ref's name is Jerry Poe and the Ohio State Athletic Commission should blacklist him from MMA events.

Koreshkov was a beast. Hoping he takes out Good but Good is a huge WW.

I feel sorry for Tsarev. He got f#cking eye poked and the ref didn´t understand.