Bellator's Spartan Returns to Re-Claim the Welterweight Crown!

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SteemSports Presenter:@brandonk

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SteemSports Editor/Writer:@scottybuckets

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Andrey 'Spartan' Korshekov:

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Andrey is one of the few dominant welterweights in Bellator's most stacked division. He has always been considered a top 10 fighter at 170 pounds, and he only lost the championship belt a few months ago. With only 2 losses in 21 fights, Koreshkov has shown to be incredibly well rounded and strong. Ben Askren and Douglas Lima are both world class in their particular skill sets (of grappling and striking), and each had had to plan carefully around Spartan's size and strength.

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'AK' loves the arm bar transition, and he throws the most unorthodox of strikes with fight ending intention. Sturdy wrestlers in Burrell and (former UFC champion and lineal lightweight) Benson Henderson experienced the drudge of Koreshkov's powerful knees and aggressive top pressure. Spartan is massive fighter with unlimited potential, he simply gets over confident in the cage at times and it can cost him. We should expect a full form Koreshkov this main event, one who is hungry to get his title back!

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Chidi 'Bang Bang' Njokuani:

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The younger and more refined Njokuani brother, he is a true whirlwind of attrition and striking prowess. The less prolific brother (in terms of losing fights), Chidi brings in a real muay thai offense which has shown him 17 victories in legitimate organizations (such as 'RFA' and now Bellator). He has climbed his way back from tough defeats against former UFC staple Brandon Thatch, and he also possesses wins over two current top 20 UFC welterweights in Alan Jouban and Max Griffin.

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Chidi has always lingered outside the top 15 globally, but he is just now finding his rhythm and making most use of his size. His last performance against (a somewhat tattered and broken) Melvin Guillard cemented his place as a legit threat to any 170 pounder, and we can look forward to his best performance yet!

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Breakdown and Prediction:

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'Bang Bang' is truly one of the best nicknames regarding Chidi's name, but that is about all the praise I can give him in this scenario. This feels like a set up fight for Koreshkov to get back in the running, and face a contender in Larkin or MacDonald next. I can see Andrey hanging with Chidi on the feet, and that is a problem as Chidi has no answer to Spartan's ground capabilities. Koreshkov is incredibly well rounded, he simply lacks an elite skill set.

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'Bang Bang' will most likely get the better of 'Spartan in most exchanges, but tasting a jab will lead Korsehkov into a double leg. I can see Koreshkov attaining the back and submitting the lanky striker, but the durability and length of Njokuani will cause problems early...and I see a forced 15 minute fight from these warriors Bellator's main events are not 25 minutes as the UFC's are, but this changes nothing (at least for this battle).

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Andrey Koreshkov by Unanimous Decision

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