Overview
The middleweight title is on the line in Bellator 275, as defending champion Gegard Mousasi takes on undefeated challenger Austin Vanderford. Mousasi looks to defend for a second straight fight, and experience could play a factor.
Vanderford was overlooked by the UFC and decided to sign with Bellator even after winning in the Contender Series. This could be an interesting situation for the undefeated challenger.
Most Recent Fights
Both fighters have been fairly active lately and put on great performances. They have earned their respect in the division and will put those skills to the test.
Mousasi:
- Win by split decision against Lyoto Machida
- Win by decision in title fight (claims belt) against Douglas Lima
- Win by TKO in a title fight against John Salter
Vanderford:
- Win by decision against Grachik Bozinyan
- Win by decision against Vinicius de Jesus
- Win by decision against Fabian Edwards
Matchup Information
- Friday, February 25, at 4:00 PM ET
- 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland
Mousasi vs Vanderford Betting Analysis
Gegard Mousasi Betting Analysis
Mousasi has established a 48-7-2 record during his professional career and shows no signs of slowing down. “The Dream Catcher” was once considered a deadly top-five candidate in the UFC before switching to Bellator.
Even with the move to Bellator, he has proven that his experience and ability to knock out opponents carried over to the new promotion. If the fight stays standing, you can safely rely on Mousasi to be the one remaining on his feet.
Austin Vanderford Betting Analysis
Vanderford is as tough as they get when you want a quality opponent to take on a champion. He can fight from anywhere inside the octagon and has faced a variety of talent along the way to prepare him for this fight.
“The Gentleman” will have his hands full, as this is the toughest matchup he has ever faced. A win here is not out of the question, but he needs to execute his plan accordingly if he wants to succeed.
Updates
Vanderford is confident in his game plan to take on Mousasi. He claims that many fighters who have competed against the champ were not good matchups, but he will be different.
Mousasi’s move to Bellator was due to a disagreement in pay with the UFC. He has an opportunity to continue his quest as the best middleweight ever but needs to take care of challenges like this.
Mousasi is the moneyline favorite at -225, while Vanderford is at +185 (odds fluctuate often).
Gegard Mousasi vs Austin Vanderford Betting Preview
Even though Mousasi has gone 11-1 lately, he has struggled against fighters that have controlled the ground. This was apparent when Lovato Jr. took the belt from him while dominating the ground early and often.
In his last battle, Mousasi almost suffered the same fate against Salter. However, Salter was not as well versed on the ground and eventually wore himself out.
Vanderford has earned a lot of respect and his opportunity to fight for the belt. You should expect to see a lot of ground work from him early to give the champ a run for his money.
Mousasi has to see this coming and will most likely make adjustments. If the fight stays on the feet long enough, Mousasi will most likely be able to end it.
Gegard Mousasi vs Austin Vanderford Betting Prediction
Mousasi has some experience on the ground and landing submissions. His forte, though, is to land quality strikes and go for the kill.
This fight should be a close one early on, and Mousasi might have a sense of urgency in the later rounds to finish it. If it goes really well, you could see these two fight again. Mousasi should be able to close it out by the third or fourth round.
Mousasi vs Vanderford Prediction
If you are looking to bet on Bellator 275, you can check out dependable betting sites such as main sportsbooks. The following moneyline for this fight is currently placed at:
Mousasi: -225
Vanderford: +185
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