5 Bold MMA Predictions for the Month of October

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October is a pretty action-packed month across the sport of MMA. The headline is the UFC, as always, and its two events. However, Bellator and ONE Fighting Championship, among other promotions, also have interesting cards lined up.

Are you ready for some bold predictions about the month to come in MMA? Can you handle the wild speculation I'm about to dish out? Here it comes.

Bold Prediction 1: Jay Hieron Will Shock Jake Ellenberger

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Jay Hieron is a cagey dude who has been in the fight game for almost a decade. His only loss in the last five years came to Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren. He's a smart fighter who will have a plan to neutralize Ellenberger's power.

How do I know that? It's happened before.

He cornered Martin Kampmann for Kampmann's recent win over Ellenberger. Oh yeah, and he handed Ellenberger his first professional loss back in 2006.

Bold Prediction 2: Jon Fitch Stops the Erick Silva Hype Train

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Jon Fitch isn't the world's most popular fighter, but like it or not, he's one of the world's elite welterweights.

Fast-rising young buck Erick Silva will learn that the hard way at UFC 153, when Fitch will slowly grind away Silva's will to live. Nasty.

Bold Prediction 3: Welcome to the Octagon, Eddie Alvarez

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The Bellator lightweight has one more fight on his contract with that promotion, which is scheduled to take place on October 12 at Bellator 76.

It's a stiff test in Patricky Freire, but Alvarez will pass that test and proceed directly to the UFC.

Bold Prediction 4: Melvin Manhoef Gets KO, Second Consecutive W

Knockout artist Melvin Manhoef has fallen on hard times of late. Before taking a split decision over Jae Young Kim in September, he had been winless in his last four engagements.

With that being said, he's still 25-9-1 overall with an incredible 23 victories by T/KO. It will be vintage Manhoef on October 6 at ONE FC 6, when he tangles with Ryo Kawamura.