Bellator LXII: Preview and Predictions

Bellator LXII comes to you live this Friday night on MTV 2 from Laredo, Texas. 

Featured on the night's card was to be a rematch of last season's heavyweight tournament final between Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle. The match was a no contest, as Santos kicked Prindle in the testicles, leaving him unable to continue. We now know that this will not be the main event, due to Thiago Santos missing weight.

Also on the night's card is the quarterfinals of the lightweight tournament. The lightweight tournament contains tournament veterans, as well as newcomers, which should make it an interesting night of fights.

Sonny Luque vs. Luis Vega

The first scrap is in the welterweight division, squaring off Sonny Luque and Luis Vega.

Sonny Luque is the hometown favorite here, as he is from Laredo. Luque is very inexperienced in his career, holding a 1-2 professional record. In both losses, Luque has surrendered via submission, which may be the key here for his opponent.

Luis Vega has a little more experience, as he holds a 7-2 record. He may hold the advantage here, as he owns three submission victories to his name. He also has two knockouts, showing he is well rounded.

Prediction: Vega def. Luque via submission

Rad Martinez vs. Douglas Frey

In the next fight of the night, Douglas Frey steps into the cage to meet Rad Martinez, most known for his appearance on ESPN's Outside the Lines.

Douglas Frey is a long time Shark Fights veteran, which is an advantage in that he has seen solid competition. Frey is 10-7, finishing all but one of his opponents. He has fought notables Doug Evans, Daniel Pineda and Joseph Sandoval in his time as a pro fighter.

Standing opposite of Frey is Rad Martinez, an impressive lightweight holding an 11-2 overall record. He fights for the second time in Bellator, with the first fight resulting in a victory over Brian van Hoven. Martinez is a strong wrestler, using takedowns and a heavy top attack to win fights.

Prediction: Martinez def. Frey via decision

Joseph Daily vs. Sean Spencer

We move to the next fight on the card, which sees Texas native Joseph Daily take on Sean Spencer.

Joseph Daily is 4-2 in his career, finishing all of his opponents by submission or knockout. Interestingly enough, Daily's only two losses in his career have come by split decision, showing he was more than competitive in those fights. This will be his Bellator debut.

Sean Spencer is 7-1 in his career, holding victories over Bellator veterans Derrick Krantz and Eric Scallan. Most of Spencer's wins have come by decision, though he does have three finishes. This will also be his Bellator debut.

Prediction: Spencer def. Daily via decision

Steven Peterson vs. Chris Jones

Next up is a matchup in which fellow Texans Steven Peterson and Chris Jones fight for turf bragging rights.

Steven Peterson makes his first Bellator appearance since Bellator 27, where he was victorious in just his second career pro bout. Now with a record of 6-1, the 21-year-old, who owns four stoppage victories, looks to chalk up another one.

Opposite of Peterson is Chris Jones, who is also 6-1 in his career. He owns four knockout victories, which is a tribute to his power striking. He is currently riding a five-fight winning streak as well, which shows he will have momentum.

Prediction: Peterson def. Jones via submission

Dave Jansen vs. Jacob Kirwan

In the most intriguing bout on the undercard, WEC veteran Dave Jansen looks to take out the underrated Jacob Kirwan.

Since exiting the WEC, Dave Jansen has put together a two-fight winning streak under the Bellator banner. Jansen is 16-2, holding 10 of his wins by way of submission. He has notably defeated Rich Crunkilton and Scott McAfee.

Meanwhile, Jacob Kirwan makes his sophomore appearance with Bellator, after a successful debut against this year's lightweight tournament participant Rene Nazare.

Though he has fought such notables as Jim Hettes and Marcos Galvao, the Nazare win was by far his best victory to date. Kirwan is 9-3, with five wins coming from tapout.

Prediction: Jansen def. Kirwan via submission 

JJ Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman

The first lightweight quarterfinal of the night comes when tournament veteran Brent Weedman takes on The Ultimate Fighter veteran JJ Ambrose.

Brent Weedman made it to the semifinals of last season's welterweight tournament, falling to eventual tournament champion Jay Hieron.

Now at lightweight, the 18-7 Weedman looks to try and find a new weight class to make a run in. Weedman has finished all but one of his opponents in his career, but he is currently riding a two-fight losing streak.

JJ Ambrose makes his Bellator debut in the tournament, and he holds an impressive 17-3 record. Currently on a seven-fight win streak, Ambrose has 13 finishes in his 17 wins. Ambrose is an intriguing prospect, who could be a dark horse in this year's tournament.

Prediction: Weedman def. Ambrose via decision

Thiago Michel vs. Rene Nazare

The second lightweight tournament bout sees fellow Brazilians Rene Nazare and Thiago Michel square off to earn a spot in the semifinals.

Rene Nazare is 10-1 in his career, suffering his first career loss in his latest bout against Jacob Kirwan. The talented grappler is no stranger to the Bellator cage, having fought for the promotion almost a dozen times. It would be wise for Nazare to get the fight to the ground as soon as possible.

Thiago Michel is an extremely gifted striker holding a 9-2 record. All of his wins have come by knockout, while all of his losses have come via submission. Michel needs to keep the fight standing to win here.

This is a perfect example of a striker vs. grappler match, and whoever can get the fight where they are most comfortable will win.

Prediction: Michel def. Nazare in my upset special of the night.

Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni

In the third of four lightweight quarterfinals, we see Olympic judo player Rick Hawn take on Brazilian Ricardo Tirloni.

Rick Hawn is another welterweight tournament veteran dropping to lightweight for this season. Hawn is 11-1 with seven wins by knockout. He has used his judo effectively in his fights, using throws, trips and grappling prowess to knock off opponents.

In last year's welterweight tournament, Hawn was the runner up to Jay Hieron, which will only drive him to fight harder this time around.

Ricardo Tirloni is a well-rounded Brazilian fighter taking his second fight with the promotion. He was victorious in his debut over Steve Gable, winning via submission. At 14-1, the Brazilian has finished 12 of his opponents by knockout or submission.

Prediction: Hawn def. Tirloni via knockout

Patricky Friere vs. Lloyd Woodard

In the last of the quarterfinals of the night, tournament veterans Patricky Freire and Lloyd Woodard are scheduled to fight for the final spot in the lightweight tournament.

Patricky Freire looked to be unstoppable in last year's tournament, beating Rob McCullough and Toby Imade by knockout on way to the finals. There, he was defeated by current champion Michael Chandler for the tournament title. Freire is 10-2, holding a win over Kurt Pelligrino in his latest outing.

Meanwhile the vastly underrated Lloyd Woodard looks to erase the memory of last season's semifinal loss to Michael Chandler, after beating up a game Carey Vanier in the quarterfinals.

"Cupcake" is 11-1, finishing nine of his opponents by knockout or submission. He take a big step up in competition when he faces Freire.

Prediction: Freire def. Woodard via knockout

Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos

A rematch from last season's heavyweight final takes place when Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos meet. The first fight ended in a no contest when Santos kicked Prindle below the belt and above the knees, rendering Prindle unable to continue.

Unfortunately, this fight will not serve as the main event, as Thiago Santos failed to make weight. Bellator has now decided that Eric Prindle is the heavyweight tournament champion for season five and will fight Cole Konrad later this season.