Bellator 133: Preview and Predictions for Main Card

The UFC has a show this weekend. World Series of Fighting has a show this weekend. Bellator has a show this weekend.

It's a busy weekend, MMA fans.

Bellator 133 comes to you live Friday on Spike TV and hosts a fun night of fights. The card is headlined by middleweight standouts Melvin Manhoef and Alexander Shlemenko, who should put on an entertaining striking affair.

Also on the card are names such as Pat Curran, Julia Budd and Chris Honeycutt. 

Let's take a look at the card and make some predictions. 

Julia Budd vs. Gabrielle Holloway

Kicking off the main card will be the female featherweights. Julia Budd, ranked No. 2 in MMARising.com's women's featherweight rankings, will look to boost her stock when she meets replacement fighter Gabrielle Holloway. Holloway fills in for Talita Nogueira, who suffered an injury a couple of weeks before this event.

Budd is a talented fighter who is physically imposing, well-rounded and scary overall. She is strong like a bull and has a good takedown game, which she uses to get to her ferocious top game filled with horrific ground-and-pound and underrated submissions.

Since losing to Ronda Rousey in 2011, Budd has been perfect in taking on some tough fighters at 145. She finished Elina Nilsson, Danielle West and Mollie Estes before besting Charmaine Tweet in her most recent outing.

The Canadian takes on Holloway, a talented boxer with a decorated amateur career and a strong start to her pro career. She has expanded on her boxing talent to add submissions and is improving with each fight.

Other than a blemish to Latoya Walker, Holloway has looked good thus far. She most recently fought last month, finishing Lacie Jackson with strikes to get back into the win column.

Budd is one of the best females in the game right now, especially at featherweight. Holloway will struggle with Budd on this late-notice affair. The Canadian will impose her will and make it a long 15 minutes for Holloway. 

Prediction: Budd def. Holloway via decision

Chris Honeycutt vs. Clayton MacFarlane

A pair of undefeated prospects are set to lock horns next. Chris Honeycutt will put his 5-0 record on the line against 4-0 West Coast regional vet Clayton MacFarlane.

Honeycutt is a power wrestler who trains with Josh Koscheck, a guy whose style Honeycutt has emulated. He has been incredibly impressive thus far, going to decision just once in five fights and absolutely dominating the competition.

His Bellator debut against UFC veteran Aaron Wilkinson couldn't have gone any better, as Honeycutt quickly grounded and pounded the Brit into oblivion. That's the type of style that makes Honeycutt a name to watch.

As for MacFarlane, the Xplode Fight Series vet takes on his best opponent to date, as the undefeated fighter has yet to prove himself against competitive counterparts. He is also a ground fighter, possessing a good submission game and ground strikes.

Wrestling against Honeycutt will not be a great idea for MacFarlane, as he doesn't have the physical strength or wrestling chops of Honeycutt. He needs to sprawl and brawl in this bout, which may be easier said than done.

This is a showcase fight for Honeycutt, who could be a future title contender at welterweight. He will make this a short night for MacFarlane, putting him on the mat and planting his fist on his chin with a finish. 

Prediction: Honeycutt def. MacFarlane via TKO

Pat Curran vs. Daniel Weichel

Jordan Strauss/Associated Press

The co-main event features the featherweights. Two-time Bellator champion Pat Curran will look to run back toward the title picture when he meets German featherweight tournament winner Daniel Weichel.

Curran is a well-rounded fighter and a top-20 featherweight in the world, according to MMAJunkie. In addition to a good wrestling base, Curran is a skilled boxer who also utilizes underrated kicks and knees to damage opponents.

He has shuffled between wins and losses in his last four. He submitted both Shahbulat Shamhalaev and Daniel Straus but took decision discrepancies at the hands of Straus and Patricio Freire.

As for Weichel, the German is a submission artist with a sparkly ground game and the aggression to bring everything together. He is known for his chokes, as he has an anaconda-like grip when he grabs the neck.

He is 3-0 in Bellator, which was his run in the featherweight tournament. He beat Scott Cleve, Matt Bessette and Des Green to earn a title shot but was not given it due to the transition away from the tournament format.

Weichel needs to get this to the ground, but he likely doesn't have the wrestling chops to ground Curran. Curran will pick him apart on the feet, and the judges will score it in his favor.

Prediction: Curran def. Weichel via decision

Alexander Shlemenko vs. Melvin Manhoef

It's main event time, and it should be a fun one. Former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko will make his march back to the title picture when he takes on ferocious striker Melvin Manhoef.

Manhoef is a reputed striker who has devastating power and an uncanny ability to knock guys out. He is not much of a ground fighter, instead sticking to headhunting with his meat-hook punches, thunderous kicks and violent knees.

Manhoef was coming off two massive knockouts going into his spotlight fight with Joe Schilling in his last outing. Despite his early success in battering Schilling relentlessly, Manhoef was polished off with a huge punch that had him out before he hit the mat.

As for Shlemenko, the former Bellator champion is a striker who has great body shots, good kicks and heavy hands. He will likely stand and trade with Manhoef in this fight unless he feels his power consistently, in which case he will shoot for a takedown.

Surprisingly, Shlemenko is on a two-fight skid after a huge run during which he looked almost unstoppable. He lost a light heavyweight superfight against Tito Ortiz via submission before he was quickly choked out by Brandon Halsey to drop his title.

This will be a fun fight full of power, technique and overall striking. If Manhoef lands, he can put the Russian away. However, given his chin and cardio, Manhoef will fade and Shlemenko will outpoint him. 

Prediction: Shlemenko def. Manhoef via decision