Bellator 135: Main Card Preview and Predictions

The UFC is off this weekend, which means the rest of the MMA world will be fighting for viewers and ratings. This includes Bellator, which airs a title fight in the main event of its Bellator 135 card this weekend.

Joe Warren will look to defend his title when he rematches Marcos Galvao in the featured bout. Supporting this title bout will be WEC vet LC Davis, as well as UFC veterans Ryan Couture and Francis Carmont.

Who will walk away with victories Friday, and who will need to go back to the drawing board? Let's examine right now.

Preliminary Card Picks

145 pounds: Emmanuel Sanchez def. Alejandro Villalobos via submission

265 pounds: Orlando Coulter def. Jeremiah O'Neal via KO

170 pounds: Tim Roman def. Sean Holden via submission

185 pounds: Neal Ewing def. Logan Nail via submission

145 pounds: Brad Mitchell def. Stephen Banaszak via decision

125 pounds: Klayton Mai def. Xavier Siller via submission

125 pounds: George Pacurariu def. JP Cole via KO

Ryan Couture vs. Dakota Cochrane

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The main card kicks off with the lightweights, as RFA and The Ultimate Fighter 15 veteran Dakota Cochrane looks to derail the son of a legend, Ryan Couture.

Cochrane is a wrestler who likes grappling from the top position and doing damage with his ground-and-pound. That being said, for every step forward he takes, he takes a step back, showing to be wildly inconsistent against his respectable strength of schedule.

He earned a quick knockout of Ted Worthington in his latest outing in December, which reversed two devastating losses to Alexander Sarnavskiy (in Bellator) and Christos Giagos. However, with wins over UFC veterans like Efrain Escudero and Anton Kuivanen, Cochrane can be the most dangerous of adversaries on any given night.

As for Couture, he is also a wrestler, though he also likes to box a bit as well. He is physically strong and thrives in the clinch. He also possesses some good submission skills. 

Since his exit from the UFC, which saw him run a lackluster 0-2 record, Couture has rebounded with three straight submission wins, including his Bellator debut against Tommy Bagnasco. Cochrane will no doubt be one of his toughest challenges, especially since Couture's strength of schedule since his UFC departure has been mediocre at best.

These two match up well against each other. However, the superior clinch and movement on the feet will allow Couture to win a close one, though I wouldn't be surprised if Cochrane pulls it off. 

Prediction: Couture def. Cochrane via decision

Francis Carmont vs. Guilherme Viana

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A light heavyweight bout is afoot next, as UFC veteran and Georges St-Pierre teammate Francis Carmont looks to continue his post-UFC ascension when he takes on unheralded Brazilian Guilherme Viana. 

Carmont is a grinder who is not going to wow you with his exciting style, but he capitalizes on his control and ability to wear on an opponent. He is physically a giant and possesses great strength, which allows him to ragdoll opponents to the mat and against the fence.

He started his UFC career impressively, running a 6-0 record against the likes of Costa Philippou, Tom Lawlor and Magnus Cedenblad. However, three straight losses followed up that streak, which earned him his walking papers. This will be his Bellator debut, where he moves up from middleweight to take on Viana.

As for Viana, he is more of a striker who is known for his finishing ability. This is his first fight outside of Brazil, which could affect him, but he will do fine as many Brazilians in Bellator have before him.

He appeared on the last season of TUF Brazil, where he failed to make the house after falling to eventual winner Antonio Carlos Jr. in the elimination round. However, he has been solid on the Brazil regional scene, earning stoppages in most of his fights.

Viana is a viable light heavyweight, but Carmont's experience and style are a bad matchup for him. Carmont will drag him down on command and wear him out until the judges decide the Frenchman is the winner.

Prediction: Carmont def. Viana via decision 

LC Davis vs. Hideo Tokoro

The co-main event will feature the bantamweights, as WEC veteran LC Davis looks to make a statement and punch a potential title shot in the future against longtime Japanese veteran Hideo Tokoro.

Davis is a wrestler who possesses good speed and explosiveness. He needs to return to that style, as it seems he has fallen in love with stand-up in some of his most recent outings. 

Since 2013, he is 5-1 as a pro, including two wins in Bellator over the likes of Taurean Bogguess and Brazilian prospect Zeilton Rodrigues. He has fought high-quality opponents, which is why he has such an impressive resume.

As for Tokoro, he is a grappler who is known to try to bring the fight down early and often. He has good chokes and joint locks and is constantly searching for submission after submission, which makes him dangerous on the mat.

He is likely on the tail end of his career, as he has been fighting professionally since 2000. He has struggled to stay consistent recently, going 2-4 in his last six.

Tokoro loves a ground fight, and Davis would be willing to engage him given his ability to score takedowns. However, Davis will use wrestling defensively, as he keeps this fight upright and tags Tokoro with punches in bunches. 

Prediction: Davis def. Tokoro via TKO

Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvao

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A five-round championship fight will cap off this card, as Bellator bantamweight champion Joe Warren looks to keep the gold around his waist against Marcos Galvao.

Warren is a wrestler who is constantly looking for the takedown. However, he has diligently been working on his striking, which he has displayed in recent bouts. 

He is unbeaten in his last five bouts, including a four-main tournament where he beat Nick Kirk and Travis Marx, an interim title victory over Rafael Silva and a title-unification victory over former champ Eduardo Dantas. He previously defeated Galvao back in 2011, where he won a unanimous decision over the Brazilian at Bellator 41.

As for Galvao, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is a training partner and teammate of the aforementioned Dantas, making this fight personal for the veteran. Galvao has been an ace for Bellator, winning most of his bouts and putting on jiu-jitsu clinics in the process.

Galvao has lost just once in his last seven fights, beating the likes of Luis Nogueira, Travis Marx and Ed West. He looks to continue that momentum against Warren, in a clash of men who are looking to extend their successes.

Warren's wrestling and likely his superior stand-up make this his bout to lose. He should be able to cruise past Galvao in what we will call a match generously peppered with boos. 

Prediction: Warren def. Galvao via decision