Bellator 141 Preview and Predictions

Bellator returns to Spike TV on Friday with its 141st showing, as Melvin Guillard makes his official Bellator debut in the main event. Featuring heavyweights and lightweights, the main card looks to be an interesting one.

Guillard has been competing at a high level for seemingly forever. In addition to a recent stint in World Series of Fighting, he cut his teeth in the UFC, where he spent a good part of his career establishing his name in this game.

With that, let's take a look at Bellator 141 and make some predictions.

Prelim Predictions

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145 pounds: Marloes Coenen def. Arlene Blencowe via submission

155 pounds: Derek Anderson def. Brent Primus via decision

145 pounds: Lissette Neri def. AJ Jenkins via decision

170 pounds: Curtis Millender def. Steven Ciaccio via TKO

170 pounds: Gabriel Miglioli def. Johnny Cisneros via TKO

125 pounds: Ilima Macfarlane def. Maria Rios via TKO

145 pounds: Antonio McKee Jr. def. James Barnes via decision

205 pounds: Ray Sloan def. Luc Bondale via submission

170 pounds: Emiliano Sordi def. AJ Matthews via decision

Justin Wren vs. Josh Burns

Kicking off the main card are a pair of heavyweights, as one-time UFC fighter Justin Wren returns to MMA to take on multi-time Bellator veteran Josh Burns.

Burns is a .500 fighter who has gone 0-5 in the Bellator organization. Basically, he has been used as an enhancement talent for the likes of guys such as Bobby Lashley and Raphael Butler.

As for Wren, he took five years off from fighting and is finally making his return to the cage. He is a good wrestler with a solid submission base, which he has developed from working with Travis Lutter.

He was part of The Ultimate Fighter 10, where eventual winner Roy Nelson eliminated him in the quarterfinals. Wren was given a spot on the finale, but Jon Madsen edged him out, which ousted him from the company.

Burns has not shown he can hang at a high level, and despite a long layoff for Wren, he is vastly superior. He will ground Burns, pound him and finish him via submission.

Prediction: Wren def. Burns via submission

Lorenzo Hood vs. Raphael Butler

We stay in the heavyweight division for the next bout, as Bellator veteran Raphael Butler meets up with company newcomer Lorenzo Hood. 

Hood takes a big step up in competition here, as most of the men he has fought are inexperienced or have losing records. He has big-time knockout power and is a physical brute, which allows him to end fights in violent fashion.

As for Butler, he is a boxer who also has big-time power and finishes violently. He has been fairly successful in Bellator so far, although he does have a loss to Javy Ayala and a draw against Nick Rossborough.

This is going to be a brawl with two big men throwing big leather. When the dust clears, Butler should be the one left standing, as he continues his run up the heavyweight rankings.

Prediction: Butler def. Hood via TKO

Patricky Freire vs. Saad Awad

Next up are the lightweights in the co-main event, as Patrick Freire looks to secure a potential title shot against another perspective title challenger in Saad Awad. 

Freire is a striker who has a refined ground game but doesn't really use it. He has been with Bellator for a long time and has seen mixed results, coming into this fight on the heels of a loss to Marcin Held.

He matches up well with Awad, who is a ferocious striker with an aggressive style. Awad rides a three-fight winning streak into this fight, as the longtime Bellator fighter has been one of the better 155-pounders in the company.

This should be another bout filled with fireworks, as both men are known to throw heavy leather. When it's all said and done, though, Awad will outgun Freire to earn a rubber match with Will Brooks.

Prediction: Awad def. Freire via decision

Melvin Guillard vs. Brandon Girtz

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On to the main event we go in the lightweight division, as freshly inked Melvin Guillard takes on Brandon Girtz in an attempt to get into the title picture.

There is no secret to Guillard's game plan, as he has shown it off in the UFC for years, as well as in World Series of Fighting recently. He is aggressive and throws heavy leather all the time, searching for the knockout from the onset of the bout.

He takes on Girtz, who is known for his ground game, which entails using his wrestling to get an opponent down and then searching for a submission. He really needs to get this to the mat quickly, or Guillard will slam him with huge punches.

Bellator is looking to showcase Guillard here; he's one of the many UFC veterans the company has gone after. He should take care of Girtz in the striking department and give the judges the night off.

Prediction: Guillard def. Girtz via TKO