Bellator 54: Fight Card Preview

Written by George Misken
Monday, 10 October 2011 15:14

It’s time to preview Saturday’s Bellator Fighting Championships 54 fight card.

Although the main event between lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and top contender Michael Chandler had to be removed from the Bellator Fighting Championships 54 card, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other great fighters set to take to the cage on Saturday.  Alvarez’s undisclosed injury was a big blow to the Bellator 54 card but there are other incredible fights worth watching on MTV this weekend.  The action will unfold from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and we'll take a quick look at the 3 best fights on the Bellator 54 card.

Bellator 54 odds have yet to debut, but the good folks at 5Dimes Sportsbook should have them up before too long.  Once they are up, our Bellator 54 predictions will be posted on at least the top 3 fights on the card.  Use the link we provided to get a 50% cash bonus from one of the best mixed martial arts sportsbooks on the planet!

Bellator 54 Fight Card:

Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna

Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers

Zach Makovsky vs. Ryan Roberts

Daniel Gracie vs. Duane Bastress

Karl Amoussou vs. Joey Kirwan

Tim Carpenter vs. Ryan Contaldi

Adrienne Seiber vs. Andria Caplan

Bellator 54 Preview:

Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna

This is 1 of 2 middleweight tournament semifinal fights on the Bellator 54 card, and it figures to be a good one.  Baker (16-2) has ended half of his fights by KO or TKO, while Vianna (11-1-1) has only gone to decision 3 times over the course of his career.  Baker’s last loss was in the Bellator Season 2 Middleweight Tournament, where he lost to Shlemenko in the final.  Baker could very well be in line for a rematch if he can get past Vianna, a protégé of Wanderlei Silva.

Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers

Shlemenko (41-7) won a chance to face off against champion Hector Lombard in the season 2 middleweight tournament but came up just short in a unanimous decision loss.  Lombard abandoned the striking game and focused on his wrestling and top control when Shlemenko started to get the better of the exchanges in the standup.  Rogers (8-2) dropped 2 of his first 3 fights to begin his career but has since reeled off 7 straight victories – all by KO or TKO.  Although Shlemenko is the more experienced and accomplished fighter, Rogers has the knockout power in his hands and feet to make this interesting.

Zack Makovsky vs. Ryan Roberts

Makovsky (13-2) has excellent wrestling and top control, and he enters Bellator 54 on a 7-fight win streak.  Roberts (16-9-1) is a UFC veteran that has amassed a 6-1-1 record since dropping down a weight class.  Makovsky is the Bellator Bantamweight Champion, but his fight against Roberts will not be for the title.