Bader vs Lawal Odds – This Friday night sees the Bellator Heavyweight Tournament’s first round conclude as Ryan Bader faces “King” Mo Lawal.
Bader (24-5) is already 2-0 under the Bellator flag, and that includes a second win over Phil Davis. Bader also beat Britain’s Linton Vassel in Bellator and he has won four overall. Though Lawal has a comparable career record at (21-6), he has spent the last two years alternating wins and losses, going an average 2-2 in that span.
Both men competed as light heavyweights most of their careers but the jump to heavyweight is probbly Bader’s first advantage. When he fought at 205, Bader cut a lot of weight and likely entered most of his UFC fights at around 220-225 pounds. That means for this one he will probably be around 230 of solid muscle. Lawal is strong and tough but he is going to be smaller than Bader. Lawal has done well fighting bigger guys because he uses his wrestling base and big punch effectively. Bader will negate some of Lawal’s wrestling ability, as he has done with other dominant wrestlers (see the fights with Davis).
Bader left the UFC on a two fight winning streak and a strong 7-1 record in his last eight fights with the company. Unlike other UFC retreads now with Bellator, Bader was not fading or on a losing streak, rather he left as a hot hand.
The Bellator tournament’s first round has dragged on for half a year at this point. They have been lucky in that none of the advancing fighters hae been injured, so perhaps announcements about the second round dates and locations will come on the broadcast, which is set to air on the Paramount Network. Check local listings for start times.
This is probably the laast hurrah for Lawal. It would be meaningful for him to get by Bader. He fought five times in 2015 and three times in 2016 but he fought just once in 2017 as he waited for this tournament to materialize. Will he be rusty or will father time show itself, as Lawal enters Friday’s fight now 37 years old. His Bellator career never got to where he wanted as he went 0-2 in title fights against the workmanlike Emmanuel Newton.
This may be the best fight of the opening round as it features the two youngest men in the tournament. Some of the sports books carrying odds on the tourney had Bader as the favorite to win the whole thing. Lawal was not given much of a chance to win the whole thing at all. A first round exit for Lawal would sort of seal his legacy as a fighter who never exceeded the “hype” he came with earlier in his career.
The winner is expected to face “Meathead” Matt Mitrione in the tournament’s second round. The other semi-final appears set as Chael Sonnen will meet Fedor Emilianenko and the books are carrying odds on that match-up as well.
Sat 5/12 – Bellator 199 –
Bader vs Lawal Odds – Heavyweight 3 rounds – SAP Center – San Jose, California – Paramount
First Round – Bellator World Grand Prix 2018 Heavyweight Tournament
Muhammed Lawal +285 o2½ -170
Ryan Bader -345 u2½ +150
Bellator- Heavyweight 3 rounds
must take place by December 31st 2018 for action
Chael Sonnen +180
Fedor Emelianenko -260
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