5 Predictions for Bellator 282
After back-to-back events overseas, Bellator returns to the United States for an event at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The arena has become a familiar venue for the promotion as they have frequently hosted events there since 2020.
This will be their first event in well over a month, which is surprising considering the momentum they could’ve gained.
The event will be headlined by a title fight as middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi will defend against Johnny Eblen. The division is loaded with many up-and-coming fighters, including Eblen, who will look to take advantage of the opportunity.
The ongoing bantamweight Grand Prix will also be featured at the event. After earning their spot in the tournament, Danny Sabatello and Enrique Barzola will face the toughest test of their respective careers.
Sabatello will take on Leandro Higo, while Barzola will take on Magomed Magomedov. This list will look at five bold predictions for Bellator 282.
#5 Bellator middleweight Anatoly Tokov will extend his winning streak to seven
: @BellatorMMA is excited to announce that Russian superstar and No. 6-ranked BELLATOR middleweight Anatoly Tokov has been resigned to a new, long-term contract.
🇷🇺: @BellatorMMA is excited to announce that Russian superstar and No. 6-ranked BELLATOR middleweight Anatoly Tokov has been resigned to a new, long-term contract. https://t.co/x4uXivtojc
No. 5 ranked Bellator middleweight Anatoly Tokov is one of the top middleweights in the promotion. After a two-year layoff, Tokov returned this past October and picked up where he left off. He earned a split decision win over Sharaf Davlatmurodov in front of his home crowd.
Since joining the promotion in 2017, he is yet to taste defeat inside the cage. The FedorTeam middleweight is currently riding a 6-fight winning streak that includes a win over former middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko.
He is looking to make it 7-straight wins when he fights Muhammad Abdullah on the prelim portion of the event.
Abdullah has a 10-5 MMA record and is coming off a win over Erick Lozano, whose record was 12-19. Based on the difference in the quality of opponents and Abdullah being 36, Tokov is expected to be the betting favorite.
Tokov has a great opportunity as a decisive win could possibly lead to him being awarded a title shot. With Mousasi defending his title against Eblen in the main event, Tokov could challenge the winner.