Bellator 209: Pitbull vs. Sanchez - Picks and Predictions

#2 Haim Gozali vs. Ryan Couture

Ryan Couture previously defeated Gozali via unanimous decision

On any other card this would be a strange choice for a co-main event; Gozali is 45 and has been fighting since 1998, Couture is a journeyman at best, and the two fought to a largely forgettable decision on Bellator’s first show in New York in June 2017.

Of course, Gozali is an Israeli-based fighter and is considered an MMA pioneer in the country similarly to how Elvis Sinosic or Ian Freeman would be viewed in Australia or the UK respectively, hence the card placement. Perhaps more intriguingly, ‘Batman’ has an 18-year old son who’s actually fighting on Thursday’s preliminary card. But how will he do against Couture?

In all honesty, the answer is probably not very well. Couture is a largely unremarkable – if solid – fighter with decent boxing and grappling games, but the son of UFC legend Randy lacks the natural (no pun intended) athleticism to get to the very top of the sport – hence a record of 11-6 that’s seen him lose to most of his better opponents.

That wasn’t much of a problem against Gozali the first time around, as the Israeli fighter – an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie with Abu Dhabi experience – simply couldn’t get a takedown on Couture and was comfortably outboxed across three rounds, including from the clinch.

Gozali will be the favourite with the Israeli fans but unless he can pull off a sudden knockout or submission early in the fight, Couture outworking him for another decision – or late stoppage – feels most likely.

The Pick: Couture via unanimous decision