Former UFC fighters Phil Davis and Corey Anderson competing in Bellator GP this week

[Sweater of AV]

Phil Davis and Corey Anderson are a part of the Bellator LHW GP and will be fighting on Friday at Bellator 257.

Davis is rematching LHW champ Vadim Nemkov who has a strong claim to be the best LHW in the world (and is also coached by Fedor). Anderson faces Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov who is an excellent fighter making his Bellator debut.

How will each of Davis and Anderson fare in the GP? Davis is still a top LHW and can potentially get the upset imho. Very curious to see how both fights go, it should be interesting to see how the first round plays out.

Paul Daley-Sabah Homasi is also on the card which should be fun. Vadim's brother Viktor is also fighting against Karl Albrektsson.

 

[RiotWyatt]

Both guys were top 5 leaving the UFC as well. This tournament, for sure, determines one of the best LHWs in the world.

Edit: Would also add that, before they signed with Bellator, Romero fans were sure that he could move up and win the UFC LHW title and people thought Rumble could come back and make a splash at HW or even win the LHW title with Jones moving up.

 

[Chael_Sonnen]

Both have a real chance to win it. This GP is super well balanced. Nemkov is the favorite, but I could see pretty much anyone winning it.

Davis's striking has been getting better, and his last 3 losses since 2014, he has only lost by split. He could have won all of them. He would be top 5 in the UFC, remember he has a win over Glover. This is his last chance for the title, athletically he will start slowing down if he hasn't already. He is getting up there in age, at 36. His last win is a split over Machida, and although Machida is a horrible matchup for Davis, its still not a good look, the entire fight was a staring match.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Both guys were top 5 leaving the UFC as well. This tournament, for sure, determines one of the best LHWs in the world.

Edit: Would also add that, before they signed with Bellator, Romero fans were sure that he could move up and win the UFC LHW title and people thought Rumble could come back and make a splash at HW or even win the LHW title with Jones moving up.

Yeah I'm very curious to see how Yoel looks at 205. Wouldn't be too surprised if he does very well without the significant weight cut.

Rumble after the layoff will be interesting...not sure what to expect.

 

[Chael_Sonnen]

Yeah I'm very curious to see how Yoel looks at 205. Wouldn't be too surprised if he does very well without the significant weight cut.

Rumble after the layoff will be interesting...not sure what to expect.

Atleast Rumble seems to be taking his weight seriously, he looks pretty damn skinny. If he is taking his weight seriously, hopefully he is taking the rest of his training seriously.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Both have a real chance to win it. This GP is super well balanced. Nemkov is the favorite, but I could see pretty much anyone winning it.

Davis's striking has been getting better, and his last 3 losses since 2014, he has only lost by split. He could have won all of them. He would be top 5 in the UFC, remember he has a win over Glover. This is his last chance for the title, athletically he will start slowing down if he hasn't already. He is getting up there in age, at 36. His last win is a split over Machida, and although Machida is a horrible matchup for Davis, its still not a good look, the entire fight was a staring match.

Agreed, it's very deep and not too much would surprise me.

Yeah Davis is very underrated. His resume is extremely solid.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Atleast Rumble seems to be taking his weight seriously, he looks pretty damn skinny. If he is taking his weight seriously, hopefully he is taking the rest of his training seriously.

Yeah hopefully he's in good shape and ready to go. Motivated Rumble would still definitely be a massive force.

 

[TR1]

There is no way Corey wins this one.

More than likely he gets brutally KOed before it is over.

 

[Sweater of AV]

There is no way Corey wins this one.

More than likely he gets brutally KOed before it is over.

It's possible. Personally I've learned not to try and predict Anderson's fights.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Recent interview with Davis where he talks about the fight with Nemkov and the GP among other things.

 

[TheMessiah]

There is no way Corey wins this one.

More than likely he gets brutally KOed before it is over.

Dana wanted him to become a striker. If he sticks to his wrestling he could go far but im not sure he can beat Romero, Rumble or Nemkov

 

[MCS]

It's between Nemkov/Yoel/Bader/Rumble. Rumble wild card, if he's in shape. These 4 should beat Davis and Corey.

BT does fun tourneys, but it's not like as in SF, where the HW GP winner was very arguably the best HW in the world. Going in, before they removed Ubereem, that is, as Werdum held the win over Fedor, who was #1. This BT tourney isn't crowning the top LHW, as the lineal would still be Jones or Jan, depending on Jones/Reyes scoring. It's filled with guys who left the UFC on a losing streak.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Crazy to think this is Davis 12th fight in Bellator already. He had 13 in the UFC.

BTW.. I think Bader has a good chance of upsetting Nemkov. I don't see Corey going too far.

 

[Greg House]

It's between Nemkov/Yoel/Bader/Rumble. Rumble wild card, if he's in shape. These 4 should beat Davis and Corey.

BT does fun tourneys, but it's not like as in SF, where the HW GP winner was very arguably the best HW in the world. Going in, before they removed Ubereem, that is, as Werdum held the win over Fedor, who was #1. This BT tourney isn't crowning the top LHW, as the lineal would still be Jones or Jan, depending on Jones/Reyes scoring. It's filled with guys who left the UFC on a losing streak.

Actually is very similar situation. Back then, Ferdor had lost and all website were quick to put Lesnar as the #1 HW right after he lost, including Sherdog. I had friends tell me that Lesnar, Cain, JDS or Carwin would win that GP. There were killers in both divisions and no clear #1.

Now the "lineal champ" is Jones, and he is not fighting at 205 anymore, so UFC doesn't even have that. They have blachovich as the champ and Glover as the #1 contender. This GP has Yoel/Rumble/Nemkov/Bader. Some people think that Nemkov is the #1 LHW in the world, if Rumble comes like we know him, then he would be favored against any LHW in the world. Again, no clear #1

 

[GueseGuy]

It's between Nemkov/Yoel/Bader/Rumble. Rumble wild card, if he's in shape. These 4 should beat Davis and Corey.

BT does fun tourneys, but it's not like as in SF, where the HW GP winner was very arguably the best HW in the world. Going in, before they removed Ubereem, that is, as Werdum held the win over Fedor, who was #1. This BT tourney isn't crowning the top LHW, as the lineal would still be Jones or Jan, depending on Jones/Reyes scoring. It's filled with guys who left the UFC on a losing streak.

What’s your definition of a losing streak? Winner of this tournament is very clearly the best LHW in the world. Don’t see how it can be seen any other way. Jan hasn’t beaten anyone in this tourney and the one guy he did beat he also lost to before. Every guy in this tourney has a legit shot to beat Jan if they fought. Jan is pretty much defending his belt against leftovers. Glover is old and shot. This is by far the best LHW division in the world when you add in Viktor Nemkov, Anglickas, Puetz and Albrektsson.

 

[tehMoose]

Anglickas and Mowry are also on this card, we might see them in the future fighting for the belt

This card is awesome, can't wait

Let's go Nemkov !

 

[tehMoose]

What’s your definition of a losing streak? Winner of this tournament is very clearly the best LHW in the world. Don’t see how it can be seen any other way. Jan hasn’t beaten anyone in this tourney and the one guy he did beat he also lost to before. Every guy in this tourney has a legit shot to beat Jan if they fought. Jan is pretty much defending his belt against leftovers. Glover is old and shot. This is by far the best LHW division in the world when you add in Viktor Nemkov, Anglickas, Puetz and Albrektsson.

Jan cleaned out the MW division and they think he's the best LHW lol

 

[GueseGuy]

Jan cleaned out the MW division and they think he's the best LHW lol

It’s a joke surely. This proves whoever UFC says is the champ, fanboys will just follow behind obediently. Jan has no claim whatsoever to being the best LHW in the world. Dom Reyes is a nobody. Ryan Bader had more UFC wins than Dom Reyes has professional mma fights. And then he beat up a MW who isn’t even the best until he beats Mousasi. It’s laughable to me.

 

[MCS]

Actually is very similar situation. Back then, Ferdor had lost and all website were quick to put Lesnar as the #1 HW right after he lost, including Sherdog. I had friends tell me that Lesnar, Cain, JDS or Carwin would win that GP. There were killers in both divisions and no clear #1.

Now the "lineal champ" is Jones, and he is not fighting at 205 anymore, so UFC doesn't even have that. They have blachovich as the champ and Glover as the #1 contender. This GP has Yoel/Rumble/Nemkov/Bader. Some people think that Nemkov is the #1 LHW in the world, if Rumble comes like we know him, then he would be favored against any LHW in the world. Again, no clear #1

I remember Brock as #1, but it made no sense. Werdum beat the #1 ranked guy and was ranked himself because of the Bigfoot win. That makes him #1. Brock beat Mir and Carwin, who were lower ranked. This means because Werdum was in the GP the GP would crown the #1 HW.

Jones/Reyes was a highway robbery. There is that part. Then Jan would be lineal champ. If not, it'd still be Jones. Either way BT would have 0/3 of those. Their best is Nemkov, but his best win is Bader, who was never ranked #1. His 2nd best win is a split dec over Davis. Bader hasn't beat higher ranked fighters than to whom he lost to in the UFC. Same for Davis. So Nemkov at #1 makes no practical sense.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

It’s a joke surely. This proves whoever UFC says is the champ, fanboys will just follow behind obediently. Jan has no claim whatsoever to being the best LHW in the world. Dom Reyes is a nobody. Ryan Bader had more UFC wins than Dom Reyes has professional mma fights. And then he beat up a MW who isn’t even the best until he beats Mousasi. It’s laughable to me.

I do think Reyes would be an absolute nightmare for Bader head to head though I have to say.