Eddie Alvarez has been the Bellator Lightweight champion for almost a year now, and after a 10-month wait he will finally defend his title against Season 3 Lightweight tournament Sportsbook Pat Curran at Bellator 39.
Also on the main card will be two Season 4 tournament semifinal fights, and the Bellator debut of former UFC Welterweight Ben Saunders.
Curran’s injured shoulder delayed this fight from going down last year, and the two fighters have had a long time to prepare for their opponent. Both are well-rounded fighters, but the champion is the more technical of the two and should be able to win a unanimous decision and defend his title for the first time live on MTV2.
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Alvarez is the -525 favorite at Sportsbook and should prove to be safe money. The upset line on Curran is at +325 at Sportsbook. We think that Alvarez wins this fight wherever it may go.
The man that Curran beat to earn his Lightweight title shot last year will be fighting in a 2011 Lightweight tournament semifinal on the same card. Two-time Bellator Lightweight tournament finalist Toby Imada will have his hands full against Patricky Freire, and will hope to move on to the finals once again at the end of the season.
Freire is an up-and-coming young prospect, but in this one we’re going with the experience and submission skills of Imada. Imada by submission victory late in the fight looks like the most probable outcome.
The other Season 4 tournament semifinal on the card will pit Lyman Good against Rick Hawn in the Welterweight division. Former Bellator Welterweight champion Lyman Good is a karate fighter with lethal striking skills and an elusive attack.
His only loss in 12 fights was a split decision to current champion Ben Askren, and he would like nothing more than to avenge that loss at the end of the season and regain his title.
Rick Hawn is an undefeated judo and Muay Thai fighter who will be looking to show the fans that he’s the top contender in the division. He has recent wins over Shonie Carter and Jim Wallhead, but we think that it’s a little early for him to beat the former champ.
Ben Saunders will make his Bellator debut against an inferior replacement opponent in Matt Lee. Saunders should the safest money on the Bellator 39 fight card, but he doesn't come cheaply at -610 at Sportsbook.
