Bellator returns tomorrow night for a historic event. They will be the first major MMA promotion to host an MMA event in France. In the headliner there’s a solid welterweight contest between Michael “Venom” Page (17-1) and Ross Houston (8-0, 1 NC).
MVP will be entering the Bellator cage on a three fight winning streak. All three of those wins have come by knockout within the first two rounds. Those wins are following the lone loss of his professional career which came back at Bellator 221.
That night, MVP hurt Douglas Lima and charged after him. After getting taken off his feet from a leg kick, Page was knocked out cold on the way up by Lima. It was a devastating finish which derailed the Bellator championship aspirations from MVP.
Since that loss, Page has been on a roll. His last three opponents have not shown him much of a challenge. He’s facing a top prospect in this next contest who will come into his Bellator debut with an undefeated record.
Ross Houston will carry a perfect professional record into his Bellator debut. A native of Scotland, Houston has spent the majority of his career thus far inside the Cage Warriors cage. Now, he will make the jump to one of the biggest promotions in the world.
Bellator 248 Main Event Prediction
Ross Houston has a very solid overall game for those who have not seem him in action. He’s got very good hands, and he has a lot of decent kicks. However, he really shines when the fight is taken to the ground. Houston possesses really good submission skills.
For MVP, you know the drill if you’ve watched him fight. Page has very good standup skills and anytime he’s in the Bellator cage, he’s likely going to have the advantage on the feet. This fight is not an exception.
For Houston to win this fight, he’s going to have to get Page to the ground. He’s going to have to use grappling to get by him. However, I believe that MVP is just too good and slick for Houston at this stage. I think he’s going to catch Houston with something big in the second round.
Prediction: Michael Page by TKO – Round 2