Vitaly Minakov vs Said Sowma: Minakov to win in the 1st round

Bellator 269 will be held in Moscow on October 23 when Russian fighter Vitaly Minakov will face Said Sowma from Suriname in the co-main event.

There isn’t a lot to say about Said. He doesn't have much of a record, he hasn't been in MMA for very long. He has quite a good hand punch, but it is not something uncommon at his size and weight. Neither can I say he's a good fighter, because he doesn't have any special wrestling skills. The important thing is that he's not afraid to fight and that's probably the only plus in his armory. Well, there’s also an advantage of Vitaly not having been in the cage for a long time, over two years. That's what can bring Sowma a win.

There's a lot to say about Vitaly Minakov. A true master never lets his talent fade away, as they say. It's just a question of condition, of attitude. In this fight, everything will depend on that, on Vitaly himself. I believe that a professional fighter, with his record, his background, his history, and he totally knows how to get back in shape, how to make up for lost time.

His wrestling technique certainly hasn't gone anywhere. I think he has been in shape the whole time. Naturally, all the pluses in this fight are on the side of this fighter.

There are only two advantages on the side of Said Sowma, albeit not most convincing: he is younger and performs more often (Minakov has a long downtime between fights).

If you put aside some lucky-punching, random things, which is difficult to calculate in reality (I will not even do that), then I can say that it will be an early win for Vitaly. Vitaly is bigger in size, he has a huge advantage in a fight, in physical strength. I don't think Sowma stands a chance if the opponent is in good shape and well prepared.

I bet on it being a technical knockout in the first round, maximum in the second, but I still think it will end in the first round in Minakov's favor. It will be, I think, a transfer with a finish (so as not to risk it too much, but to do something that will work 100%). A good takedown, a good transfer with his skills and wrestling technique, and then dominating on top, just hammering his opponent. I think that's how it ends up.

I don't give Sowma a chance in this fight, I hope Vitaly doesn't either!