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BELLATOR FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 40 PRELIMINARY CARD PREVIEW

After days of waiting, the Bellator Fighting Championships finally released the full preliminary card and I’m here to write the preview. This card put on by Bellator is the slimmest of any card thus far in season four, featuring only seven fights. The preliminary card is full of great up and coming talent, including multi-time Bellator veteran Tyler Stinson.

Kicking off the card is a lightweight encounter as Cody Carrillo (0-0-0) makes his professional debut against Michael Osborn (2-3-0). Cody Carrillo will be making his professional MMA debut in this fight, but does have experience on the amateur circuit. Michael Osborn has fought every fight of his MMA career in the C3 Fights promotion, recently ending a three fight losing streak. Despite the pretty bad MMA record, Michael Osborn does have enough skills to defeat the debuting Cody Carrillo.

A pair of welterweights are doing battle next as David Rickles (3-0-0) is going to go to war with Dylan Smith (4-0-0). David Rickles hasn’t fought an MMA fight in over six months, last defeating Charles Jones at a C3 Fights event. Dylan Smith has fought the majority of his professional fights in the Extreme Fighting League promotion, where three of his four victories came in. This fight is going to be a test for both fighters, but it is going to be a test that submission artist David Rickles is going to win.

The next fight on the card will be featuring heavyweights as Josh Barnes (6-5-0) takes on Eric “American Soldier” Prindle (6-1-0). Josh Barnes is best known for competing on the lone Moosin: God Of MMA pay-per-view, where he lost to UFC veteran Travis Wiuff. Eric Prindle is entering the fight riding a four fight winning streak, with the last win coming in the Gladiator Challenge promotion. This fight is going to be a slugfest between two impressive heavyweights, but it will be Eric Prindle earning the victory.

Headlining the preliminary card is a welterweight encounter as Nathan James (11-6-1) takes on Tyler “The Evolution” Stinson (19-7-0). Nathan James is making his Bellator debut in this fight, but has fought top MMA veterans like Rudy Bears and Justin Levens. Tyler Stinson has fought three times in Bellator, most notably suffering a defeat to Dan Hornbuckle at BFC 15. This fight is a huge opportunity for both individuals, but it will be Tyler Stinson picking up the all-important victory.

You can contact David Tees at bigteesps3@yahoo.com

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