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For the most part, Bellator Preliminary Cards do not get any hype at all when compared to the events main card. However, this Friday Night’s Bellator 78 Preliminary Card got a lot of attention due to having a champion, Zoila Gurgel, competing on it instead of the main card. The choice by Bellator officials to put Zoila Gurgel on the preliminary card even irked former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate.
Kicking off the action is a middleweight division fight as Shaun “Sugar†Asher (5-0-1) does battle with Jason Butcher (4-0-0). Shaun Asher is an undefeated fighter who has spent the majority of his career in the Turf Wars Extreme Fighting promotion. Jason Butcher is currently undefeated in Bellator competition, having defeated Duane Bastress at Bellator 71. This is a great battle of the undefeated worth checking out, but it will be Jason Butcher keeping his undefeated streak alive.
A women’s flyweight division fight will happen next as Zoila “Warrior Princess†Gurgel (11-1-0) competes against Casey “KO†Noland (4-2-0). Zoila Gurgel has only competed once in the last two years due to injury, defeating Karina Hallinan at Bellator 35. Casey Noland is currently winless in Bellator competition, losing to Jessica Eye by split decision at Bellator 51. How this fight got put on the preliminary card is beyond me and many others, but it will be Zoila Gurgel getting the win.
More middleweight action will take place next as Billy “Mojo†Horne (10-4-0) sees action against Trey “That Just Happened†Houston (10-0-0). Billy Horne has won two of his last three fights, which includes a victory over Strikeforce veteran Brandon Saling. Trey Houston is currently undefeated in Bellator competition, having defeated WWE Tough Enough alumni Jeremiah Riggs. Trey Houston is riding a bigger wave of momentum than his opponent and he will continue that wave with a victory on Friday Night.
Yet another middleweight division fight is up next as Jared “Honey†Combs (8-2-0) battles Mikkel Parlo (8-0-0). Jared Combs has been competing in professional MMA for over five years and has yet to have a fight go past the second round. Mikkel Parlo is an undefeated fighter who has spent the majority of his career in the Fighter Gala promotion. This fight will be the biggest test of Jared Combs career, but he will fail as Mikkel Parlo remains undefeated.
Up next is a welterweight division fight as Rocky Edwards (1-0-0) stands across the cage from Robert Hanna IV (2-0-0). Rocky Edwards made his professional MM debut this past Summer, defeating Larry Ray at a Purgatory Fight Series event. Robert Hanna IV also made his professional MMA debut this past Summer, finishing both of his fights before the third round. These are two fighters at the beginnings of potentially big MMA careers, but it will be Robert Hanna IV remaining undefeated.
Headlining this portion of the card is a bantamweight division fight as Justin McNally (0-0-0) faces Jake Nauracy (1-0-0). Justin McNally will be making his professional MMA debut in this fight, but he did go undefeated as an amateur. Jake Nauracy made his professional MMA debut at Bellator 60, defeating Cory Galloway by submission. This is a pick ‘em fight if there ever was one, but it will be Justin McNally starting off his professional MMA career with a victory.
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