MMAjunkie Radio co-host and MMAjunkie contributor Dan Tom breaks down Bellator’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for Bellator 216.
Bellator 216 takes place Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Paul Daley (40-16-2 MMA, 6-3 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’9″ Age: 35 Weight: 170 lbs. Reach: 75″
- Last fight: Decision loss to Jon Fitch (May 12, 2018)
- Camp: Mike’s Gym/Spirit Dojo (England)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Multiple muay Thai accolades
+ 30 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 19 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Solid feints and footwork
^ Seldom out of position
+ Devastating left hook
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Dangerous knees and elbows
+ Strong inside of the clinch
^ Strikes well off the breaks
+ Improved wrestling abilities
+ Serviceable ground game
Michael Page (13-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 6’3″ Age: 31 Weight: 170 lbs. Reach: 77″
- Last fight: TKO win over Dave Rickels (May 25, 2018)
- Camp: London Shootfighters (England)
- Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ Multiple kickboxing accolades and titles
+ Pro boxing experience
+ 8 KO victories
+ 3 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Creative feints and footwork
^ Shoulder fakes, lateral movement, etc.
+ Accurate right hand
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Dynamic kicking variety
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Solid defensive fundamentals and separations
+ Shows serviceable ground skills
^ Incorporates leg dexterity well
Point of interest: Feints and footwork
The main event for Bellator 216 features a feud between two strikers whose operating systems couldn’t be further apart – especially when it comes to their feints and footwork.
Born into a family of martial artists, Michael Page was indoctrinated into combat arts straight away. Initially getting into more traditional martial arts like kung fu, the Englishman eventually moved on to other competitive avenues such as sport karate and freestyle kickboxing, where he earned several accolades and tournament titles.
Say what you will about traditional martial arts or point fighting, but Page’s style – as creative and incomparable as it may seem – highlights one of the most commonly overlooked positives provided by such experience: the understanding of striking range and how to comfortably navigate said space (especially if you grew up in this environment as Page did).
Whether he is leaping laterally out of defensive instinct or launching inward offensively, Page seems quite confident in his reads and routes. More importantly, the 31-year-old phenom marries his reactive footwork with deceptive feints that help disguise his assaults, as well as disrupts his opposition’s rhythm.
Appearing to be blatant demonstrations of showmanship upon initial impression, there is – believe it or not – a quiet brilliance behind the method to Page’s madness.
A self-proclaimed snake charmer, Page will distract his opponents by making them look at the proverbial birdy before delivering pinpoint punches down the pipe. Moreover, when Page appears to be borderline mocking his counterparts with shoulder-shucking dance moves, he is actually throwing away any potential reads his opponent may be making on him, which simultaneously helps hide his approach.
For example, many strikers will tell you that they tend to keep a general focus between their opposition’s shoulders, as this will typically give them an indication of the whens and wheres of their counterpart’s offense. So, with that in mind, it’s not hard to see why Page can be so difficult for fighters to get a beat on during his dance-likes displays.
Nevertheless, Page will be put through one of the most legitimate litmus tests as far as MMA striking is concerned when he meets rival Brit Paul Daley.
Also introduced to martial arts at a young age, Daley began his journey in the karate realm before transitioning over to muay Thai – a sport in which he would go on to earn many accolades. And after a stint in the British Army, the man known as “Semtex” stormed the MMA scene, accruing memorable highlight-reel knockouts over names like Duane Ludwig and Scott Smith during his ascension.
Working behind a solid high guard, Daley typically stalks forward behind a steady dose of feints and fakes, attempting to draw out any potential strikes or wrestling shots coming his way.
The 35-year-old vet also throws straight shots superbly like jabs or crosses, but his cleanup-hitting weapon of choice is clearly his left hook. And with his preferred arsenal keeping him nicely in balance, Daley tends to be the fighter more set to counter and capitalize inside of exchanges.
However, when Daley has been drawn out of his shell of operations, we have seen his otherwise stellar game become surprisingly susceptible, leading us to our next point of interest…
Next point of interest: Frustration and feelings
Point of interest: Frustration and feelings
Although I may have alluded to one fighter on the previous page, the truth is that both men will be dealing with potential frustrations and feelings heading into this matchup – albeit in different ways.
For Daley, he will need to stay the course and not let the “bad blood” build-up get the better of him in the cage, allowing for Page to draw him out in exchanges with his frustrating tactics. In recent interviews, Daley sounds acutely aware of this, projecting more of an “elder statesman-like” approach headed into fight week.
Being a veteran of almost 60 professional fights, I would like to think that Daley has, in fact, learned from his past experiences by this point. However, even you don’t hold the Josh Koscheck incident over the Englishman’s head, he’s still shown multiple signs – whether it be his history with the scale or recent outbursts (both in and out of the cage) involving Bellator – that you can’t always be so sure of where Daley’s temperament lies.
Still, I tend to believe Daley when he says that his affairs with Bellator and otherwise are in order. And whether you are backing him or not, Daley does appear to be dialed in and lacking little motivation – which makes for a dangerous man if Page is not fully focused.
Page may have little issue when it comes to flustering or distracting his opponents, but this may be the one matchup where he could be the one who is distracted.
After recently losing his father (the man who helped mold Page into the fighter he is today) late last year, the rising contender clearly had an easy out if he wanted to postpone this contest. However, despite his admitted sorrow and uncertainty, Page decided to continue on toward this fight.
To many, this could certainly be a red flag.
We have seen fighters as good as Jake Shields take some of their most brutal losses by choosing to make the walk during tragic times in their life. However, there are also stories like Buster Douglas’, where the fighter uses the motivation of a lost loved one to propel them into the most impressive performances of their career.
Needless to say, I will be very curious as to where Page falls in that spectrum.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction
Point of interest: Odds and opinions
The oddsmakers and public seem to be siding with the new blood, listing Page -245 and Daley +175 as of this writing.
Considering that Daley is unquestionably the more proven fighter at every level, this line deservedly raises the eyebrows of some. That said, I believe that this is one of those matchups where you can throw experience and on-paper statistics out the window – as this battle will likely come down to how these two styles clash.
Although comparing Page to anyone in most fighter’s sample size of opposition is nearly impossible, Daley has shown that – despite his striking prowess – he can be made uncomfortable when posed against other strikers of commensurate skill level, particularly ones who are long and can counter. And I believe that Page, coupled with his ability to disrupt rhythm, fits that bill in spades.
Unless Daley demonstrates the ability to counter or crash distance with Page early on, then I see him being a step behind his more youthful and speedy counterpart.
I suspect Daley will also try to exercise his underrated wrestling abilities inside of close rounds (as he’s done with other said long strikers dating back to his bout with Jorge Masvidal), but given Page’s style of movement, I’m not sure if Daley will be able to safely close distance in the way in which he is accustom to in order to score those opportunities. I’ve always been a fan of Daley and the skills he brings, but I see Page earning a building stoppage in the second round after landing a pinpoint counter.
Prediction: Page inside the distance
For more on Bellator 216, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
