MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down MMA’s top bouts. Today, we look at the co-main event for Bellator 300.
Bellator 300 takes place Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The main card, which features three title fights, airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Cris Cyborg (26-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’8″ Age: 38 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 69″
- Last fight: Decision win over Arlene Blencowe (April 23, 2023)
- Camp: Cris Cyborg MMA Fitness (California)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Bellator featherweight champion
+ UFC, Strikeforce and Invicta FC titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 18 knockout victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 10 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Evolved striking
^ Shot selection and technique
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Solid wrestling and takedown ability
+ Good positional grappler
^ Devastating ground striker
Cat Zingano (14-4 MMA, 4-0 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’6″ Age: 41 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 68″
- Last fight: Decision win over Leah McCourt (March 31, 2023)
- Camp: Atos Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (San Diego, Calif.)
- Stance/striking style: Southpaw/muay Thai
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt
+ Wrestling base and accolades
+ 5 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 3 first-round finishes
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Dangerous knees and elbows
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Trips, throws, lateral drops
+ Works well from front headlock
+ Solid top game and transitions
^ Good ground striker
+ Has a knack for hitting reversals
Odds and opinions
The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the sitting champion, listing Cris Cyborg -550 and Cat Zingano +390 via FanDuel.
Considering the wide odds that Cyborg usually commands, you could argue that the betting market is actually showing Zingano some respect here, which is nice to see.
Zingano, who has also fought the best that women’s MMA has had to offer for multiple generations, is no stranger when it comes to tough challenges. In fact, Zingano’s knack for finding reversals and staging comebacks appears to be hardwired into her style at this point of her career.
For that reason, I’ll be curious to see if Cyborg continues her quiet trend of countering and fighting more conservatively.
Ever since her chin faltered to Amanda Nunes back at UFC 232, Cyborg has been much more careful on her feet, as well as embracing more of a jiu-jitsu-centric game on the floor. I suspect that this style will be the smart approach opposite a threat like Zingano, but Cyborg will need to maintain discipline in both her pacing and decision-making against her current challenger.
Not only is Zingano a legitimate wrestler, but she has a much more dangerous submission game than her jiu-jitsu credentials represent.
The potential problem, however, is that Zingano primarily scores her takedowns off of clinch and cage scenarios – a place where Cyborg is particularly savvy.
Clinch fighting from Cris Cyborg #Bellator259 pic.twitter.com/8vuFSmoLfU
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) May 19, 2021
For that reason, I have a hard time paving a reliable path to victory for the 41-year-old outside of some serious mistakes by Cyborg. Given Zingano’s durability and Cyrborg’s underrated gas tank, I wouldn’t be shocked to see this one go long.
But considering that Zingano, in victory or defeat, has a propensity to allow her opponents positions like the mount, I’ll officially pick Cyborg to force a stoppage via strikes by the fourth round.
