Ed Ruth – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Bellator 239 predictions: Three unanimous picks, one contentious fight in Oklahoma

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 239 main card in Oklahoma, featuring Ed Ruth vs. Yaroslav Amosov.

	Ruth vs. Amosov	Girtz vs. Jury	Fortune vs. Johnson	Ayala vs. Moldavsky
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 16-10	Ruth (50.5%)	Jury (71%)	Fortune (90%)	Moldavsky (78%)
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 20-6	Ruth	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 20-6 2017 Champion	Amosov	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 19-7	Amosov	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 19-7	Ruth	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 19-7	Ruth	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 19-7	Amosov	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 19-7	Amosov	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 19-7 2014 Champion	Ruth	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 18-8	Ruth	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 18-8	Amosov	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 18-8 2019 Champion*	Amosov	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 17-9 2018 Champion	Amosov	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 16-10	Ruth	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 12-14	Ruth	Jury	Fortune	Moldavsky

Bellator is back at its regular Oklahoma stomping grounds for the first of its back-to-back shows this week on two continents, and a welterweight showdown tops the bill.

Bellator 239 takes place Friday at WinStar World Casino Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

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In the main event, [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) takes on the unbeaten [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in a welterweight fight that will keep one of them in the title picture. Amosov is a slight favorite with the oddsmakers, and the fight has the closest betting odds on the card. Our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have reflected that, as well – they have the fight split right down the middle at 7-7 in the picks.

For the rest of the main card in Thackerville, our pickers are unanimous at 14-0. All three fights have heavy favorites.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) returns for his second Bellator bout looking to rebound from a loss to former UFC and WEC champion Benson Henderson in his promotional debut. He’s nearly a 3-1 favorite against [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) and he’s got a 14-0 shutout in the picks.

[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) is a 7-1 favorite against [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) in their heavyweight bout, and he’s a 14-0 pick. Fortune is looking to stay unbeaten and insert himself into the title picture. He has four straight knockout wins.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) is a 7-1 favorite, as well, and a 14-0 pick at heavyweight against [autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA).

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Ruth (50.5 percent), Jury (71 percent), Fortune (90 percent) and Moldavsky (78 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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4 burning questions heading into Bellator 239

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head picks out four notable storylines to follow through fight night at Bellator 239.

The Bellator cage returns to the familiar surroundings of the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., on Friday for Bellator 239 as a pair of surging welterweight contenders face off in the main event looking to position themselves for a shot at reigning 170-pound champion Douglas Lima.

The welterweight clash between [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] and [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] headlines a packed card that features a range of narratives worth following as a host of rising stars look to make an impact.

Without further ado, here are our four burning questions heading in.

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Which rising welterweight star will move one step closer to a title shot?

Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) has been considered a blue-chip prospect from the moment he inked his first fight contract with Bellator. Now nine fights into his MMA career, the former Penn State wrestling standout has the well-rounded skillset to make him a legitimate threat to the very best in the division.

With the dust still settling after the Bellator welterweight grand prix tournament, Ruth is eyeing a run at Lima’s 170-pound title but faces an acid test in the form of undefeated Ukrainian Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who followed up decision wins in his first two Bellator outings with an impressive submission of tough veteran David Rickels in his most recent appearance.

Amosov’s grappling-based attack should make for a fascinating contest with wrestling phenom Ruth, and the fight might end up being decided by whomever has the better striking.

The welterweight division is wide open right now, and a decisive win for either man could push them toward the front of the queue to face Lima later in the year. But who will leave Thackerville with the win?

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Ed Ruth: Champ Douglas Lima fighting for second Bellator belt is good for welterweights

Ed Ruth supports Douglas Lima’s decision to fight for the Bellator middleweight title, even if it holds up the line at welterweight.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – The Bellator welterweight title picture is on hold for the time being. However, one of the top contenders in the division isn’t worried about the situation.

[autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag], who meets Yaroslav Amosov in Friday’s Bellator 239 headliner, approves of current 170-pound champ [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag] moving up to fight for vacant middleweight gold against Gegard Mousasi in May.

The result of that contest could create many different scenarios depending on who wins, but Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) chooses to look at the positive.

“It doesn’t aggravate me at all,” Ruth told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Everybody is on a personal journey. You’re going to see the belt, you’re going to get your chance and opportunity to fight for it when you do. I think it’s awesome he’s moving up. He’s going up to this next weight class to fight Mousasi, the (former) champ at the next weight class. If he wins, that’s good.

“If he has to come back and defend his title and you beat him, you feel like you can go two weight classes. So it’s more options for us. If he loses then whatever, it gives somebody else the chance to get the belt and go up there. It still shows 170 can compete with 185 and everybody wants to be two-division belt champions.”

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Regardless of what Lima (32-7 MMA, 14-3 BMMA) is doing, Ruth said he intends to put himself in the title conversation going forward. Handing the undefeated Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) his first loss would be a good way to make that happen.

Ruth said he relishes the chance to put the first blemish on Amosov’s record in the Bellator 239 headliner, which takes place at WinStar World Casino and Resort and airs on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

“I feel like it’s appropriate,” Ruth said. “I was like, ‘If anything, they better give me somebody who is 22-0.’ I want to show people that there’s a monster coming. There’s going to be way more guys just like him. I want to see him now and I want to see more later.

“For me I just go out there and keep it smart. Keep my hands high, move around, tag the guy when I can and look for my takedowns.”

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Bellator 239: Ed Ruth full pre-fight interview

Bellator 239 pre-event facts: Tyrell Fortune stacking heavyweight stats

Check out the key facts and figures heading into Bellator 239, which takes place Friday with a Ed Ruth vs. Yaroslav Amosov main event.

The first Bellator event in nearly one month goes down Friday with Bellator 239, which takes place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., with a main card that airs on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

A matchup of welterweight contenders is featured in the main event. [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) looks for continued success after suffering his first loss when he takes on the riddle that is [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who has never been beaten.

For more on the numbers, check below for 20 pre-event facts about Bellator 239.

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Main event

Ruth competes in his first Bellator main event.

Ruth is 3-1 since he dropped to the Bellator welterweight division in June 2018.

Ruth has earned six of his eight career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.

Amosov’s 22-fight winning streak in MMA competition is the longest among active Bellator fighters.

Amosov has earned 18 of his 22 career victories by stoppage.

Co-main event

[autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) five stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Patricky Freire (nine) and Michael Chandler (nine).

[autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag]’s (17-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since December 2017.

Jury was unsuccessful in his return to the lightweight division at Bellator 227 in September. He hasn’t earned a victory in the weight class since September 2014.

Remaining main card

[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag]’s (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) eight-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Fortune’s eight victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Cheick Kongo (12).

Fortune’s six stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied for most in divisional history.

Fortune’s five knockout victories in Bellator competition are tied with Vitaly Minakov for most in divisional history.

[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He’s 1-3 in his past four fights and hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.

[autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) competes in his 11th Bellator heavyweight bout, the second most appearances in divisional history behind Kongo (15).

Ayala’s six victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Kongo (12) and Fortune (eight).

Ayala has earned 10 of his 11 career victories by stoppage. That includes all six of his Bellator wins.

Ayala’s six stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are tied with Fortune for most in divisional history.

[autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) three-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is tied for the second longest active streak in the division behind Fortune (eight).

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MMA Junkie reader predictions: Make your picks for Bellator 239

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 239 event in Oklahoma.

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 239 event in Thackerville, Okla.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesdy at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 239 event staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 239 takes place Friday at WinStar World Casino Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for all four main card fights inside:

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Ed Ruth out to test Yaroslav Amosov’s wrestling in Bellator 239 main event

Ed Ruth wants to put Yaroslav Amosov’s wrestling skills to the test at Bellator 239.

[autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] wants to fight fire with fire.

The American Kickboxing Academy product wants to beat Yaroslav Amosov at his own game when they meet on Feb. 21 in the main event of Bellator 239. Amosov, who’s unbeaten with 22 wins, has climbed up the ranks in Bellator’s welterweight division, dominating opponents with his strong wrestling base.

Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA), who’s a three-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion, wants to see who excels better in the grappling department.

“I know most fighters want to stay away from where the guy is strongest, but me as a fighter myself, I always take it to where the guy is strongest because I feel like I have to dominate that part,” Ruth told MMA Junkie. “It’s not always the best strategy, but in this case, I feel like my wrestling trumps his.”

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With that approach in mind, Ruth expects his fight with Amosov to be mainly a wrestling match.

“I definitely see it with me somewhere in the middle of the ring, but both of us are not really going to give up, not going to want to give up too much ground,” Ruth said. “But I do see this being on the feet only for like the first couple of minutes. I think we’re going to be on ground mostly. I think it’s going to be pretty much wrestling match.”

Bellator 239 marks the first time Ruth headlines a Bellator event. The 29-year-old is taking the opportunity just like any other and doesn’t plan to make much of his biggest spotlight.

“You’re stepping in the cage and you know you’re going to be locked in there with somebody and you’re just going to fight,” Ruth said. “For me psychologically, I just have to look at it as the same event as always. That’s just the way I take it.”

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Video: Bellator’s Jay Glazer and Robin Black administer ‘The Dose’

Jay Glazer and Robin Black team up to deliver a YouTube update on all things Bellator in the promotion’s newest video feature, “The Dose.”

Do you have Bellator fever? Then the only prescription is “The Dose.”

Jay Glazer and Robin Black have teamed up for the promotion’s latest video franchise, with the duo shooting the Bellator breeze as they look back at some of the biggest performances from recent events and look ahead to the big-time matchups to come.

In the first episode of “The Dose,” Glazer and Black preview the Bellator 239 main event in Oklahoma, as former collegiate wrestling standout [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) faces off against Ukraine’s undefeated [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in a pivotal welterweight bout, while also highlighting the co-main event between [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA).

The duo also take look back at flyweight champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA), who enjoyed a memorable win – and a memorable walkout – at Bellator 236, and the throwback fight between former PRIDE FC legends [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag] (38-13 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) at Bellator 237.

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We also hear from the fighters themselves, as Jenn Brown chats with newly-crowned featherweight queen [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and featherweight grand prix semifinalist [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 11-2 BMMA) following their winning performances at Bellator 238.

Finally, Glazer and Black run through the current state of play in the Bellator featherweight grand prix, with the second half of the bracket set to play out and produce the second semifinal matchup with [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (30-4 MMA, 18-4 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Pedro Carvalho[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Daniel Weichel[/autotag] (40-11 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) set for Bellator 241 in Uncasville on Mar. 13.

Check out “The Dose” via the video above.

Ed Ruth vs. Yaroslav Amosov headlines Bellator 239 in Oklahoma on Feb. 21, Girtz-Jury set for co-main

Bellator has booked its first 2020 return to its regular Oklahoma stomping grounds with a welterweight headliner.

[autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, BMMA 8-1) is set to take on [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in the Bellator 239 main event, the promotion announced Monday. In addition, [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) meets [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in the lightweight co-feature.

Bellator 239 takes place Feb. 21, a Friday, at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., about 75 miles north of Dallas. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Ruth has won back-to-back fights in 2019 to get back on track after the first setback of his pro career. The standout wrestler was submitted by Neiman Gracie at Bellator 213 nearly a year ago in the welterweight tournament. But in July, he stopped Kiichi Kunimoto with a second-round TKO at Bellator 224 to get back in the win column, and he took a split call from Jason Jackson at Bellator 231 in October in Connecticut.

Amosov signed with Bellator in 2013 and continued the perfect start to his career with a unanimous decision over Gerald Harris at Bellator 202 in Thackerville. He followed that up with a decision win over former UFC standout Erick Silva at Bellator 216 in February. In August, he got his first Bellator stoppage win with a second-round submission of David Rickels at Bellator 225.

Girtz got back on track in March with a unanimous decision win over Saad Awad at Bellator 219. Prior to that, he was mired in a 1-4 slump that included a submission loss to former lightweight champion Michael Chandler. He was set to return at Bellator 227, but an injury took him out of a fight against Jon Tuck, who was a replacement for the injured Paul Redmond. Now he’ll look to make it two straight and three of his past four.

Jury made his promotional debut in September at Bellator 227, but dropped a unanimous decision to former UFC and WEC lightweight champ Benson Henderson. The setback was Jury’s third straight. He closed out his lengthy run in the UFC with consecutive losses to Chad Mendes and Andre Fili before signing with Bellator. Once an unbeaten UFC lightweight title contender with six straight wins, including victories over Michael Johnson, Diego Sanchez and Takanori Gomi, Jury is just 2-5 over the past nearly five years.

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