Bellator 233: Salter vs van Steenis is set for Friday night at WinStar World Casino, in Thackerville, Oklahoma. You can catch the broadcast on Paramount Network and DAZN. The main event is a middleweight bout between John Salter, who has competed in UFC, Strikeforce, King of the Cage and the AFC, and Costello van Steenis, who hails from the Netherlands. The co-headliner is a catchweight (195 lbs) bout between Muhammed Lawal and Andrew Kapel. We have the full fight card for you as well as MMA betting thoughts on the key matchups.
Bellator 233 Odds, Preview & Predictions
#Bellator233 is 2 sleeps out and we’re hyped to kick off this stacked card! Tune in on @ParamountNet to watch it go down Friday, November 8th! pic.twitter.com/mMlbiGAc4d
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 6, 2019
- When: Friday, Nov. 8 at 9:00 pm ET
- Where: WinStar World Casino & Resort, Thackerville, OK
- TV: Paramount Net
- Live Stream: DAZN
Main Card
- John Salter vs Costello van Steenis (Middleweight)
- Muhammed Lawal vs Andrew Kapel (Catchweight – 195 lbs)
- Leslie Smith vs Arlene Blencowe (Women’s Featherweight)
- Tyrell Fortune vs Azunna Anyanwu (Heavyweight)
Preliminary Card
- Logan Storley vs E.J. Brooks (Welterweight)
- Christian Edwards vs Cesar Bennett (Light Heavyweight)
- Kyle Crutchmer vs Antonio Jones (Welterweight)
- Jordan Young vs Julius Anglickas (Light Heavyweight)
- Romero Cotton vs Jason Perrotta (Middleweight)
- Janay Harding vs Amanda Bell (Women’s Featherweight)
- Davion Franklin vs Christian Adams (Heavyweight)
- Aaron McKenzie vs Sean Clements (Lightweight)
- Lucas Brennan vs Jacob Landin (Featherweight)
- Grant Neal vs Jimmy Lugo (Light Heavyweight)
John Salter vs Costello van Steenis
This pits one of the best middleweights in Bellator, in Salter, against a fighter on a six-bout winning streak, including four as a Bellator fighter. In his four Bellator tilts, van Steenis has delivered three wins via finish, including his knockout of Mike Shipman in the second round.
This might sound like a bit of a mismatch, but it is logically the next step that van Steenis needs to get under his belt if he wants to move into the ranks fo the middleweight contenders. He faced a fighter similar to Salter in terms of skill set, and he won the cards, when he beat Chris Honeycutt. Honeycutt is a solid wrestler, and Salter is even better. The issues that Honeycutt gave van Steenis should give Salter a blueprint on how to approach. If he can get van Steenis to the ground, he should be able to win this. If the fight stays upright, then the odds are in the Dutchman’s favor.
Final Prediction: Salter wins via decision
Muhammed Lawal vs Andrew Kapel
It brings Lawal out of retirement for one additional bout. Lawal has lost three fights in a row, most recently falling at Rizin 15 in April. Kapel has 20 fights under his belt and has won four in a row coming into his Bellator debut. If you’re wondering if this Kapel is a tomato can that Bellator is setting up for Lawal so that he can go into retirement with a win, you could be right.
Lawal’s skid began when he lost to Ryan Bader, who would go on to hold two belts at the same time. He then lost to Liam McGeary, a former Bellator light heavyweight champion, and then he lost to Jiri Prochazka at Rizin 15. He had beaten Prochazka when the two fought in 2016. Lawal has the better game whether the fight goes to the floor or stays upright. Kapel has never fought against anyone of Lawal’s skill before, and even though he has won four straight (with three submissions), he has not fought in nine months, so there will be some rust to shake off. As long as Lawal can mount a basic defense and use his wrestling skills, he should roll to a win.
Final Prediction: Lawal wins via submission
Leslie Smith vs Arlene Blencowe
The fighr features a fighter with UFC experience in Smith, who makes her Bellator debut against Blencowe, who is one of the top Bellator featherweights. Blencowe only has one loss as a Bellator fighter, and that was in her challenge fight for the women’s featherweight belt. She has won two in a row, most recently beating Amanda Bell. The winner of this fight could easily challenge for the women’s featherweight belt the next time a title fight appears on the schedule.
Final Prediction: Blencowe wins via decision
