Bellator 131: Ortiz vs. Bonnar Predictions: Bellator 131 will come to us all live on November 15, 2014 from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.  Leading the way will be a bout between Tito Ortiz and Stephan Bonnar.  Also on the card will be a lightweight championship tussle between champ Will Brooks and Michael Chandler.  Wondering how it will all go down? 

Then check out our predictions below.

Tito Ortiz vs. Stephan Bonnar Prediction: Ortiz is still a very strong wrestler with decent stand up.  In his prime, he added crazy cardio and awesome ground and pound.  Though he's still capable of that in a spot, his problem has been that back issues and age seem to have taken away from his ability to consistently implement his wrestling based game for a whole fight.

Bonnar has a great jaw, solid technical stand up, and good Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  In the past, he's been overwhelmed by more athletic competitors like Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, and once found himself defeated by an aging wrestler who came to put him on his back all night long (Mark Coleman).

So here are the questions that I believe need asking....

Can Ortiz take Bonnar down?- I think yes, but it won't be easy.

Can Ortiz repetitively take Bonnar down?- I think he will have trouble with this some time in the second round.

Can Ortiz stop Bonnar with strikes on the ground?- No, Bonnar is too tough.

Can Bonnar knock Ortiz out in the second or third stanza?- I think he can, but I don't think he will.

In other words, I see Ortiz winning the beginning of this fight and Bonnar the end.  The question is, who takes the second round?

An aging wrestler like Coleman was able to control Bonnar on the ground, maybe Ortiz can too.

Tito Ortiz defeats Stephan Bonnar by split decision.

Michael Chandler vs. Will Brooks Prediction: The first time these two battled, Brooks came on in the middle rounds to win the takedown battle and beat his opponent.  Chandler managed to dominate the very beginning and end of the action.  That said, it all left Brooks with a split decision victory.  Now here's the question- did Chandler take Brooks too lightly and perhaps not train as hard as he might have?  Did losing his chance at Eddie Alvarez in another rematch leave him a little bit down?

I'm thinking yes.

Michael Chandler defeats Will Brooks by decision in a good fight.

Mo Lawal vs. Tom DeBlass Prediction: DeBlass is a good fighter who can do his thing both on his feet and the ground.  Lawal is the same way.  Should be a good fight.  That said, I'm going with the upset in that I believe Lawal hasn't been the same since the first fight with Newton.

Tom DeBlass defeats Mo Lawal by decision.

Melvin Manhoef vs. Joe Schilling Prediction: Here's the thing- this is a great piece of matchmaking by the fellows over at Bellator.  As a grappler, Schilling leaves a lot to be desired.  But as a striker, the man is a championship caliber Muay Thai fighter.  Of course, so was Mark Hunt when he took on Melvin Manhoef, but the much smaller man knocked his opponent out.

In the end, Muay Thai fighter or not, when it comes down to two competitors swinging for the fences, nine out of every 10 times I'm going to take Manhoef.  This one is no different.

Melvin Manhoef defeats Joe Schilling by first round KO.