Bellator 111: Dantas vs. Leone

Eduardo Dantas (15-3) vs. Anthony Leone (13-6)

Eduardo Dantas looks to get back on the winning track on Friday night as he goes up against Anthony Leone at Bellator 111.

Here is the Bet DSI breakdown for Bellator 111:

Eduardo Dantas has not fought in over a year, when he defeated Marcos Galvao with a second-round knockout on February 13, 2013. Dantas is an incredible talent, and at age 25, many experts think he has all the makings of being a star in the sport. He is an incredible athlete that has the speed and cardio to wear his opponent out. His opponent on Friday night will be Anthony Leone, who is looking to bounce back from a loss to Rafael Silva on October 4, 2013. Despite the defeat, Leone made it a competitive match, and he ultimately lost by way of unanimous decision. Like Dantas, the 24-year-old Leone is a young fighter whose best fighting days could be ahead of him. While Leone showed his ability to compete with the best of them when he took on Silva, it will not be enough in this fight as DANTAS will prove why he is one of the best young stars in the sport.

In his young career, Dantas has shown the ability to win a match in many different ways. Of his 15 wins, six have come by way of decision, five via submission, and four by way of knockout. This versatility plays a big role in his ability to get the win, as his opponents have to be ready for anything at any given moment. Even more impressive, Dantas can knock his opponent out in many different ways as well. He can be downright devastating with his punching power, but he also has the ability to come after his opponents with his knees. The Brazilian-born Dantas does a great job of picking his spots as well. At times, he is looking to deliver the knockout, and at other times he uses his striking to wear his opponents out and get the decision victory. He stands 5-foot-10 and 135 pounds, and if he is on top of his game and focused, it will be very difficult for Leone to take his belt away. However, this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, so Leone will come into this match ready to pull off the gargantuan upset.

Of his 13 career wins, Leone has seven by decision, six by submission and zero knockout victories. His ability to take the match to the ground makes this match very intriguing, as he has the edge in terms of his submission prowess. Leone will have a difficult time on his feet though, as his 5-foot-6 height is four inches smaller than his opponent. A big key heading into this match will be how Leone handles the spotlight. Dantas is so versatile and talented, he can bait fighters into his style. If Leone is able to slow the tempo of the match down, he has a chance to get the win. This is Leone’s opportunity to make noise in the sport, and the heavily favored Dantas has to be ready for anything.