Bellator 192 predictions: MacDonald vies for 1st world title in new home

Prior to Saturday's Bellator 192 in Inglewood, Calif., theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the evening's main-card bouts.

Heavyweight

Quinton Jackson (4-1 Bellator, 37-12)
vs.
Chael Sonnen (1-1 Bellator, 29-15-1)

For once, Jackson's reluctance to get his weight down might actually serve him well.

Sonnen has put many a man on his hind parts with his patented power double-leg takedown, but Jackson is no converted middleweight, nor will he give up the position nearly as easily as the reckless Wanderlei Silva did when he fought Sonnen in June. Expect Jackson's often dormant wrestling to hold up, keep the fight upright, and allow him to tune Sonnen up en route to a TKO victory.

THE PICK: Jackson

Welterweight Championship

Douglas Lima (11-2 Bellator, 29-6)
vs.
Rory MacDonald (1-0 Bellator, 19-4)

In his May promotional debut opposite Paul Daley, MacDonald - 11 months removed from his previous fight - reminded us all just how damn talented he is. Then again, so is Lima.

The challenger showed little respect for Daley's hands, but Lima should earn it with his deadly intercepting left hook before long, prompting MacDonald to pursue takedowns. If the champ can't shuck off MacDonald's shots, he may very well lose his title to several rounds' worth of top control and submission attempts, but if Lima can stave off the takedown, his granite mitts should put MacDonald away and keep the strap around his waist in the championship rounds.

THE PICK: Lima

Lightweight

Michael Chandler (13-4 Bellator, 16-4)
vs.
Goiti Yamauchi (8-2 Bellator, 22-3)

Yamauchi ain't ready.

The 25-year-old's mat skills are certainly nothing to sneeze at, but not only has Chandler seen it all, he knows better than to flirt with disaster and bring the action into the prospect's domain. Look for the former champ to take the center of the cage, treat Yamauchi to the wrath of his power right hand, and re-cement himself as Bellator's preeminent lightweight contender with a TKO stoppage.

THE PICK: Chandler

Featherweight

Georgi Karakhanyan (6-5 Bellator, 27-7-1)
vs.
Henry Corrales (2-3 Bellator, 14-3)

Corrales' trio of losses under the Bellator banner all came opposite seasoned grapplers, a bill Karakhanyan fits.

The 32-year-old Karakhanyan isn't averse to trading leather, but he should take the scrappy Corrales to the ground in short order if he aims to secure his second straight victory. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who's never been submitted, Karakhanyan boasts the advantage over Corrales in the grappling department, one he'll exploit to put his foe away in the latter half of their contest.

THE PICK: Karakhanyan

Featherweight

Aaron Pico (1-1 Bellator, 1-1)
vs.
Shane Kruchten (0-0 Bellator, 12-3)

If this one stays upright, the Aaron Pico hype train rages on.

The blue-chipper impressed with his KO of Justin Linn late last year, and judging by Krutchen's recent tape, he'll bring his pro record above the .500 mark in front of his hometown crowd. Game as he is, Krutchen dangerously keeps his head on the center line and darts into range to throw combinations with his chin up, meaning Pico - a former Golden Gloves boxer - shouldn't need long to find it for another emphatic stoppage.

THE PICK: Pico