Bellator 192 main-event breakdown: Expect a grimy decision – but for Chael Sonnen or Quinton Jackson?

MMAjunkie Radio cohost and MMAjunkie contributor Dan Tom provides an in-depth breakdown of all of Bellator’s top bouts, and today, we look at Bellator 192’s main event.

Bellator 192 takes place Saturday at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and the main card airs on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.

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Quinton Jackson (37-12 MMA, 4-1 BMMA)

Quinton Jackson

Staple info:

• Height: 6’1? Age: 39 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 73?
• Last fight: Decision loss to Muhammed Lawal (March 31, 2017)
• Camp: Ultimate Training Center (Huntington, CA)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/boxing
• Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:
+ Former UFC light-heavyweight champion
+ Wrestling base
+ 18 KO victories
+ 5 submission wins
+ 16 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Solid boxing technique
^ Slips, rolls, feints and fakes
+ Dangerous hooks
^ Coming forward and off of the counter
+ Physically strong in the clinch
^ Strikes well off the breaks
+ Good takedown defense
^ Heavy base/solid fundamentals
+ Underrated grappler
+ Devastating ground striker
+ Improved submission defense
^ Will still look for slams

Chael Sonnen (29-15-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA)

Chael Sonnen

Staple info:

• Height: 6’1? Age: 40 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 74?
• Last fight: Decision win over Wanderlei Silva (June 24, 2017)
• Camp: Gracie Barra Portland (Portland, OR)
• Stance/striking style: Southpaw/boxing
• Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:
+ NCAA Division 1 All-American wrestler
+ Multiple wrestling accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 8 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Underrated striking ability
^ Solid boxing technique
+ Accurate left cross
+ Strong inside of the clinch
+ Excellent takedown ability
^ Favors power-doubles
+ Good transitional grappler
^ Passes, rides and floats well
+ Serviceable submission game
^ Works well from front-headlock
+ Stays busy from topside

Summary:

The main event in Inglewood features the first leg of Bellator’s heavyweight grand prix tournament, where we will be privy to a battle between Quinton Jackson and Chael Sonnen.

The tournament will take place throughout 2018 and will ultimately crown a new heavyweight champion for the organization.

Jackson, who has competed at heavyweight (or a catchweight) for his last three bouts, seems to be making himself comfortable north of his usual weight class whereas Sonnen – a man who has competed at light heavyweight for his past five fights – will now be stepping well- above his traditional home of 185 pounds. That said, I doubt these numbers will affect either man’s attitude given their background.

Starting off on the feet, we have a matchup between two wrestlers who can throw their hands – but do so in much different ways.

Initially storming the scene as a body-slamming wildman, Jackson would quickly make fans from his memorable performances in PRIDE FC. Steadily developing his boxing chops to go along with his already-potent wrestling ability, Jackson would eventually find himself getting the better of strikers on the feet, even ones to the caliber of Chuck Liddell.

By the time Jackson came over to the UFC in 2007, his boxing was at an even higher level, working with then-coach Juanito Perez. Under the care of Perez, we would see Jackson more effectively fake and feint, smoothly slipping and rolling his way into crushing hooks.

Jackson would end up flirting with different training camps throughout his UFC career, but his style remained consistent: Pressure your opposition with authority and make them pay for their reactions.

Despite this style earning him a world title while with the UFC, Jackson’s predictably would cause him issues when it came to fighters who could either stick and move, or match him in the wrestling department. Although he won’t exactly be facing a stick-and-move stylist in Sonnen, the looming wrestling threats could bleed into the striking dynamic of this fight.

A self-proclaimed “gangster” from West Linn, Ore., Sonnen is a southpaw who offers more than just a shot standing.

Demonstrating solid boxing fundamentals, Sonnen utilizes strong fakes while working behind a pumping jab. And with his patented left cross not far behind, Sonnen will quickly close the distance as he looks to change his level.

This high-percentage approach has served Sonnen well over the years, and it’s even earned him some memorable moments against skilled strikers like Anderson Silva. Still, the striking edge will belong to his counterpart on paper, begging the question: Will Sonnen be able to take down Jackson?

Takedown defense has long been a staple of Jackson’s game, and he’s traditionally been difficult to get down. Possessing a heavy base and balance, the 19-year professional puts his weight to good use when it comes to sprawls in the open of defending inside the clinch.

Nevertheless, top level wrestlers have been able to get Jackson down both in the open and against the fence. Should Sonnen score on Jackson early, he will need to work diligently to keep the larger man down.

Not only will Jackson have a size and strength edge, but he is also no slouch when it comes to getting back to his feet.

Whether he is utilizing an underhook getup in the open or leaning on the cage for a standing assist, Jackson will undoubtedly make Sonnen work hard. But, by that same token, Sonnen will also be making Jackson – who has shown to slow more significantly at this weight – work much harder as well.

Furthermore, Jackson may be at more risk than he realizes when attempting to stand. Sonnen, who wields an underrated submission game, has no issue in turning an underhook getup into a guillotine choke (just ask Mauricio “Shogun” Rua). Also, Jackson – like many wrestlers – will inherently turtle en route to making his way upright.

The problem, however, is that this position could briefly expose Jackson to a grappler who is good from a front headlock like Sonnen, who is also not shy when it comes jumping on a back when it suits the occasion.

That said, the 39-year-old veteran in Jackson has only been submitted by Kazushi Sakuraba and Jon Jones throughout his storied career, so Sonnen will likely have to make something special happen to add his name to the list.

The oddsmakers and public seem to be forming their opinions, listing Jackson -160 and Sonnen +140 as of this writing.

Should Jackson, whose condition has been suspect in recent years, not look good early, then he could quickly find himself in a stimying clinch war or worse – stuck underneath a formidable transitional grappler.

However, Sonnen, who has also struggled against strong wrestlers, will have a sizeable threat before him. Despite not being as mobile at this heavier weight, Jackson still displays the wrestling ability and urgency to stay on task.

Even in his lesser-inspiring performances, Jackson has always come to fight, swinging even harder when he knows the rounds are coming to a close. I don’t see this being an easy bout for either party, but I do see “Rampage” being the victor of a grimy decision, possibly stopping Sonnen should he gain a dominant position early.

Official pick: Jackson by decision

For more on Bellator 192, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.