Lance Gibson Jr. vs Vladimir Tokov Prediction 03/31

Lance Gibson Jr. vs Vladimir Tokov: KingPin.pro Prediction for Bellator 293

On March 31, 2023, Bellator 293 will feature a highly anticipated lightweight bout between "Fearless" Lance Gibson Jr. and Vladimir "Vova" Tokov at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA. Both fighters are undefeated in Bellator, making this a compelling match-up for MMA fans. In this article, KingPin.pro will provide an extensive review of each fighter and explain why we predict Lance Gibson Jr. to come out on top.

Lance Gibson Jr.

"Fearless" Lance Gibson Jr. is a rising star in the lightweight division. With a professional MMA record of 7-0-0, he has won all of his fights in dominant fashion. His last fight, a unanimous decision victory over Dominic Clark at Bellator 286, showcased his versatility and impressive striking skills.

Gibson Jr. comes from a fighting family, with his father Lance Gibson Sr. being a former UFC fighter and head coach of Gibson MMA in British Columbia, Canada. Lance Jr. has trained under his father's tutelage since he was a child and has developed into a well-rounded fighter with excellent striking and grappling skills.

In terms of striking, Gibson Jr. possesses lightning-fast hands and a diverse arsenal of strikes, including kicks, punches, and elbows. He has the ability to land strikes from all angles and has a high level of accuracy. He also has excellent footwork and head movement, which allows him to avoid getting hit and create angles for his strikes.

On the ground, Gibson Jr. is equally skilled. He has a strong wrestling base and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has shown the ability to take down opponents and control them on the ground, as well as submit them with chokes and joint locks.

Overall, Lance Gibson Jr. is a well-rounded fighter with impressive striking and grappling skills. He has the ability to finish fights both on the feet and on the ground and has a bright future in the lightweight division.

Vladimir Tokov

Vladimir "Vova" Tokov is a talented lightweight fighter from Russia with a professional MMA record of 7-2-0. He is affiliated with the Alexander Nevsky gym in Stary Oskol, Russia and has competed in Bellator since 2019.

Tokov has a well-rounded skill set, with a background in sambo and wrestling. He is an aggressive fighter who likes to push the pace and has a high level of cardio. He also possesses solid striking skills, with heavy hands and a good chin.

On the ground, Tokov is a strong grappler with good takedown defense. He has shown the ability to take down opponents and control them on the ground, as well as submit them with chokes and joint locks. His ground-and-pound is also impressive, as he is able to inflict a lot of damage on his opponents.

While Tokov has a solid skill set, he has struggled with consistency throughout his career. His two losses both came by decision, and he has had trouble finishing fights in his career.

Prediction: Lance Gibson Jr. Wins

While Vladimir Tokov is no pushover, he has a few weaknesses that Lance Gibson Jr. could capitalize on to secure the win.

Firstly, Tokov has a tendency to rely too much on his grappling skills, which may not work in his favor against Gibson Jr. Gibson Jr. has proven to be adept at defending takedowns and maintaining control of the fight on his feet. In fact, he has won 28% of his fights by decision, showing that he has the stamina and discipline to keep his opponents at bay and wear them down over time. On the other hand, Tokov has only won 14% of his fights by KO/TKO, which suggests that he may not have the striking power to put Gibson Jr. in any real danger.

Secondly, Tokov has shown a vulnerability to submissions in the past. Of his two losses, one was due to a submission (rear-naked choke) and the other was due to a decision. Gibson Jr. is an excellent submission artist, with 28% of his wins coming from submissions. He has a particularly dangerous guillotine choke, which he used to great effect in his last fight against Dominic Clark at Bellator 286. If Gibson Jr. can get Tokov in a position where he can go for the submission, he could very well end the fight early.

Finally, Gibson Jr. has the momentum going into this fight. He is undefeated in his professional MMA career, with a current streak of 10 wins. He has been on a tear lately, finishing his last three fights by submission or TKO. In contrast, Tokov is coming off a loss in his last fight against Jay Jay Wilson at Bellator 286, which could have a negative impact on his confidence and morale.

In conclusion, while both Lance Gibson Jr. and Vladimir Tokov are talented fighters with impressive records, Gibson Jr. has the edge in this fight. His striking skills, submission abilities, and momentum all work in his favor, while Tokov's over-reliance on grappling and susceptibility to submissions could prove to be his downfall. As such, our ufc fight predictions and ufc picks tonight lead us to believe that Lance Gibson Jr. will emerge victorious at Bellator 293 and cement his status as one of the rising stars of the lightweight division.