5 Reasons Why Zach Makovsky Could Beat Chad Robichaux

Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvao won’t be the only non-title “super-fight” featuring a Bellator Champion at tomorrow’s Bellator 41 event. Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky will also be in action, and he’ll be stepping into the Bellator cage against 11-0 submission specialist Chad Robichaux. And much like Warren/Galvao, this is one fight that I’m feeling pretty conflicted about. Both men could win this fight, and here’s why: a special second entry into “5 Reasons Why”. First up is five reasons why Makovsky could beat Robichaux.

5. Robichaux is coming back from an eight-month layoff.

The all-important “sweet spot” for high-level fighters seems to be two fights a year, or a fight every six months. I think a fighter that takes any longer of an absence (seven months may be o.k., it depends on the fighter) runs the risk of developing ring rust. And as I keep saying, ring rust is very real. Some people rise above it, but then again, some don’t. The unpredictable nature of ring rust is why this reason starts us out.

4. Makovsky is on a six-fight unbeaten-streak.

The last time anyone beat Makovsky was in 2009. Since then he’s rolled through six straight people, and finished three of them. Makovsky is unbeaten in Bellator, which really says something when you consider how hectic a schedule a Bellator fighter must keep when they’re involved in one of Bellator’s tournaments.

3. Zach Makovsky has a good submission game.

Makovsky has won twelve times as a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, and those twelve wins include five by submission. And those five wins include several first round and second round submissions. Makovsky has even submitted people in the third and final round, and normally that’s the round where it’s toughest to submit people because of both men being tired and very sweaty. Makovsky’s ability to finish no matter the round is one of the biggest weapons in his arsenal.

2. Zach Makovsky has the cardio to last all three rounds.

Makovsky also has seven wins by decision, so he’s very comfortable leaving his fights in the hands of the judges. And he definitely should be: of all the decision victories on his record, only one has come by Split Decision. Makovsky has competed since 2006, and in five years only one judge in one fight has ever thought that he didn’t deserve to go home with a W.

And the number-one reason why Zach Makovsky could beat Chad Robichaux is…

1. Zach Makovsky is a Bellator Champion.

This remains the biggest reason why I think any Bellator Champion has a great shot of beating their opponent that’s not challenging for the championship. Even though the belt is not on the line, Makovsky will continue to compete at a championship level because that’s all he knows how to do in Bellator. Compare this to Robichaux, who up until his last fight had spent most of his time competing in lower-tier promotions. Makovsky facing and defeating better-quality opponents is the major reason why I think he could win this fight.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Do you think Zach Makovsky will be beating Chad Robichaux at Bellator 41?