· Bellator 45 Fighters Sound Off Before Tournament Finals

The fourth season of Bellator Fighting Championships comes to a close at Bellator 45, as the promotion rolls into Louisiana for the sixth time and the second visit to L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, on May 21. Four fighters compete in two weight classes as the featherweight and light heavyweight tournaments conclude live on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET.

With two champions waiting to be named, the Bellator 45 participants are anxious to determine their own fate and the combatants recently commented on how they think their respective contests will end. Suffice it to say, confidence was not in short supply.

The light heavyweight tournament, poised to determine the first ever champion for the division, pits Rich “Rare Breed” Hale (17-3-1) against Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu (17-3-1).

Hale brings one submission finish and one decision win in his tournament performance thus far. Despite having identical records, “Rare Breed” sees M’Pumbu as being overmatched from the opening bell.

“I absolutely see this fight with Christian M'Pumbu ending early. I honestly don't see it going the full five rounds. I'm going to push the pace, and I'm going to keep that heat on him so he can't find an opening,” Hale stated. “I'm going to make him sweat. I'm going to let him know right away that he's in a fight. This is a world title fight, and I'm going to make him understand why.”

Sporting an already impressive submission record, M'Pumbu’s tournament bouts both ended via technical knockout. Demonstrably capable on the ground and the feet, the French fighter seems content to do his talking in the cage.

Featherweights Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (16-1) and Daniel Straus (16-3) are guaranteed to provide an explosive fight for the fans. Freire advanced after two knockout victories while Straus notched one unanimous decision victory and one submission finish in his tournament run.

A previous loss to the Featherweight Champion Joe Warren may have motivated Freire’s dominance thus far, but he knows he cannot overlook an ever-dangerous Straus.

“It would be cool to score three knockouts in a row during the tournament, but what matters the most to me is to get the victory,” said Freire. “I don't care how it happens. I just want to make sure it's my hand that is raised at the end of the fight.

“The fact that Joe Warren is waiting for me after I defeat Daniel Straus gives me even more motivation to win this fight. I'm looking forward to having my revenge,” he continued. “However, I know I have a tough fight in front of me, so I'm thinking about Straus first.”

An extremely talented high school wrestler, Straus has proven to have the grit to rise to the top. In his MMA career he seems to relish a tough fight and is content to outlast his opponent one way or another. Straus brings nine decision wins, along with three knockouts and two submission victories into the bout with Freire. Importantly, Straus has never lost a match that has gone the distance.

“I definitely feel like I'm the superior wrestler in this fight with Patricio. If he can't stop my takedowns or if he can't take me down, then that's just his bad,” Straus remarked. “I want to knock Patricio out or submit him. I feel like he hasn't really been tested that way and I'd like to think that I'm the guy that can test his chin, or get him to tap under pressure.”

In a middleweight qualifier bout for the upcoming season five tournament, Karl “Psycho” Amoussou (12-3-2) prepares to take on “Smilin” Sam Alvey (14-2, 1 NC).

Both fighters are ready to make an impression and earn the prospective tournament berth. Not surprisingly, the conversation between the two revolved around Alvey’s demeanor.

“I think Sam smiles all the time to try to disturb his opponents, but to be honest, I absolutely don't care. He can have his stupid smile during the stare down and when he enters the cage,” Amoussou declared. “I know once he gets rocked by my first punch, his face will change suddenly. Then if he tries to smile again, my other fist will already be in his mouth.”

Alvey, however, remains undeterred. “Do you know how many times I've been told that I wasn't going to be smiling when my fights were over? I'm 14-2, so that means I've been told that sixteen times now. It doesn't pay off for most people,” he stated. “Karl can hit me all day long and the fact of the matter is that I'm still going to be smiling after every punch. He's not going to be able to hit me hard enough to make me stop.”