MMASucka staff picks are in for tomorrow night’s Bellator 214 taking place from The Forum in Inglewood, California. The main card will begin live on Paramount Network and DAZN at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT). In the night’s main event, Ryan Bader will look to become a two-division Bellator champion facing off against all-time mixed martial arts great and legend Fedor Emelianenko. The two worked their way through the organization’s Heavyweight Grand Prix during the 2018 year, now set to compete for the Bellator heavyweight championship. Bader scored victories over Matt Mitrione and Muhammad Lawal while Emelianenko secured first-round knockouts over Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen.
In the co-main event, Henry Corrales looks to extend his Bellator win streak to five in a row against multi-time freestyle wrestling champion Aaron Pico in the featherweight division. Corrales started off his Bellator tenure going 0-3 but turned it around with four victories over the past two years. Despite a loss in his first ever fight, Pico rebounded by stopping four opponents in a row by knockout in the first round; his most recent victory over Leandro Higo.
Staff picks for 2019 will be composed of four different MMA promotions: UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN. Main cards will make up both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE and RIZIN events will be used. The WINNER of staff picks will have a choice between receiving a championship belt from ProAmBelts or a championship chain from Championship Chains. The 2018 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 202-101.
Make sure to check out our MMASucka staff picks for Bellator 214 below. Also, click the link here to check out this morning’s staff picks from ONE Championship: Hero’s Ascent (written by friend and fellow staff writer Connor Deitrich).
Staff Records after ONE FC: Eternal Glory & UFC on ESPN+ 1:
1. Mike Skytte: 7-3
2T. Jeremy Brand: 6-4
2T. Wesley Riddle: 6-4
2T. Michael DeSantis: 6-4
2T. Ryan Wagner: 6-4
2T. Brian Gerson: 6-4
7. Ed Gallo: 5-5
8T. Connor Deitrich: 4-6
8T. Omar Villagrana: 4-6
8T. Patrick Auger: 4-6
8T. Justin Pierrot: 4-6
8T. Mitch Banuelos: 4-6
8T. Suraj Sukumar: 4-6
14. Matt Bricker: 2-8
Brandon McMahan (5-6) vs. Adel Altamimi (7-5)
Jeremy Brand: Altamimi via UD
Wesley Riddle: Altamimi via Round 1 SUB
Mike Skytte: McMahan via Round 1 TKO
Justin Pierrot: Altamimi via UD
Michael DeSantis: Altamimi via Round 1 SUB
Ryan Wagner: Altamimi via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Altamimi via UD
Ed Gallo: Altamimi via UD
Omar Villagrana: Altamimi via UD
Brian Gerson: Altamimi via SD
Matt Bricker: Altamimi via UD
Connor Deitrich: Altamimi via Round 1 TKO
Patrick Auger: N/A
Sasha Moksyakov: Altamimi via Round 2 SUB
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Altamimi via UD
Staff picking McMahan: 1
Staff picking Altamimi: 13
Juan Archuleta (20-1) vs. Ricky Bandejas (11-1)
Jeremy Brand: Archuleta via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Archuleta via Round 3 SUB
Mike Skytte: Archuleta via UD
Justin Pierrot: Archuleta via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Archuleta via UD
Ryan Wagner: Archuleta via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Archuleta via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Archuleta via Round 2 SUB
Omar Villagrana: Archuleta via UD
Brian Gerson: Bandejas via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Bandejas via UD
Connor Deitrich: Bandejas via Round 3 TKO
Patrick Auger: N/A
Sasha Moksyakov: Bandejas via UD
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Bandejas via UD
Staff picking Archuleta: 9
Staff picking Bandejas: 5
Jack Swagger (debut) vs. JW Kiser (1-1)
Jeremy Brand: Swagger via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Swagger via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Swagger via Round 2 TKO
Justin Pierrot: Swagger via UD
Michael DeSantis: Swagger via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Wagner: Swagger via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Swagger via UD
Ed Gallo: Swagger via Round 1 TKO
Omar Villagrana: Swagger via UD
Brian Gerson: Swagger via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Swagger via SD
Connor Deitrich: Swagger via UD
Patrick Auger: N/A
Sasha Moksyakov: Swagger via Round 2 SUB
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Swagger via UD
Staff picking Swagger: 14
Staff picking Kiser: 0
Aaron Pico (4-1) vs. Henry Corrales (16-3)
Jeremy Brand: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Pico via UD
Justin Pierrot: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Wagner: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Omar Villagrana: Pico via UD
Brian Gerson: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Pico via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Patrick Auger: N/A
Sasha Moksyakov: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Pico: 14
Staff picking Corrales: 0
Fedor Emelianenko (38-5) vs. Ryan Bader (26-5)
Jeremy Brand: Emelianenko via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Bader via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Emelianenko via Round 1 SUB
Justin Pierrot: Bader via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Bader via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Wagner: Bader via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Bader via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Bader via Round 3 TKO
Omar Villagrana: Bader via UD
Brian Gerson: Emelianenko via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Bader via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Bader via UD
Patrick Auger: N/A
Sasha Moksyakov: Bader via Round 2 TKO
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Bader via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Emelianenko: 3
Staff picking Bader: 11
FEATURED IMAGE:
Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader square off for the media following weigh-ins for Bellator 214, taking place live from The Forum in Inglewood, California on Saturday, January 26th (photo credit: Bellator MMA Facebook Page)
