Another triple-header is in store for our MMASucka staff picks. Opening the weekend will see Bellator 227 (also referred to as Bellator Dublin) taking place this evening from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The “227” portion’s main card will begin live on Bellator’s app at 5:05pm ET (2:05pm PT) with the “Dublin” portion following on both Paramount and DAZN at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT). Stay tuned to our site for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 160 & Bellator 228 staff picks.
The Fights
The first of two featured fights sees Ireland’s James Gallagher taking on short-notice replacement Roman Salazar at 145 pounds. Gallagher will be making his eighth appearance under the Bellator banner, this being his second main event at home. A strong 6-0 start came to a halt in August of last year, suffering his first professional defeat to Ricky Bandejas by knockout in the first. 2019 has seen a solid recovery for Gallagher scoring two victories in February and June. His opponent, Salazar, has had his share of successes throughout his ten-year career. A brief UFC tenure from 2014 to 2015 saw an unfortunate two losses and a No Contest in a fight with the late Norifumi Yamamoto. His biggest in-cage accomplishment came earlier this year taking the vacant IBP Featherweight Championship over Evan DeLong.
The second featured fight takes place on the “227” portion between Benson Henderson and Myles Jury in the lightweight division. Former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Henderson made the switch to Bellator in early 2016. Two title shots would come within his first three promotional fights, coming up short in decisions to the likes of welterweight Andrey Koreshkov and lightweight Michael Chandler. Another loss to Patricky Pitbull kicked off a three-fight win streak in Henderson’s favor since April of 2018. His opponent, Jury, competed on season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter with twelve UFC fights. Victories among that span includes the likes of Michael Johnson, Ramsey Nijem, and Diego Sanchez. This will be Jury’s first fight with Bellator, hoping to find success against a former champion while in search of his first victory in nearly two years.
Other notables including Michael “Venom” Page, Peter Queally, Kiefer Crosbie, and Leah McCourt will battle their respected foes on the main card.
Staff Picks
Throughout the year, staff picks 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.
Check out our MMASucka staff picks for Bellator Dublin / Bellator 227 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 159:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 211-113
1T. Connor Deitrich: 211-113
3. Ed Gallo: 203-122
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 197-115
5. Mike Skytte: 196-128
6. Jeremy Brand: 188-136
7. Matt Bricker: 181-130
8. Brian Gerson: 176-99
9. Ash Camyab: 171-121
10. Ryan Wagner: 169-83
11. Patrick Auger: 157-119
12. Frazer Krohn: 98-63
13. Ryan Hobbs: 79-67
14. Ryan Fortune: 78-39
15. Suraj Sukumar: 58-26
16T. Andrew Benjamin: 56-42
16T. McKenzie Guardiero: 56-40
18. Tanner Russ: 12-10
19. Dan Rose: 3-5
Frans Mlambo (7-4) vs. Dominique Wooding (6-2)
Jeremy Brand: Mlambo via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Wooding via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Wooding via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Mlambo via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Wooding via UD
Matt Bricker: Wooding via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Wooding via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Wooding via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Mlambo via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Mlambo via UD
Frazer Krohn: Wooding via Round 1 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Wooding via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Mlambo via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Wooding via UD
Staff picking Mlambo: 5
Staff picking Wooding: 9
Leah McCourt (2-1) vs. Kerry Hughes (3-4)
Jeremy Brand: Hughes via UD
Mike Skytte: Hughes via SD
Michael DeSantis: McCourt via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Hughes via UD
Ed Gallo: Hughes via UD
Matt Bricker: Hughes via UD
Connor Deitrich: Hughes via UD
Ash Camyab: Hughes via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Hughes via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Hughes via UD
Frazer Krohn: McCourt via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Hughes via UD
Tanner Russ: McCourt via UD
Dan Rose: McCourt via UD
Staff picking McCourt: 4
Staff picking Hughes: 10
Norbert Novenyi Jr. (3-0) vs. Will Fleury (6-1)
Jeremy Brand: Fleury via UD
Mike Skytte: Fleury via UD
Michael DeSantis: Fleury via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Fleury via UD
Ed Gallo: Fleury via UD
Matt Bricker: Fleury via UD
Connor Deitrich: Fleury via UD
Ash Camyab: Fleury via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Fleury via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Novenyi via UD
Frazer Krohn: Fleury via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Fleury via UD
Tanner Russ: Novenyi via Round 2 SUB
Dan Rose: Novenyi via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Novenyi Jr.: 3
Staff picking Fleury: 11
Kiefer Crosbie (6-1) vs. Hugo Pereira (4-2)
Jeremy Brand: Crosbie via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Crosbie via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Crosbie via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Crosbie via UD
Ed Gallo: Crosbie via UD
Matt Bricker: Crosbie via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Crosbie via SD
Ash Camyab: Pereira via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Pereira via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Crosbie via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Crosbie via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Crosbie via UD
Tanner Russ: Crosbie via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Crosbie via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Crosbie: 12
Staff picking Pereira: 2
Benson Henderson (27-8) vs. Myles Jury (17-4)
Jeremy Brand: Henderson via Round 3 SUB
Mike Skytte: Henderson via UD
Michael DeSantis: Henderson via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Henderson via UD
Ed Gallo: Henderson via UD
Matt Bricker: Henderson via UD
Connor Deitrich: Henderson via UD
Ash Camyab: Henderson via SD
Ryan Hobbs: Henderson via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Henderson via SD
Frazer Krohn: Henderson via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Henderson via Round 2 SUB
Tanner Russ: Henderson via Round 3 SUB
Dan Rose: Henderson via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Henderson: 14
Staff picking Jury: 0
Ryan Scope (11-2) vs. Peter Queally (11-5-1)
Jeremy Brand: Scope via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Scope via UD
Michael DeSantis: Scope via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Scope via UD
Ed Gallo: Scope via UD
Matt Bricker: Scope via UD
Connor Deitrich: Scope via UD
Ash Camyab: Scope via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Queally via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Scope via SD
Frazer Krohn: Scope via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Scope via UD
Tanner Russ: Scope via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Scope via UD
Staff picking Scope: 13
Staff picking Queally: 1
Michael Page (14-1) vs. Richard Kiely (3-1)
Jeremy Brand: Page via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Page via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Page via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Page via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Page via UD
Matt Bricker: Page via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Page via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Page via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Page via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Page via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Page via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Kiely via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Page via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Page via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Page: 13
Staff picking Kiely: 1
James Gallagher (9-1) vs. Roman Salazar (13-9)
Jeremy Brand: Gallagher via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Salazar via SD
Michael DeSantis: Gallagher via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Gallagher via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Gallagher via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Gallagher via Round 2 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Gallagher via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Gallagher via Round 1 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Gallagher via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Gallagher via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Gallagher via Round 2 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Gallagher via Round 2 SUB
Tanner Russ: Gallagher via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Gallagher via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Gallagher: 13
Staff picking Salazar: 1
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