MMASucka staff picks’ second-half of the first doubleheader weekend of 2020 are live. Bellator 238 goes down tonight, January 25 from The Forum in Inglewood, California. Main card action begins at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live on DAZN.
Make sure to check out our staff picks for today’s UFC Fight Night 166 event in Raleigh.
The Fights
In the main event, featherweight champion Julia Budd hopes to defend her strap for a fourth time against former Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and UFC featherweight queen Cris Cyborg. Budd’s run as promotional queen began in 2017, finishing women’s MMA pioneer Marloes Coenen with strikes in the fourth to win Bellator’s inaugural title. Two lone losses to her resume came in 2011, suffering quick losses to Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes. Budd looks to add a twelfth straight victory to her name while kicking off the new decade in eye-opening fashion. Her opponent, Cyborg, hopes to extend upon the resume she has compiled over her impressive career. The closure of 2018, however, saw the end of her dominant legacy after getting knocked out to the aforementioned Nunes. Despite this, she would rebound last July with a decision over Felicia Spencer. Cyborg looks for a fourth championship victory in a fourth organization.
Bellator’s Featherweight World Grand Prix tournament will continue on in the quarterfinals with Darrion Caldwell and Adam Borics. Former bantamweight champ Caldwell advanced in the opening round with a decision victory over Henry Corrales while undefeated Borics made a statement with his knockout win over veteran Pat Curran. The winner between Caldwell and Borics will move on to the semifinals and take on the only man to advance thus far, the undefeated AJ McKee.
Promotional newcomer Sergio Pettis, former featherweight title challenger Juan Archuleta, and kickboxing sensational Raymond Daniels are other set to battle their respected opponents on the main card. See those Bellator 238 fights counted for our MMASucka staff picks further below.
UFC 246 Staff Picks
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of five different MMA promotions. UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN all appeared for the 2019 season and will make returns. The newest addition for the 2020 year will see the PFL including their regular season, playoffs, and championship card. A special staff picks bonus will be introduced and discussed regarding PFL’s playoff format as time gets closer.
Main cards will makeup both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE, RIZIN, and PFL 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 2019 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 321-178. Second-place Connor Deitrich collected a close score of 319-180 with third-place Ed Gallo not far behind totaling at 312-183.
Check out our staff picks for Bellator 238 below.
Staff Records after UFC 246:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 8-0
1T. Michael DeSantis: 8-0
3T. Jeremy Brand: 7-1
3T. Ed Gallo: 7-1
3T. Connor Deitrich: 7-1
3T. Andrew Benjamin: 7-1
3T. Frazer Krohn: 7-1
3T. Dan Rose: 7-1
9T. Mitchell Banuelos: 6-2
9T. Matt Bricker: 6-2
9T. Ash Camyab: 6-2
9T. Ashwin Viswanathan: 6-2
13T. Mike Skytte: 5-3
13T. Ryan Hobbs: 5-3
15T. McKenzie Guardiero: 4-4
15T. Mike Lynch: 4-4
17. Jeremy Cook: 3-1, missed one card
18. Nate Freeman: 2-2, missed one card
NOTE — UFC Fight Night 166 staff picks will be added to next weekend’s records
Ava Knight (1-0) vs. Emilee King (3-4)
Jeremy Brand: Knight via UD
Wesley Riddle: Knight via UD
Mike Skytte: King via UD
Michael DeSantis: Knight via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Knight via UD
Ed Gallo: Knight via UD
Matt Bricker: Knight via UD
Connor Deitrich: Knight via UD
Ash Camyab: Knight via UD
Ryan Hobbs: King via UD
Andrew Benjamin: King via UD
Frazer Krohn: Knight via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Knight via UD
Dan Rose: Knight via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: King via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Knight via UD
Nate Freeman: Knight via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Knight: 13
Staff picking King: 4
Raymond Daniels (1-1) vs. Jason King (9-5)
Jeremy Brand: Daniels via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Daniels via UD
Michael DeSantis: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Daniels via UD
Ed Gallo: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Daniels via UD
Connor Deitrich: Daniels via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: King via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: King via UD
Dan Rose: King via UD
Mike Lynch: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Daniels via UD
Nate Freeman: Daniels via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Daniels: 14
Staff picking King: 3
Sergio Pettis (18-5) vs. Alfred Khashakyan (11-4)
Jeremy Brand: Khashakyan via UD
Wesley Riddle: Pettis via SD
Mike Skytte: Pettis via UD
Michael DeSantis: Pettis via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Pettis via UD
Ed Gallo: Pettis via UD
Matt Bricker: Pettis via UD
Connor Deitrich: Pettis via UD
Ash Camyab: Khashakyan via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Pettis via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Pettis via UD
Frazer Krohn: Pettis via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Pettis via UD
Dan Rose: Khashakyan via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Pettis via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Pettis via UD
Nate Freeman: Pettis via UD
Staff picking Pettis: 14
Staff picking Khashakyan: 3
Henry Corrales (17-4) vs. Juan Archuleta (23-2)
Jeremy Brand: Archuleta via UD
Wesley Riddle: Archuleta via UD
Mike Skytte: Archuleta via UD
Michael DeSantis: Archuleta via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Archuleta via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Archuleta via UD
Matt Bricker: Archuleta via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Archuleta via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Archuleta via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Archuleta via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Archuleta via UD
Frazer Krohn: Archuleta via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Archuleta via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Corrales via UD
Mike Lynch: Archuleta via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Archuleta via UD
Nate Freeman: Archuleta via UD
Staff picking Corrales: 1
Staff picking Archuleta: 16
Darrion Caldwell (14-3) vs. Adam Borics (14-0)
Jeremy Brand: Caldwell via UD
Wesley Riddle: Caldwell via UD
Mike Skytte: Borics via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Caldwell via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Caldwell via UD
Ed Gallo: Caldwell via UD
Matt Bricker: Caldwell via UD
Connor Deitrich: Caldwell via UD
Ash Camyab: Caldwell via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Borics via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Borics via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Borics via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Caldwell via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Caldwell via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Caldwell via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Caldwell via UD
Nate Freeman: Borics via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Caldwell: 12
Staff picking Borics: 5
Julia Budd (13-2) vs. Cris Cyborg (21-2)
Jeremy Brand: Budd via UD
Wesley Riddle: Cyborg via Round 4 TKO
Mike Skytte: Budd via UD
Michael DeSantis: Cyborg via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Cyborg via UD
Matt Bricker: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Cyborg via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Budd via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Budd via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Cyborg via Round 5 TKO
Mike Lynch: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Cyborg via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Budd: 4
Staff picking Cyborg: 13
FEATURED IMAGE:
Darrion Caldwell (left) and Adam Borics (right) with Bellator MMA president Scott Coker (middle) at faceoffs ahead of their Bellator 238 fight as part of the Bellator featherweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals taking place Saturday, January 25 from The Forum in Inglewood, California (photo credits to Bellator MMA)
