An extremely busy weekend is in store for MMASucka staff picks! Four cards within a two-day span, the first of those coming with Bellator 239. The event will begin tonight, February 21 from the WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Main card action will begin at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live on Paramount Network. Stay tuned to MMASucka in the following hours for our RIZIN 21 picks as well as tomorrow afternoon for a second Bellator card in Dublin and UFC Fight Night 168.
The Fights
A critical main event is in store between top-ranked welterweights Ed Ruth and Yaroslav Amosov. Penn State wrestling phenom Ruth made a quick climb through the 170-pound ranks with six straight victories. The first defeat of his MMA career, however, would fall in December of 2018 to Neiman Gracie in the quarterfinals of Bellator’s divisional Grand Prix. However, the 2019 year saw a successful recovery for Ruth including an October split decision over former LFA champion Jason Jackson. His opponent, Amosov, comes in holding the second-longest undefeated streak in the world with 22-straight wins; only behind that of UFC’s lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. His well-rounded game has led to eight victories by knockout with ten by submission, a more utilized tool of his arsenal. Amosov looks to back up a dominant 2019 with a decision over Erick Silva and second-round D’Arce over David Rickels.
Expect fireworks in the co-main event as Brandon Girtz and Myles Jury are set to throw down in the lightweight division. Girtz makes his return nearly a year after defeating Saad Awad as Jury looks to snap a three-fight skid in his second promotional outing.
See the remaining fights for Bellator 239 further below.
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 239: Ruth vs. Amosov below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 167:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 29-9
1T. Michael DeSantis: 29-9
1T. Connor Deitrich: 29-9
1T. Dan Rose: 29-9
5. Ashwin Viswanathan: 28-10
6T. Ed Gallo: 27-11
6T. Matt Bricker: 27-11
8. Ash Camyab: 26-12
9T. Jeremy Brand: 25-13
9T. Frazer Krohn: 25-13
11. Andrew Benjamin: 24-14
12. Mike Skytte: 23-15
13T. McKenzie Guardiero: 22-16
13T. Mike Lynch: 22-16
13T. Nate Freeman: 22-12, missed one card
16. Mitchell Banuelos: 20-9, missed two cards
17. Ryan Hobbs: 19-19
18. Jeremy Cook: 10-5, missed five cards
19. Jack Buchanan: 10-5, missed five cards
Javy Ayala (11-7) vs. Valentin Moldavsky (8-1)
Jeremy Brand: Moldavsky via UD
Wesley Riddle: Moldavsky via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Moldavsky via UD
Michael DeSantis: Moldavsky via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Ayala via UD
Ed Gallo: Moldavsky via UD
Matt Bricker: Ayala via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Moldavsky via UD
Ash Camyab: Ayala via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Ayala via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Moldavsky via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Moldavsky via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Ayala via UD
Dan Rose: Moldavsky via UD
Mike Lynch: Ayala via Round 2 TKO
Jeremy Cook: N/A
Ashwin Viswanathan: Ayala via UD
Nate Freeman: Moldavsky via Round 3 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Moldavsky via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Ayala: 7
Staff picking Moldavsky: 11
Tyrell Fortune (8-0) vs. Timothy Johnson (12-6)
Jeremy Brand: Fortune via UD
Wesley Riddle: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Fortune via UD
Michael DeSantis: Fortune via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Fortune via UD
Ed Gallo: Fortune via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Fortune via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Fortune via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Johnson via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Fortune via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Fortune via UD
Dan Rose: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Fortune via Round 3 TKO
Jeremy Cook: N/A
Ashwin Viswanathan: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Fortune via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Fortune: 17
Staff picking Johnson: 1
Brandon Girtz (16-8) vs. Myles Jury (17-5)
Jeremy Brand: Jury via UD
Wesley Riddle: Girtz via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Jury via UD
Michael DeSantis: Jury via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Jury via UD
Ed Gallo: Girtz via UD
Matt Bricker: Girtz via UD
Connor Deitrich: Jury via UD
Ash Camyab: Jury via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Girtz via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Girtz via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Jury via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Jury via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Girtz via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Jury via Round 2 SUB
Jeremy Cook: N/A
Ashwin Viswanathan: Jury via UD
Nate Freeman: Jury via UD
Jack Buchanan: Jury via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Girtz: 6
Staff picking Jury: 12
Ed Ruth (8-1) vs. Yaroslav Amosov (22-0)
Jeremy Brand: Ruth via UD
Wesley Riddle: Amosov via SD
Mike Skytte: Ruth via SD
Michael DeSantis: Ruth via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Ruth via UD
Ed Gallo: Amosov via Round 3 SUB
Matt Bricker: Ruth via UD
Connor Deitrich: Ruth via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Ruth via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Amosov via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Ruth via UD
Frazer Krohn: Ruth via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Ruth via UD
Dan Rose: Ruth via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Ruth via UD
Jeremy Cook: N/A
Ashwin Viswanathan: Ruth via UD
Nate Freeman: Amosov via UD
Jack Buchanan: Amosov via UD
Staff picking Ruth: 13
Staff picking Amosov: 5
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