For the second week in a row, MMASucka sees a double-header weekend for our staff picks. Things kick off tonight, April 16 with Bellator 257 taking place from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The main card will begin at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) live on their newest broadcasting network Showtime.
Stay tuned to MMASucka tomorrow afternoon for for the second-half of our picks this weekend with UFC Vegas 24.
The Fights
Bellator’s Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix continues tonight with two highly-anticipated, quarter-final matchups. The main event comes as the division’s title fight and a rematch between current champion Vadim Nemkov and challenger Phil Davis. In what was a non-title fight in November of 2018, Nemkov took the back-and-forth victory over Davis by split decision. The Russian would most recently take the championship with a knockout of Ryan Bader last August, remaining undefeated in the promotion at 5-0. Former divisional champion Davis has found the win column three times since the defeat, lastly taking the nod over veteran Lyoto Machida in September.
The winner between between Nemkov and Davis will move on in the Grand Prix to fight last weekend’s victor, the aforementioned Bader (date TBD).
In the co-main event sees the quarter-final pairing of Corey Anderson and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. TUF 19 winner Anderson will look for his second win with the promotion after his November stoppage win over Melvin Manhoef. Former 205-pound ACA champion Yagshimuradov makes his Bellator debut riding an eight-fight win streak dating back to 2016. This winner will take on the May 7th winner of Anthony Johnson and Yoel Romero.
See the remaining Bellator 257 fights counted for our MMASucka staff picks further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events. PFL will make its debut this month, along with Dana White’s Contender Series in the summer months.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See our Bellator 257: Nemkov vs. Davis II staff picks below.
Staff Records after UFC on ABC 2:
1. Wesley Riddle: 43-25
2. Nate Freeman: 41-27
3. Michael DeSantis: 40-28
4T. Ash Camyab: 38-30
4T. Frazer Krohn: 38-30
4T. Joshua Yule: 38-30
7T. Mitchell Banuelos: 37-31
7T. Kenny Lee: 37-31
9. Jeremy Brand: 35-33
10. Mike Lynch: 33-30
11. Matt Bricker: 30-28
12. Andrew Benjamin: 25-33
13. Tim Wheaton: 24-15
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Paul Daley (24-17-2) vs. Sabah Homasi (15-8)
Jeremy Brand: Daley via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Daley via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Daley via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Daley via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Daley via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Daley via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Daley via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Daley via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Daley via Round 2 TKO
Joshua Yule: Daley via Round 1 TKO
Kenny Lee: Daley via Round 3 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Daley via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Daley: 12
Staff picking Homasi: 0
Veta Arteaga (5-4) vs. Desiree Yanez (5-2)
Jeremy Brand: Yanez via UD
Wesley Riddle: Yanez via UD
Michael DeSantis: Yanez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Yanez via UD
Ash Camyab: Yanez via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Yanez via UD
Frazer Krohn: Yanez via UD
Mike Lynch: Yanez via UD
Nate Freeman: Yanez via UD
Joshua Yule: Yanez via UD
Kenny Lee: Yanez via UD
Tim Wheaton: Yanez via UD
Staff picking Arteaga: 0
Staff picking Yanez: 12
Corey Anderson (14-5) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (18-5-1)
Jeremy Brand: Yagshimuradov via UD
Wesley Riddle: Anderson via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Anderson via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Anderson via UD
Ash Camyab: Anderson via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Anderson via SD
Frazer Krohn: Anderson via UD
Mike Lynch: Anderson via UD
Nate Freeman: Anderson via UD
Joshua Yule: Anderson via UD
Kenny Lee: Anderson via UD
Tim Wheaton: Anderson via UD
Staff picking Anderson: 11
Staff picking Yagshimuradov: 1
Vadim Nemkov (13-2) vs. Phil Davis (22-5)
Jeremy Brand: Nemkov via Round 3 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Nemkov via UD
Michael DeSantis: Nemkov via Round 4 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Nemkov via UD
Ash Camyab: Nemkov via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Nemkov via UD
Frazer Krohn: Nemkov via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Nemkov via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Nemkov via UD
Joshua Yule: Nemkov via UD
Kenny Lee: Nemkov via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Nemkov via UD
Staff picking Nemkov: 12
Staff picking Davis: 0
FEATURED IMAGE:
Corey Anderson (left) and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (right) faceoff ahead of the Bellator 257 Grand Prix fight taking place Friday, April 16th from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (photo credits to Lucas Noonan of Bellator MMA).
