Part two of our busy triple-header weekend for MMASucka staff picks is locked in. Bellator 258 will take place later this evening, May 7 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The main card will begin live at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) on Showtime.
Make sure to check out our staff picks from Thursday night’s PFL 3 2021 event in New Jersey. Also, stay tuned to MMASucka tomorrow afternoon for UFC Vegas 26 picks hot from Las Vegas.
The Fights
The Bellator bantamweight title is on the line in tonight’s main event between champion Juan Archuleta and challenger Sergio Pettis. Archuleta had contested the majority of his 27-fight career at featherweight before returning and finding what could be a comfortable home at 135 pounds. A decision win over Patchy Mix last September resulted in his capturing of the vacant bantamweight belt; his first title since his dominant reign before Bellator inside the KOTC cage. Archuleta’s opponent, Pettis, comes in at just 27 years young in search for his first professional championship since 2013. The Roufusport fighter comes in with his own set of experience following a 14-fight UFC tenure and a dominant 2020 in Bellator with two victories over Alfred Khashakyan and Ricky Bandejas.
Bellator’s Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix sees its continuation in the co-main event with a pairing between Anthony Johnson and Jose Augusto. Johnson was originally slated to take on Yoel Romero until medical issues forced him out of the tournament. Fan-favorite Johnson returns after a four-year hiatus and eight-fight tenure in the UFC, only facing defeat twice to then-champion Daniel Cormier. Augusto will look for a sixth-straight finish in the biggest fight of his career, having the veteran team of Pitbull Brothers Martial Arts in his corner. The winner between Johnson and Augusto will take on champion Vadim Nemkov in the semi-finals at a later date.
See the remaining fights counted for our staff picks at Bellator 258 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events and a variety of fights from PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will make its debut 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.
Check out our Bellator 258: Archuleta vs. Pettis staff picks.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 25:
1. Wesley Riddle: 60-35
2. Nate Freeman: 58-37
3T. Michael DeSantis: 56-39
3T. Ash Camyab: 56-39
5T. Mitchell Banuelos: 54-41
5T. Frazer Krohn: 54-41
5T. Joshua Yule: 54-41
8. Jeremy Brand: 52-44
9. Kenny Lee: 49-36
10. Mike Lynch: 47-43
11. Tim Wheaton: 40-36
12. Andrew Benjamin: 38-43
13. Matt Bricker: 36-35
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – *Note – PFL 3 2021 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Michael Page (18-1) vs. Derek Anderson (17-3)
Jeremy Brand: Page via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Page via UD
Michael DeSantis: Page via Round UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Page via UD
Matt Bricker: Page via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Page via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Page via UD
Mike Lynch: Page via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Page via SD
Kenny Lee: Page via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Page via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Page: 11
Staff picking Anderson: 0
Patricky Pitbull (21-8) vs. Peter Queally (12-5-1)
Jeremy Brand: Pitbull via UD
Wesley Riddle: Pitbull via UD
Michael DeSantis: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Pitbull via UD
Matt Bricker: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Queally via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Pitbull via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pitbull via SD
Kenny Lee: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Pitbull: 10
Staff picking Queally: 1
Anthony Johnson (22-6) vs. Jose Augusto (7-2)
Jeremy Brand: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Johnson via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Johnson via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Kenny Lee: Johnson via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Johnson: 11
Staff picking Augusto: 0
Juan Archuleta (25-2) vs. Sergio Pettis (20-5)
Jeremy Brand: Archuleta via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Archuleta via Round 4 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Archuleta via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Archuleta via UD
Matt Bricker: Archuleta via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Archuleta via UD
Frazer Krohn: Archuleta via UD
Mike Lynch: Pettis via UD
Nate Freeman: Archuleta via UD
Kenny Lee: Archuleta via UD
Tim Wheaton: Archuleta via SD
Staff picking Archuleta: 10
Staff picking Pettis: 1
FEATURED IMAGE:
Lightweights Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (left) and Peter Queally (right) at weigh-ins ahead of their Bellator 258 fight taking place Friday, May 7 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (photo credits to Lucas Noonan & Bellator MMA).
