MMASucka staff picks have reached its third and final event of the week. Bellator 266 will take place later tonight, September 18 from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The main card will begin on Showtime at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT).
See our staff picks from Dana White’s Contender Series 39, as well as today’s UFC Vegas 37 event in Las Vegas.
Bellator 266 Fights
Two of the world’s best light heavyweights, Yoel Romero and Phil Davis, will come face-to-face in tonight’s main event.
Wrestling phenom Romero is set to make his highly-anticipated debut after a memorable run with the UFC, having been the 185-pound interim champion and a two-time interim/actual title challenger. Although falling short of securing the promotion’s real gold strap, the 44-year-old still remains one of the most dangerous threats for any competitor. A win would snap a three-fight skid putting Romero in position for a potential title shot against Vadim Nemkov.
Same words can be spoken for his opponent, Davis, who’s prior two losses came in tightly-contested matchups versus Nemkov in November of 2018 and April of this year. The also-talented wrestler had been Bellator champion with a win over Liam McGeary nearly five years ago but lost it in his next fight against Ryan Bader. Davis looks to find the win column for the 23rd time of his career as the slight favorite in tonight’s featured bout.
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In the co-main event, Rio de Janeiro’s Neiman Gracie and Wisconsin’s Mark Lemminger are set for three rounds in the welterweight division. Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Gracie looks to bounce back following a decision loss earlier in the year to Jason Jackson. 28-year-old Lemminger comes in with slight momentum after his knockout victory of Demarques Jackson three months ago.
Other fighters included on the main card sees former women’s flyweight title challenger Alejandra Lara and former WSOF featherweight champion Georgi Karakhanyan. Find out further below who the MMASucka staff is picking to win on the five-fight main card of Bellator 266.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from both UFC and Bellator events. Main card fights and selected preliminary fights will be selected for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the full fight card.
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 266: Davis vs. Romero staff picks below.
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 39:
1. Nate Freeman: 159-91
2. Wesley Riddle: 156-94
3. Michael DeSantis: 154-96
4. Frazer Krohn: 143-107
5. Ash Camyab: 137-99
6. Jeremy Brand: 135-116
7. Mike Lynch: 134-106
8. Andrew Benjamin: 108-115
9. Mitchell Banuelos: 107-89
10. Tim Wheaton: 94-74
11. Brandon Joint: 71-36
12. Matt Bricker: 57-57
13. Chris Presnell: 39-20
14. Amanda Grace: 13-8
15T. Steven Irvine: 9-7
15T. Al Mac: 9-2
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – UFC Vegas 37 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Christian Edwards (5-0) vs. Ben Parrish (3-1)
Jeremy Brand: Parrish via UD
Wesley Riddle: Edwards via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Edwards via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Edwards via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Edwards via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Edwards via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Edwards via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Edwards via UD
Staff picking Edwards: 7
Staff picking Parrish: 1
Georgi Karakhanyan (31-11-1) vs. Saul Rogers (14-4)
Jeremy Brand: Karakhanyan via Round 3 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Karakhanyan via UD
Michael DeSantis: Karakhanyan via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Karakhanyan via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Karakhanyan via UD
Mike Lynch: Karakhanyan via UD
Nate Freeman: Karakhanyan via UD
Tim Wheaton: Karakhanyan via UD
Staff picking Karakhanyan: 8
Staff picking Rogers: 0
Alejandra Lara (9-4) vs. DeAnna Bennett (10-7-1)
Jeremy Brand: Lara via UD
Wesley Riddle: Lara via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Lara via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Lara via UD
Frazer Krohn: Lara via SD
Mike Lynch: Bennett via UD
Nate Freeman: Lara via UD
Tim Wheaton: Bennett via UD
Staff picking Lara: 6
Staff picking Bennett: 2
Neiman Gracie (10-2) vs. Mark Lemminger (12-3)
Jeremy Brand: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Gracie via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Gracie via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Gracie via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Tim Wheaton: Gracie via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Gracie: 8
Staff picking Lemminger: 0
Phil Davis (22-6) vs. Yoel Romero (13-5)
Jeremy Brand: Davis via UD
Wesley Riddle: Davis via UD
Michael DeSantis: Davis via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Davis via UD
Frazer Krohn: Romero via UD
Mike Lynch: Romero via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Davis via SD
Tim Wheaton: Davis via UD
Staff picking Davis: 6
Staff picking Romero: 2
BELLATOR 266 FEATURED IMAGE:
Georgi Karakhanyan (left) and Saul Rogers at weigh-ins ahead of their Bellator 266 fight taking place Saturday, September 18th from the SAP Center in San Jose, California (photo credits to Bellator MMA).
