Less than two months remain in the 2021 year as another season for MMASucka staff picks nears its close once more.
A double-header is in store this weekend, the first of the two cards being Bellator 271 taking place tonight, November 12 from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The event comes as one of only two left this calendar year, the final Bellator card of 2021 in approximately three weeks. Tonight’s main card will begin live at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) on Showtime.
Stay tuned Saturday afternoon for our UFC Vegas 42 staff picks from Las Vegas.
The Fights
Bellator’s featherweight championship is on the line in tonight’s featured main event between current title holder Cris Cyborg and challenger Sinead Kavanagh.
All-time great contender Cyborg looks to further her legacy once more as she is set to defend her belt for a fourth time since January of 2020. Another win for the well-rounded talent would be the 25th professionally of her mixed martial arts career, having a lone knockout defeat to Amanda Nunes in over the past 15 years. Cyborg’s opponent, Ireland’s Kavanagh, hopes to achieve one of the biggest upsets in combat history as over a +1500 underdog in her first promotional main event. The fight will be her first fight in over a year, lastly handing Germany’s Katharina Lehner her third consecutive loss.
Top-ranked heavyweights Linton Vassell and Tyrell Fortune will look to trade leather in the co-main event. Two-time title challenger Vassell targets a third-straight victory after back-to-back stoppages of veterans Sergei Kharitonov and Ronny Markes. Former NCAA Division II wrestling champion Fortune aims for his fourth win in the past 13 months alone, most recently stopping Matt Mitrione by strikes in July.
Two other fights make up tonight’s main card at Bellator 271. Find our staff picks for the card further below.
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 a chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
Who are the staff picking to win at Bellator 271: Cyborg vs. Kavanagh? Find out below.
Staff Records after UFC 268:
1. Nate Freeman: 227-122
2. Wesley Riddle: 223-126
3. Michael DeSantis: 220-125
4. Frazer Krohn: 208-140
5. Mike Lynch: 193-146
6T. Jeremy Brand: 187-152
6T. Ash Camyab: 187-127
8. Andrew Benjamin: 138-132
9. Tim Wheaton: 124-93
10. Chris Presnell: 105-44
11. Jake Broderick: 12-3
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Steve Mowry (9-0) vs. Rakim Cleveland (22-13-1, 1 NC)
Wesley Riddle: Mowry via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Mowry via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Mowry via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Mowry via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Cleveland via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Mowry via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Mowry: 5
Staff picking Cleveland: 1
Arlene Blencowe (14-8) vs. Pam Sorenson (9-3)
Wesley Riddle: Blencowe via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Blencowe via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Blencowe via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Blencowe via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Blencowe via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Blencowe via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Blencowe: 6
Staff picking Sorenson: 0
Aaron Pico (8-3) vs. Justin Gonzales (12-0)
Wesley Riddle: Pico via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Pico via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Pico via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Pico via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pico via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Pico: 6
Staff picking Gonzales: 0
Tyrell Fortune (11-1, 1 NC) vs. Linton Vassell (21-8, 1 NC)
Wesley Riddle: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Fortune via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Fortune via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Vassell via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Vassell via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Fortune via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Fortune: 4
Staff picking Vassell: 2
Cris Cyborg (24-2, 1 NC) vs. Sinead Kavanagh (7-4)
Wesley Riddle: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Cyborg via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Cyborg via Round 5 TKO
Nate Freeman: Cyborg via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Cyborg: 6
Staff picking Kavanagh: 0
BELLATOR 271 FEATURED IMAGE:
Tyrell Fortune (left) and Linton Vassell (right) with Bellator President Scott Coker ahead of their Bellator 271 fight taking place Friday, November 12 from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida (photo credits to Bellator MMA).
