After over a month off, a promotion is back in action for MMASucka staff picks.
Later today, September 23, will see Bellator 285, also titled as Bellator Dublin, set to take place from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. This marks Bellator’s second visit to the Irish capital this calendar year and their eight Ireland event in promotional history. The main card will begin at 4:00pm ET (1:00pm PT) live on Showtime.
Results from all of Bellator 285: Henderson vs. Queally will be available here at MMASucka.
Stay tuned this upcoming Tuesday the 27th as Dana White’s Contender Series 56 will wrap up the promotion’s 2022 season.
The Fights
Lightweights (155 pounds) Benson Henderson and Peter Queally both look for momentum as they will settle the score in the night’s five-round main event.
Henderson, former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, still remains in peak form through his near 16-year professional mixed martial arts career. A win over the 19-fight win streak of Islam Mamedov in January stopped a promotional skid of three straight losses as the MMA Lab talent looks to now climb his way up towards a shot at gold. Henderson’s opponent, Queally, will have the crowd advantage fighting in his Irish backyard as well as under the likes of Dublin’s SBG Ireland. He will look to rebound after falling short of capturing the division’s vacant championship to Patricky Pitbull in November of last year.
In the co-main event, combat veterans Yoel Romero and Melvin Manhoef in the light heavyweight division (205 pounds) as they cross paths for the first time. The two fan-favorites combine for a total of 91 years old and remain two of the most dangerous athletes on the roster.
Former UFC title contender and world class freestyle wrestler Romero looks to back up his first promotional win over Alex Polizzi in May after a final-second knockout in the third round. The year elder Manhoef, a 50-fight MMA and 52-fight kickboxing veteran, hopes to secure his first win since finishing Yannick Bahati in October of 2019.
Six additional fighters make up the night’s main card including former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Mads Burnell and undefeated rising talent Ciaran Clarke. Who are the MMASucka staff picking to win at Bellator 285? Find out further below.
Staff Picks
Staff picks in 2022 will follow the same set of rules from the 2021 season. 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 included for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the entire fight card.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2022 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a chain from Championship Chains. A winner is determined simply by the individual correctly picking the most victorious fighters at the year’s end. Nate Freeman secured his first victory with MMASucka in 2021 with a compiled record 243-136.
See our Bellator 285: Henderson vs. Queally staff picks below.
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 55:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 204-107
1T. Nate Freeman: 204-107
3. Frazer Krohn: 202-109
4. Michael DeSantis: 200-111
5. Jeremy Brand: 187-118
6. William Dong: 173-106
7. Julio Monteros Jr.: 163-92
8. Chris Presnell: 170-120
9. Andrew Benjamin: 165-129
10. Tim Wheaton: 158-93
11. Brian Knight: 125-88
12. Mike Lynch: 123-74
13. Jack Goodwillie: 118-58
14. Brandon Joint: 115-74
15. Ash Camyab: 105-77
16. Coby Weinsier: 87-47
17. Chinyere Okafor: 72-38
18. Jacek Okninski: 70-58
19. Roemello Reyes: 58-30
20. Ben Jamieson: 34-21
21. Matt Bricker: 24-22
22. Joe Porter: 11-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Ciaran Clarke (5-0), -625
vs.
Rafael Hudson (5-3), +470
Catchweight Fight
– 150 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Clarke via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Clarke via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Clarke via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Clarke via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Clarke via Round 2 SUB
Tim Wheaton: Clarke via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Clarke via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Clarke: 7
Staff picking Hudson: 0
Mads Burnell (16-4), -540
vs.
Pedro Carvalho (12-6), +420
Featherweight Division
– 145 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Carvalho via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Burnell via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Burnell via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Carvalho via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Burnell via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Burnell via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Burnell via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Burnell: 5
Staff picking Carvalho: 2
Leah McCourt (6-2), +105
vs.
Dayana Silva (10-7), -125
Featherweight Division
– 145 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: McCourt via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: McCourt via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: McCourt via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: McCourt via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: McCourt via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: McCourt via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: McCourt via Split Decision
Staff picking McCourt: 7
Staff picking Silva: 0
Yoel Romero (14-6), -730
vs.
Melvin Manhoef (32-15-1, 2 NC), +530
Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event
– 205 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Romero via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Romero via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Romero via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Manhoef via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Romero via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Romero via Round 3 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Romero via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Romero: 6
Staff picking Manhoef: 1
Benson Henderson (29-11), -190
vs.
Peter Queally (13-6-1), +160
Lightweight Main Event
– 155 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Queally via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Henderson via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Henderson via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Henderson via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Henderson via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Henderson via Split Decision
Roemello Reyes: Henderson via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Henderson: 6
Staff picking Queally: 1
*Fight odds from DraftKings*
BELLATOR 285 FEATURED IMAGE:
Yoel Romero (left) and Melvin Manhoef at weigh-ins ahead of their Bellator 285 fight taking place Friday, September 23rd from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland (photo credits to Bellator MMA).
