This weekend, a double-header will take place for MMASucka staff picks.
Kicking off the stretch of fights sees Bellator 302, also titled as Bellator Champions Series Belfast, set to take place on Friday, March 22nd from the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This comes as the promotion’s second-ever trip to the city capital; the first coming at Bellator 173 in February of 2017. It also is the first event since the Professional Fighters League acquired the Bellator MMA in November of last year. Today’s preliminary card will begin at 1:00pm ET (10:00am PT) available to watch on new partner HBO Max.
Results from Bellator 302: Anderson vs. Moore will be available here at MMASucka.
Stay tuned Saturday morning for our picks from UFC on ESPN 53 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Main Event
Bellator’s vacant Light Heavyweight Title is on the line in the card headliner between Corey Anderson and Karl Moore.
Anderson is set for his 25th professional fight and sixth in the promotion since joining in August of 2020. The Ultimate Fighter 19 victor and former title challenger looks for two in-a-row after defeating former Champion Phil Davis last June. Anderson’s opponent, Northern Ireland’s own Moore, gets the biggest opportunity of his mixed martial arts career. Since losing only his second professional defeat, the SBG Ireland standout and former Cage Warriors Light Heavyweight Champion has won four consecutive bouts including two in 2023 over Maciej Rozanski and Alex Polizzi.
Co-Main Event
A thrilling featherweight clash will take place between Bellator Featherweight Champion Patricio Pitbull and challenger Jeremy Kennedy. After experiencing two straight losses, veteran competitor Pitbull targets his first victory since a unanimous decision over Kleber Koike Erbst in December of 2022. Former UFC and PFL contender Kennedy rides an impressive three-fight win streak including decisions over notables Emmanuel Sanchez in late 2021 and Pedro Carvalho in early 2023.
Remaining Card
Three other fights compose the awaiting main card including fighters like recent Championship contender Fabian Edwards and Ireland’s James Gallagher. See our Bellator 302: Anderson vs. Moore picks further below.
Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL) with Bellator MMA, ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL and Bellator MMA see picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2024 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 were won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Who wins and who is picked to win at Bellator 302?
RECORDS AFTER UFC VEGAS 88:
1. Nate Freeman: 48-23
2. Frazer Krohn: 44-27
3T. Wesley Riddle: 41-30
3T. Michael DeSantis: 41-25
5. Jeremy Brand: 38-33
6. Julio Monteros Jr.: 28-11
7. Andrew Benjamin: 27-30
8. Lukas DeWitt: 24-19
9. Michael Kachan: 11-7
10. Casey Cooper: 4-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
James Gallagher (12-2), +100
vs.
Leandro Higo (22-6), -120
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Higo via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Higo via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Higo via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Gallagher via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Gallagher via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Higo via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Gallagher: 2
Staff picking Higo: 4
Tim Wilde (17-4-1), -110
vs.
Manoel Sousa (10-0), -110
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Wilde via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Wilde via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Wilde via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Wilde via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Wilde via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Sousa via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Wilde: 5
Staff picking Sousa: 1
Fabian Edwards (12-3), +130
vs.
Aaron Jeffery (14-4), -160
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– TITLE ELIMINATOR –
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Jeffery via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Jeffery via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Edwards via Split Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Jeffery via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Edwards via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Edwards via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Edwards: 3
Staff picking Jeffery: 3
Patricio Pitbull (35-7), -115
vs.
Jeremy Kennedy (19-3, 1 NC), -105
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
– CO-MAIN EVENT –
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Kennedy via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Pitbull via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Pitbull via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Pitbull via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Pitbull: 3
Staff picking Kennedy: 3
Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC), -425
vs.
Karl Moore (12-2), +330
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
– VACANT TITLE –
– MAIN EVENT –
– 205 LBS. ~ 93.0 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Anderson via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Anderson via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Anderson via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Anderson via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Anderson via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Anderson via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Anderson: 6
Staff picking Moore: 0
