The second of five cards for MMASucka staff picks this weekend are in. This afternoon, October 12th, Bellator 230 (also referred to as Bellator Milan) will go down from the Ex Palalido in Milan, Italy. The four-fight main card of the Bellator Milan portion begins at 5:00pm ET (2:00pm PT) live and free on the Bellator app. Then, the four-fight main card of Bellator 230 begins at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) via tape delay on Paramount Network. Stay tuned to MMASucka.com throughout today for the remaining three staff picks. Feel free to check out our staff picks from this morning’s RIZIN 19 card here.
The Fights
Our first of two featured fights sees light heavyweights Melvin Manhoef and Yannick Bahati headlining the Bellator Milan portion. Long-time veteran and fan-favorite Manhoef will be making his eighth appearance with Bellator. The former kickboxer has finished 28 of his 31 victories by knockout having yet to secure a submission to his resume. A non-finish came in his last outing over England’s Kent Kauppinen taking only his third win by decision. His opponent, Bahati, is a former EFC and BAMMA middleweight champion. Unfortunately, Dricus Du Plessis under EFC and Mike Shipman with BAMMA would take both titles away from the “Black Mamba.” A third straight loss would come under the KSW banner, but his first and lone Bellator fight saw a snap to that streak with a first-round submission in May.
The second featured fight headlines Bellator 230 between two more light heavyweights Rafael Carvalho and Vadim Nemkov. Carvalho’s fifteen-fight win streak from 2012 to 2017 saw his capturing of the Bellator middleweight championship with three title defenses. A loss of his title to Gegard Mousasi and a close decision loss to Lyoto Machida saw the only two-fight skid of his career. This would snap in July with a unanimous decision over Chidi Njokuani, Carvalho now ready for the charge back to the top (this time, at 205). His opponent, Nemkov, is likely fight away from his chance at the light heavyweight title. Five dominant victories in a row have come since dropping back-to-back with RIZIN to both Jiri Prochazka and Karl Albrektsson. This current streak has seen four stoppages via strikes; the other in his most recent bout by split decision over former divisional champion Phil Davis.
Check out all eight Bellator 230 fights counted towards our records further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of four different MMA promotions: UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN. Main cards will make up both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE and RIZIN events will be used. The WINNER of staff picks will have a choice between receiving a championship belt from ProAmBelts or a championship chain from Championship Chains. The 2018 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 202-101.
Check out our MMASucka staff picks for Bellator 230 below.
Staff Records after UFC 243:
1. Michael DeSantis: 228-124
2. Connor Deitrich: 227-125
3. Mitchell Banuelos: 218-122
4. Ed Gallo: 216-132
5. Mike Skytte: 212-140
6. Jeremy Brand: 204-148
7. Matt Bricker: 196-143
8. Ash Camyab: 185-135
9. Frazer Krohn: 108-76
10. Ryan Hobbs: 92-82
11. Andrew Benjamin: 73-53
12. McKenzie Guardiero: 68-52
13. Tanner Russ: 34-16
14. Dan Rose: 20-16
15. Mike Lynch: 2-3
*Staff picks for all five cards this weekend will be added NEXT weekend*
Kane Mousah (12-2) vs. Rafael Macedo (9-4, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Mousah via UD
Mike Skytte: Mousah via UD
Michael DeSantis: Mousah via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Mousah via UD
Ed Gallo: Mousah via UD
Matt Bricker: Mousah via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Mousah via UD
Ash Camyab: Macedo via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Macedo via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Mousah via UD
Frazer Krohn: Mousah via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Macedo via UD
Tanner Russ: Mousah via UD
Dan Rose: Mousah via UD
Mike Lynch: Mousah via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Mousah: 12
Staff picking Macedo: 3
Alessio Sakara (19-13, 2 NC) vs. Canaan Grigsby (8-7)
Jeremy Brand: Sakara via UD
Mike Skytte: Sakara via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Sakara via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Sakara via UD
Ed Gallo: Sakara via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Sakara via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Sakara via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Sakara via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Grigsby via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Grigsby via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Sakara via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Sakara via UD
Tanner Russ: Sakara via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Sakara via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Sakara via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Sakara: 13
Staff picking Grigsby: 2
Stefano Paterno (12-3-1) vs. Ashley Reece (8-1)
Jeremy Brand: Reece via UD
Mike Skytte: Reece via UD
Michael DeSantis: Paterno via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Reece via UD
Ed Gallo: Paterno via UD
Matt Bricker: Reece via UD
Connor Deitrich: Paterno via UD
Ash Camyab: Reece via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Reece via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Paterno via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Reece via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Reece via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Paterno via UD
Dan Rose: Paterno via UD
Mike Lynch: Paterno via SD
Staff picking Paterno: 7
Staff picking Reece: 8
Melvin Manhoef (31-14-1, 2 NC) vs. Yannick Bahati (9-4, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Bahati via UD
Mike Skytte: Manhoef via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Manhoef via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Manhoef via UD
Ed Gallo: Manhoef via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Bahati via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Manhoef via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Manhoef via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Bahati via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Manhoef via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Manhoef via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Manhoef via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Bahati via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Manhoef via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Manhoef via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Manhoef: 11
Staff picking Bahati: 4
Andrea Fusi (8-4) vs. Walter Pugliesi (4-2)
Jeremy Brand: Fusi via UD
Mike Skytte: Pugliesi via UD
Michael DeSantis: Fusi via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Fusi via UD
Ed Gallo: Fusi via UD
Matt Bricker: Fusi via UD
Connor Deitrich: Fusi via UD
Ash Camyab: Fusi via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Fusi via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Pugliesi via SD
Frazer Krohn: Fusi via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Fusi via UD
Tanner Russ: Fusi via UD
Dan Rose: Fusi via UD
Mike Lynch: Fusi via UD
Staff picking Fusi: 13
Staff picking Pugliesi: 2
Dragos Zubco (2-1) vs. Hesdy Gerges (0-1)
Jeremy Brand: Zubco via UD
Mike Skytte: Gerges via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Gerges via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Gerges via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Gerges via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Gerges via UD
Connor Deitrich: Gerges via UD
Ash Camyab: Gerges via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Zubco via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Zubco via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Gerges via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Zubco via UD
Tanner Russ: Gerges via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Gerges via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Gerges via UD
Staff picking Zubco: 4
Staff picking Gerges: 11
Domingos Barros (6-0) vs. Kirill Sidelnikov (11-6)
Jeremy Brand: Sidelnikov via UD
Mike Skytte: Sidelnikov via SD
Michael DeSantis: Barros via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Barros via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Barros via UD
Matt Bricker: Sidelnikov via UD
Connor Deitrich: Barros via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Barros via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Barros via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Sidelnikov via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Barros via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Sidelnikov via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Sidelnikov via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Barros via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Barros via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Barros: 9
Staff picking Sidelnikov: 6
Rafael Carvalho (16-3) vs. Vadim Nemkov (10-2)
Jeremy Brand: Nemkov via UD
Mike Skytte: Nemkov via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Nemkov via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Nemkov via UD
Ed Gallo: Nemkov via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Nemkov via UD
Connor Deitrich: Nemkov via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Carvalho via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Nemkov via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Nemkov via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Nemkov via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Nemkov via SD
Tanner Russ: Nemkov via UD
Dan Rose: Nemkov via UD
Mike Lynch: Carvalho via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Carvalho: 2
Staff picking Nemkov: 13
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