The final triple-header for MMASucka staff picks in 2019 are underway. Opening up the weekend will see Bellator 235, also termed “Salute for the Troops,” taking place tomorrow night, December 20 from the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The card, partnered for the second year in row with the United Service Organizations (USO), will begin at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live on the Paramount Network.
Stay tuned to MMASucka in the coming hours for our UFC Fight Night 165 picks as well as Saturday night’s second Honolulu card, Bellator 236.
The final staff picks card of 2019 will be in next weekend with Bellator 237.
The Fights
Heavyweight veterans Josh Barnett and Ronny Markes will clash in the main event ready to make a statement in their promotional debuts. Former Pancrase and UFC heavyweight champion Barnett is set for his return to MMA after a near three-year hiatus. His last outing in 2016 saw a third-round “Fight of the Night” win over Andrei Arlovski, using his seasoned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience to finish the fight by rear-naked choke. Barnett will look for his 36th victory later tonight, having finished 29 of those by either knockout or submission. His opponent, Markes, looks to show off his BJJ black belt in return. The former UFC and PFL competitor has competed at various weight classes in his career, looking now to once again find a home at heavyweight. This will be fight two of 2019 for Markes, most recently finishing off Sigi Pesaleli with PFL by knockout in the second round.
Toby Misech looks to pull off a massive upset in the co-main event over the well-round Erik “Goyito” Perez. Misech hopes to rebound after a recent decision loss to former bantamweight champ Eduardo Dantas while Perez looks to add a sixth-straight victory in his promotional debut. The fight will be contested at a catchweight, Misech forfeiting 20% of his purse after missing the bantamweight limit by nearly five and-a-half pounds.
Former flyweight title challengers Alejandra Lara and Veta Arteaga are also set to battle at catchweight, Lara weighing in almost a pound over and forfeiting 20% of her purse.
See the five main card Bellator 235 fights counted towards our MMASucka staff picks further below, including two future stars in both featherweight Tywan Claxton and welterweight Joey Davis.
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 235 below.
Staff Records after UFC 245:
1. Michael DeSantis: 300-167
2. Connor Deitrich: 296-171
3. Ed Gallo: 289-174
4. Mike Skytte: 274-193
5. Jeremy Brand: 271-195
6. Mitchell Banuelos: 266-167
7. Matt Bricker: 264-191
8. Ash Camyab: 239-185
9. Frazer Krohn: 171-128
10. Ryan Hobbs: 159-130
11. McKenzie Guardiero: 123-99
12. Andrew Benjamin: 122-91
13. Tanner Russ: 107-62
14. Dan Rose: 95-56
15. Mike Lynch: 54-55
Joey Davis (6-0) vs. Chris Cisneros (19-10)
Jeremy Brand: Davis via UD
Mike Skytte: Davis via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Davis via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Davis via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Davis via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Davis via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Davis via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Davis via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Davis via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Davis via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Davis via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Davis via UD
Tanner Russ: Davis via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Davis via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Davis via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Davis: 15
Staff picking Cisneros: 0
Tywan Claxton (5-1) vs. Braydon Akeo (3-0)
Jeremy Brand: Claxton via UD
Mike Skytte: Claxton via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Claxton via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Claxton via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Claxton via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Claxton via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Claxton via UD
Ash Camyab: Claxton via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Claxton via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Claxton via UD
Frazer Krohn: Claxton via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Akeo via UD
Tanner Russ: Claxton via UD
Dan Rose: Claxton via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Claxton via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Claxton: 14
Staff picking Akeo: 1
Alejandra Lara (8-3) vs. Veta Arteaga (5-3)
Jeremy Brand: Lara via UD
Mike Skytte: Lara via UD
Michael DeSantis: Lara via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Arteaga via UD
Ed Gallo: Lara via UD
Matt Bricker: Arteaga via UD
Connor Deitrich: Arteaga via UD
Ash Camyab: Arteaga via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Arteaga via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Lara via UD
Frazer Krohn: Arteaga via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Arteaga via UD
Tanner Russ: Lara via UD
Dan Rose: Arteaga via UD
Mike Lynch: Lara via UD
Staff picking Lara: 7
Staff picking Arteaga: 8
Toby Misech (11-7) vs. Erik Perez (19-6)
Jeremy Brand: Perez via Round 1 SUB
Mike Skytte: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Perez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Perez via UD
Connor Deitrich: Perez via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Perez via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Perez via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Perez via UD
Frazer Krohn: Perez via Round 3 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Tanner Russ: Perez via UD
Dan Rose: Perez via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Perez via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Misech: 0
Staff picking Perez: 15
Josh Barnett (35-8) vs. Ronny Markes (19-7)
Jeremy Brand: Barnett via Round 2 SUB
Mike Skytte: Barnett via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Barnett via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Barnett via UD
Ed Gallo: Barnett via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Markes via UD
Connor Deitrich: Barnett via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Barnett via Round 2 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Barnett via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Barnett via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Barnett via Round 1 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Barnett via Round 1 TKO
Tanner Russ: Barnett via UD
Dan Rose: Barnett via Round 3 SUB
Mike Lynch: Markes via UD
Staff picking Barnett: 13
Staff picking Markes: 2
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