The final part of our triple-header weekend for MMASucka staff picks are in. Bellator 228 will go down tonight, September 28th, from The Forum in Inglewood, California. Main card action will begin live and exclusively on DAZN at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT). Make sure to check out our staff picks from the first two events this weekend, Bellator 227 / Bellator Dublin from yesterday and this afternoon’s UFC Fight Night 160.
The Fights
The main card will see the second half of the promotion’s Featherweight World Grand Prix. Current divisional champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire will look to defend his belt in this opening round against Juan Archuleta, the fight being our featured main event. Pitbull hopes to add to his already incredible resume with a potential fifth overall title defense (two defenses in both his first and current reign as featherweight king). He lastly captured the Bellator lightweight championship over veteran Michael Chandler becoming the promotion’s second ever “champ-champ.” His opponent, Archuleta, has made waves over the past couple years with his dominating performances. The former KOTC bantamweight and featherweight champion will look for his 19th straight victory inside the cage.
The remaining GP fights all take place on the main card. Undefeated rising star A.J. McKee will battle former WSOF champion and Bellator veteran Georgi Karakhanyan. Former bantamweight title holder Darrion Caldwell moves back up to 145 battling the five-fight win streak of Henry Corrales. Lastly, Daniel Weichel will attempt to snap a two-fight split-decision skid against former ACB (ACA) and Cage Warriors contender Saul Rogers.
Our co-main event is also to be mentioned as legends Gegard Mousasi and Lyoto Machida will rematch; this time under the Bellator banner. Their first fight took place in February of 2014, Machida taking the unanimous decision over Mousasi at UFC Fight Night 36. Mousasi hopes to bounce back after losing the Bellator middleweight strap to Rafael Lovato Jr. in June while Machida looks for three in a row with the promotion.
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 228 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 159:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 211-113
1T. Connor Deitrich: 211-113
3. Ed Gallo: 203-122
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 197-115
5. Mike Skytte: 196-128
6. Jeremy Brand: 188-136
7. Matt Bricker: 181-130
8. Brian Gerson: 176-99
9. Ash Camyab: 171-121
10. Ryan Wagner: 169-83
11. Patrick Auger: 157-119
12. Frazer Krohn: 98-63
13. Ryan Hobbs: 79-67
14. Ryan Fortune: 78-39
15. Suraj Sukumar: 58-26
16T. Andrew Benjamin: 56-42
16T. McKenzie Guardiero: 56-40
18. Tanner Russ: 12-10
19. Dan Rose: 3-5
*Bellator Dublin / Bellator 227 & UFC Fight Night 160 picks have not been added*
A.J. McKee (14-0) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (28-9-1)
Jeremy Brand: McKee via UD
Mike Skytte: McKee via UD
Michael DeSantis: McKee via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: McKee via UD
Matt Bricker: McKee via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: McKee via UD
Ash Camyab: McKee via UD
Ryan Hobbs: McKee via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: McKee via Round 1 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: McKee via UD
Tanner Russ: McKee via UD
Dan Rose: McKee via UD
Staff picking McKee: 12
Staff picking Karakhanyan: 0
Daniel Weichel (39-11) vs. Saul Rogers (13-2)
Jeremy Brand: Weichel via UD
Mike Skytte: Weichel via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Weichel via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Weichel via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Weichel via UD
Connor Deitrich: Weichel via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Rogers via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Weichel via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Weichel via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Rogers via SD
Tanner Russ: Weichel via UD
Dan Rose: Rogers via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Weichel: 9
Staff picking Rogers: 3
Darrion Caldwell (13-3) vs. Henry Corrales (17-3)
Jeremy Brand: Caldwell via UD
Mike Skytte: Corrales via SD
Michael DeSantis: Caldwell via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Caldwell via UD
Matt Bricker: Caldwell via UD
Connor Deitrich: Caldwell via UD
Ash Camyab: Caldwell via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Corrales via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Corrales via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Caldwell via UD
Tanner Russ: Caldwell via UD
Dan Rose: Caldwell via UD
Staff picking Caldwell: 9
Staff picking Corrales: 3
Lyoto Machida (26-8) vs. Gegard Mousasi (45-7-2)
Jeremy Brand: Mousasi via UD
Mike Skytte: Mousasi via SD
Michael DeSantis: Mousasi via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Mousasi via UD
Matt Bricker: Mousasi via SD
Connor Deitrich: Mousasi via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Mousasi via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Mousasi via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Mousasi via Round 2 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Mousasi via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Mousasi via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Mousasi via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Machida: 0
Staff picking Mousasi: 12
Patricio Pitbull (29-4) vs. Juan Archuleta (23-1)
Jeremy Brand: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Pitbull via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Archuleta via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Archuleta via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Archuleta via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Archuleta via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Archuleta via Round 3 TKO
Tanner Russ: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Pitbull via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Pitbull: 7
Staff picking Archuleta: 5
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