MMASucka staff picks are here and locked for Bellator 229. Fight action will begin later this evening, October 4th from the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. The four-fight main card will begin live at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) on Paramount Network. Stay tuned to MMASucka.com for tomorrow’s UFC 243 picks.
The Fights
Exciting welterweights Andrey Koreshkov and Lorenz Larkin will meet in the night’s main event. Former divisional champion Koreshkov is ready for his 17th Bellator appearance, his first promotional fight coming in March of 2012. Defeats have only come three times throughout his career: a title loss to Ben Askren in 2013 and two losses to former king Douglas Lima (one losing his belt, the other a non-title bout). His last fight came in may earning a decision over newcomer Mike Jasper. Koreshkov’s opponent, Larkin, had an undefeated career start broken upon his entrance to the UFC in 2013. A 5-5 record with the promotion saw notable victories including top UFC contenders Jorge Masvidal and Santiago Ponzinibbio. In 2017, he made the move to Bellator taking on the aforementioned Lima for the belt. A decision loss and knockout defeat to Paul Daley saw its lows until two unanimous wins last year.
In the co-main event, veteran Saad Awad will battle the skillful Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt of Goiti Yamauchi. Awad hopes to snap a two fight decision skid while Yamauchi looks for his 24th career victory at a youthful 26 years old. Keri Taylor Melendez returns to the Bellator cage tonight against debutante Mandy Polk while Muay Thai kickboxer Joe Schilling takes on ‘Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series’ standout Tony Johnson. See our staff picks for these four fights 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 229 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 160 & Bellator 228:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 223-120
1T. Connor Deitrich: 223-120
3. Mitchell Banuelos: 211-120
4. Ed Gallo: 210-129
5. Mike Skytte: 205-138
6. Jeremy Brand: 200-143
7. Matt Bricker: 192-138
8. Ash Camyab: 180-131
9. Brian Gerson: 176-99
10. Ryan Wagner: 169-83
11. Patrick Auger: 157-119
12. Frazer Krohn: 106-69
13. Ryan Hobbs: 89-76
14. Ryan Fortune: 78-39
15. Andrew Benjamin: 67-50
16. McKenzie Guardiero: 65-50
17. Suraj Sukumar: 58-26
18. Tanner Russ: 29-12
19. Dan Rose: 15-12
Joe Schilling (4-5) vs. Tony Johnson (8-2)
Jeremy Brand: Schilling via UD
Mike Skytte: Schilling via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Schilling via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Schilling via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Schilling via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Schilling via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Schilling via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Schilling via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Johnson via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Johnson via UD
Staff picking Schilling: 8
Staff picking Johnson: 2
Keri Taylor Melendez (3-0) vs. Mandy Polk (6-4)
Jeremy Brand: Melendez via UD
Mike Skytte: Melendez via UD
Michael DeSantis: Melendez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Melendez via UD
Ed Gallo: Melendez via UD
Connor Deitrich: Melendez via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Melendez via UD
Frazer Krohn: Melendez via UD
Tanner Russ: Melendez via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Melendez via UD
Staff picking Melendez: 10
Staff picking Polk: 0
Saad Awad (23-11) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (23-4)
Jeremy Brand: Yamauchi via UD
Mike Skytte: Yamauchi via SD
Michael DeSantis: Yamauchi via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Yamauchi via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Yamauchi via UD
Connor Deitrich: Awad via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Awad via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Awad via SD
Tanner Russ: Yamauchi via Round 2 SUB
Dan Rose: Yamauchi via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Awad: 3
Staff picking Yamauchi: 7
Andrey Koreshkov (22-3) vs. Lorenz Larkin (20-7)
Jeremy Brand: Koreshkov via Round 3 TKO
Mike Skytte: Larkin via UD
Michael DeSantis: Koreshkov via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Larkin via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Larkin via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Koreshkov via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Koreshkov via UD
Frazer Krohn: Koreshkov via UD
Tanner Russ: Koreshkov via Round 2 SUB
Dan Rose: Koreshkov via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Koreshkov: 7
Staff picking Larkin: 3
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