MMASucka staff picks are locked in and ready to go for Bellator 249. The fight card takes place tonight, October 15 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Main card action begins live at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) on the CBS Sports Network.
Stay tuned later this weekend for our UFC on ESPN+ 38 picks.
The Fights
The featherweight championship is on the line in tonight’s main event feature between champion Cris Cyborg and challenger Arlene Blencowe. Cyborg will look for her first defense of the promotional belt since defeating Julia Budd earlier this year. The all-time great contender hopes to continue making her mark with Bellator having already done so in Strikeforce, Invicta, and the UFC. Cyborg’s opponent, Blencowe, will get her another shot at gold following her first 145-pound title defeat to the aforementioned Budd in 2017. Since then, however, the Australian has captured three straight victories including a dominant win over veteran Leslie Smith.
Also on the main card includes 21-fight promotional fan-favorite Patricky Pitbull, Coconut Creek’s Ricky Bandejas, and welterweight veteran Saad Awad. See the remainder of our MMASucka staff picks for Bellator 249 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the remainder of the year, staff picks will be composed of two different MMA promotions: UFC and Bellator. As of September 25th, the events of ONE and RIZIN will no longer be counted for our picks (including a recent deduction of the last two RIZIN cards from our records). With the cancellation of PFL for 2020, this promotion will be excluded as well.
Main cards will makeup both UFC and Bellator picks. The WINNER of staff picks will have a choice between receiving a championship belt from ProAmBelts or a championship chain from Championship Chains. The 2019 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 321-178. Second-place Connor Deitrich collected a close score of 319-180 with third-place Ed Gallo not far behind totaling at 312-183.
Check out our Bellator 249: Cyborg vs. Blencowe staff picks below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN+ 37:
1. Michael DeSantis: 160-69
2. Connor Deitrich: 157-72
3. Wesley Riddle: 155-75
4T. Jeremy Brand: 139-82
4T. Frazer Krohn: 139-91
6. Nate Freeman: 138-88
7T. Dan Rose: 136-94
7T. Jack Buchanan: 136-71
9. Mike Lynch: 135-80
10. Ash Camyab: 131-99
11. Matt Bricker: 128-83
12. Andrew Benjamin: 121-103
13. McKenzie Guardiero: 118-92
14. Ryan Hobbs: 95-64
15. Ashwin Viswanathan: 83-51
16. Mike Skytte: 67-45
17. Mitchell Banuelos: 64-39
18. Joshua Yule: 55-28
19. Ed Gallo: 54-27
20. Jeremy Cook: 14-6
*Note: not all staff pick for every event*
Saad Awad (23-13) vs. Mandel Nallo (7-1)
Jeremy Brand: Nallo via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Awad via UD
Michael DeSantis: Awad via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: N/A
Connor Deitrich: Awad via UD
Ash Camyab: Awad via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Awad via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Awad via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Awad via UD
Dan Rose: Awad via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Awad via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Nallo via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Awad via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Awad: 10
Staff picking Nallo: 2
Ricky Bandejas (13-4) vs. Leandro Higo (19-5)
Jeremy Brand: Higo via UD
Wesley Riddle: Bandejas via SD
Michael DeSantis: Bandejas via UD
Matt Bricker: N/A
Connor Deitrich: Bandejas via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Bandejas via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Bandejas via UD
Frazer Krohn: Bandejas via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Bandejas via UD
Dan Rose: Higo via UD
Mike Lynch: Bandejas via UD
Nate Freeman: Bandejas via SD
Jack Buchanan: Bandejas via UD
Staff picking Bandejas: 10
Staff picking Higo: 2
Patricky Pitbull (21-8) vs. Jaleel Willis (13-2)
Jeremy Brand: Pitbull via UD
Wesley Riddle: Pitbull via UD
Michael DeSantis: Pitbull via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: N/A
Connor Deitrich: Pitbull via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Pitbull via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Pitbull via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Pitbull via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Pitbull via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Pitbull via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Willis via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pitbull via UD
Jack Buchanan: Pitbull via UD
Staff picking Pitbull: 11
Staff picking Willis: 1
Cris Cyborg (22-2) vs. Arlene Blencowe (13-7)
Jeremy Brand: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: N/A
Connor Deitrich: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Cyborg via UD
Mike Lynch: Cyborg via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Cyborg via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Cyborg: 12
Staff picking Blencowe: 0
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