PFL vs. Bellator: Champions predictions: Who are we picking in Saudi Arabia superfights?
For the first time, Bellator fighters will compete under the PFL banner after the 2023 merger, and champions will take on champions in Saudi Arabia.
PFL vs. Bellator: Champions (pay-per-view, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
Get pick results from our 10 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Clay Collard vs. A.J. McKee
Records: Collard (24-11), McKee (21-1)
Past five: Collard 3-2, McKee 4-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: McKee No. 9 (featherweight)
Odds (as of 02.23.24): McKee -300, Collard +240
Junkie pick results: McKee 10, Collard 0
Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero
Records: Santos (22-12), Romero (15-7)
Past five: Santos 1-4, Romero 2-3
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Santos -115, Romero -105
Junkie pick results: Santos 8, Romero 2
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov
Records: Cappelozza (16-6), Nemkov (17-2)
Past five: Cappelozza 4-1, Nemkov 5-0
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Nemkov -410, Cappelozza +320,
Junkie pick results: Nemkov 10, Cappelozza 0
Ray Cooper III vs. Jason Jackson
Records: Cooper (25-9-1), Jackson (17-4)
Past five: Cooper 3-2, Jackson 5-0
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Jackson No. 8
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Jackson -650, Cooper +470
Junkie pick results: Jackson 9, Cooper 1
Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen
Records: Kasanganay (15-3), Eblen (14-0)
Past five: Kasanganay 5-0, Eblen 5-0
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Eblen No. 7
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Eblen -395, Kasanganay +310
Junkie pick results: Eblen 10, Kasanganay 0
Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader
Records: Ferreira (12-3), Bader (31-7)
Past five: Ferreira 4-1, Bader 4-1
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Bader No. 14, Ferreira honorable mention
Odds (as of 02.19.24): Ferreira -120, Bader +100
Junkie pick results: Bader 5, Ferreira 5
Check out all the main card picks below.
PFL vs. Bellator: Champions main card picks
Ferreira | Kasanganay | Cooper III | Cappelozza | Santos | Collard | |
MMA Junkie readers’ |
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Mike Bohn 2014 Champion |
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Abbey Subhan |
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Farah Hannoun |
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Simon Samano |
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Nolan King 2023 Champion |
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Brian Garcia 2017 Champion |
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Matthew Wells |
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Ken Hathaway 2018, 2022 Champion |
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Matt Erickson |
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George Garcia |
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL vs. Bellator: Champions.