San Jose is the site for Friday night’s installment of Bellator, scheduled for the SAP Center. The main event is a rematch between A.J. McKee and Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. McKee took the Bellator Featherweight title away from Pitbull, using a guillotine choke to get a submission in the first round, at Bellator 263. The co-headliner is the final of the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament, featuring current division champ Vadim Nemkov and Corey Anderson in a title for the belt and $1 million.
We have the full fight card and Bellator betting predictions for the two top fights.
Bellator 277: McKee vs Pitbull 2 Preview
Main Card (Showtime)
A.J. McKee vs Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (Bellator Featherweight Championship)
Vadim Nemkov vs Corey Anderson (Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship)
Aaron Pico vs Adli Edwards (Catchweight – 150 lbs)
Timothy Johnson vs Linton Vassell (Heavyweight)
Preliminary Card (YouTube / Pluto TV)
Tyrell Fortune vs Rakim Cleveland (Heavyweight)
Rafael Carvalho vs Dovledtzhan Yagshimuradov (Light Heavyweight)
Gaston Bolanos vs Daniel Carey (Featherweight)
Kyle Crutchmer vs Michael Lombardo (Welterweight)
Bobby Seronio III vs Calob Ramirez (Bantamweight)
Rhalan Gracie vs Tyson Miller (Welterweight)
Edwin De Los Santos vs Alberto Mendez (Flyweight)
Socrates Hernandez vs Rogelio Luna (Featherweight)
Laird Anderson vs J.T. Donaldson (Featherweight)
Theo Haig vs Alan Benson (Light Heavyweight)
A.J. McKee vs “Pitbull” Freire is a battle that has been waiting nine months to happen since McKee ended Pitbull’s night in fewer than two minutes. The talent and skill gap between the two appeared to be clear, but Pitbull has the resume in Bellator to deserve an immediate shot at redemption. However, Pitbull needs to make a lot of changes in order to win. McKee brought the pressure from the beginning and brought home a head kick in the opening minutes that set him to the floor, moving to a standing guillotine to end things easily. Even so, Pitbull is still one of Bellator’s elite fighters, and if he can keep McKee on his heels and move the pressure forward, he has a way to win as well.
Final Prediction:
McKee wins via submission | Bet Bellator Fight Now!
Corey Anderson vs Vadim Nemkov is an intriguing fight, as Nemkov is 7-0 in Bellator and has defended the belt twice since swiping it away from Ryan Bader. However, Anderson has a solid wrestling game that is several levels beyond what Nemkov can do, and he should be able to get this fight to the ground and control it from there. Nemkov’s striking and takedown defense are fairly good, but Anderson just keeps coming with his grappling. Anderson could end up eating a bomb and getting knocked out, but a decision win on the ground is the likelier outcome.
Final Prediction:
Anderson wins via decision | Bet Bellator Fight Now!
Timothy Johnson vs Linton Vassell is Johnson’s shot at redemption. His athleticism has declined in recent years, although he does still have that unique striking game that has paid off in prior fights. Johnson lost his last two, taking on quality opponents in Fedor Emelianenko and Valentin Moldavsky, but Vassell is no easier, who has fought at a high level in winning his last three. Johnson has had the tougher fights as of late, but Vassell has been able to prevail on the cards in three straight fights.
Final Prediction:
Vassell wins via decision | Bet Bellator Fight Now!
Kyle Crutchmer vs Michael Lombardo should also be an entertaining fight. Crutchmer comes in looking for his third straight victory. He was a wrestler at Oklahoma State before heading into MMA. Lombardo comes in with a four-fight winning streak. Both of these bring pressure from the start, and the winner will have a head starter on moving toward contention in the division.
Final Prediction:
Crutchmer wins via decision | Bet Bellator Fight Now!
