Bellator 237 is the final event of the year for the promotion headlined by a couple of legends and Cageside Press has its picks set.
| Staff Writers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Payne (190-106) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Joe McDonagh (183-105) | |  | | | | |
| Ryan Fortune (146-86) | | | | | |  |
| Keith Shillan (143-90) | | | | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (177-119) | | | | | | |
| Dan Doherty (176-120) | | | |  | | |
| Jay Anderson (174-122) | | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (127-92) | | | | | | |
Bellator 237’s main event pits a pair of Japan’s favorites against each other. PRIDE legends Fedor Emelianenko and Rampage Jackson will finally meet in the twilights of their careers. Fedor is 2-2 since joining Bellator, reaching the finals of the heavyweight grand prix. Rampage is 5-2 in the promotion and is coming off a win over Wanderlei Silva. Five of eight writers picked Fedor.
The co-main event in promotional staple Michael Chandler welcoming highly touted prospect Sidney Outlaw to a huge stage. Chandler recently lost his belt to Patricio Pitbull, ending a three-fight win streak. Outlaw is on a nine-fight win streak and recently defeated Roger Huerta in his promotional debut. Chandler was unanimously picked.
Michael Page will take on former UFC fighter Shinsho Anzai at a 173-pound contract weight. Page bounced back from a high-profile loss to Douglas Lima with a pair of wins most recently. Anzai was 2-2 in the UFC and is coming off a win in DEEP. All but one writer picked Page.
Former UFC fighters Lorenz Larkin and Keita Nakamura will battle. Larkin is on a three-fight win streak after starting his Bellator run at 0-2. Nakamura was 4-4 in the UFC and is making his promotional debut. Larkin was unanimously picked.
In a promotional crossover match, Ilara Joanne will take on Kana Watanabe. Joanne is a respected prospect coming off a win over Bec Rawlings in her promotional debut. Watanabe is 8-0-1 in her career and 3-0 in RIZIN. All but two writers picked Joanne.
Opening up the Bellator 237 main card is RIZIN favorite Daron Cruickshank taking on Goiti Yamauchi. Yamauchi has been with Bellator since 2013 and has won his last two fights. Cruickshank has lost his last two fights since winning four in a row. Yamauchi was unanimously picked.
