Bellator 246 looks to end the promotion’s weekend on a high note with a great bantamweight battle between Juan Archuleta and Patchy Mix in the main event.
| Staff Writers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fortune (95-48) |  |  |  |  |
| Jay Anderson (90-53) | | | |  |
| Joe McDonagh (87-56) |  | |  | |
| Mike McClory (36-26) | | | | |
| Justin Gibbons (60-47) | | | | |
| Dan Doherty (77-61) | | | | |
| Dylan Bowker (69-56) | | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (77-66) | | | | |
| Eddie Law (53-48) | | | | |
Bellator 246 is highlighted by bantamweight contenders Juan Archuleta and Patchy Mix competing for the vacant title. Both men have had excellent runs since joining the promotion, with Mix racking up three first-round submissions in as many fights, and Archuleta 6-1 with the one loss coming to then champion Patricio Pitbull. Archuleta was slightly favored with five picks to Mix’s four.
The co-main event will be an interesting stylistic matchup between Jon Fitch and Neiman Gracie. Fitch, a wrestler, is 1-0-1 since moving to Bellator with a win over Paul Daley and a draw with former champion Rory MacDonald. Gracie was 7-0 in the promotion with six submissions before running into MacDonald. All but two writers picked Gracie.
Liz Carmouche makes her promotional debut against Invicta FC veteran DeAnna Bennett, who will also be debuting. Carmouche was 5-5 in the UFC, losing in a pair of title fights against Valentina Shevchenko and Ronda Rousey. Bennett is coming off a good run in the Invicta Phoenix Series one-night tournament back in September, reaching the finals. Carmouche was unanimously picked.
Opening up the main card is veteran Derek Campos taking on undefeated prospect Keoni Diggs. Campos has lost four of his last five and has been with Bellator since 2013. Diggs is 8-0 with six finishes, including a rear-naked choke in his promotional debut. All but two writers picked the veteran Campos.