Bellator MMA returns to action on Friday night, with the resumption of its featherweight grand prix. Bellator 255 is set to see the second tournament semifinal unfold — with a host of other notable names on the card.
The main event, of course, had double-champ Patricio Pitbull putting his 145lb title on the line against Emmanuel Sanchez. A rematch of their 2018 title fight, the winner would move on to face AJ McKee in the grand prix finale.
In the co-main event, welterweight submission machine Neiman Gracie was paired up with Jason Jackson, in a fight with clear title implications. Besides those top 10 welterweights, Tyrell Fortune would run it back with Jack May, Usman Nurmagomedov was set to debut against Mike Hamel, and Alejandra Lara was returning against Japan’s Kana Watanabe.
Our picks are in! Check below to find out who we see getting their hand raised on Bellator 255’s main card.
| Writer | Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe | Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Mike Hamel | Tyrell Fortune vs. Jack May | Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson | Patricio Pitbull vs. Emmanuel Sanchez |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Behunin (21-12) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Dan Doherty (31-21) | | | | | |
| Ryan Fortune (30-22) |  | | |  | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (28-24) | | | | | |
| Justin Gibbons (28-24) | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (23-21) | | | | | |
| Joe McDonagh (22-26) | | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (23-29) | | | | |  |
Not a single writer was willing to pick against the debuting Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 255, no doubt thanks in part to his family name. Nor was anyone up for siding against Tyrell Fortune in his rematch with Jack May, after their first meeting ended in a no contest due to a low blow.
Our staff was far more split on the Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson and Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe fights. The Lara-Watanabe fight was an event split, as was Gracie-Jackson.
Just one writer sided with Emmanuel Sanchez in the main event, meanwhile. Instead, it was a landslide for P4P best Patricio Pitbull.
