Bellator 263 is the home of the best fight of the weekend as the featherweight grand prix concludes with Patricio Pitbull and AJ McKee. Cageside Press has its picks set.
| Writer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Doherty (76-49) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Eddie Law (29-19) |  |  | | | |
| Alex Behunin (65-46) | | | | | |
| Justin Gibbons (76-54) | | | | |  |
| Joe McDonagh (64-48) | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (49-38) | | | |  | |
| Jay Anderson (63-63) | | | | | |
| Dylan Bowker (59-62) | | | | | |
The main event of Bellator 263 is the featherweight grand prix final between champion Patricio Pitbull and AJ McKee. Pitbull has won seven straight fights, featuring two stoppages and a win over Juan Archuleta in his three tournament contests. McKee is undefeated at 17-0 with all of his fights coming in Bellator, stopping all three of his grand prix opponents. McKee was picked by five of eight writers.
The co-main features former Cage Warriors standout Mads Burnell against veteran Emmanuel Sanchez. Burnell is on an impressive six-fight win streak including two stoppages since switching over Bellator. Sanchez had a three-fight win streak stopped by Patricio Pitbull in the grand prix semifinals. Burnell was picked by five of eight writers.
Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, looks to stay undefeated against Manny Muro. Nurmagomedov went to a decision for just the second time in his 12-fight career in his last fight, which was his promotional debut. Muro has won three straight fights, defeating Nick Newell and former UFC fighter Devin Powell. Nurmagomedov was unanimously picked.
Former champion Brent Primus welcomes Islam Mamedov to the promotion. Primus is 10-1, winning two fights by submission since losing his title to Michael Chandler. Mamedov is 18-1-1 in his career and has not lost since 2009. All but two writers picked Primus.
Veteran Goiti Yamauchi will look to hand Chris Gonzalez the first loss in his career to open up the Bellator 263 main card. Gonzalez is 6-0, knocking out longtime veteran Roger Huerta to notch the first finish of his career last time out. Yamauchi had a three-fight win streak snapped by UFC veteran Dan Moret last time out. Cageside Press is split at four picks apiece.
