Bellator 277 features a pair of title fights in the first event from the promotion in over a month. Cageside Press has its picks set.
| Staff Writers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Prawdzik (43-15) |  |  |  |  |
| Derek Kibler (20-7) | | |  | |
| Alex Behunin (40-18) | | | | |
| Justin Gibbons (40-18) | | | | |
| Dan Doherty (34-19) |  | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (37-21) | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (37-21) | |  | | |
| Eddie Law (34-24) | | | | |
The main event of Bellator 277 is the rematch of the Featherweight Grand Prix final between champion AJ McKee and former champ Patricio Pitbull. McKee won their first meeting with a first-round guillotine choke, improving his career record to 18-0. He stopped all four opponents he faced in the tournament. The loss to McKee snapped a seven-fight win streak for Pitbull, including a lightweight title win against Michael Chandler. McKee was unanimously picked.
The co-main event is the final bout of the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix as former UFC contender Corey Anderson faces Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov. Nemkov is the protégé of the legendary Fedor Emelianenko and has looked the part. Nemkov is undefeated at 7-0 in Bellator and has defended his title twice. Anderson is 3-0 with three stoppages since joining the promotion. Cageside Press was split at four picks apiece.
Aaron Pico is back on track and looking to extend his win streak to six after a two-fight losing streak early on in his career. He was supposed to fight Jeremy Kennedy, but Kennedy pulled out and was replaced by newcomer Adli Edwards. Edwards is 9-1 in his career with two knockouts and three submissions. All but one writer picked Pico.
Opening up the four-fight main card will be heavyweights Timothy Johnson and Linton Vassell. Vassell has won three straight fights after losing in his return to the heavyweight division, his first venture into the weight class in Bellator. Johnson is 3-4 in the promotion after a 4-3 run in the UFC. All but one writer picked Vassell.
