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| Chandler vs. Freire |
Lima vs. Page |
Curran vs. McKee |
Hager vs. Jones |
Bennett vs. Claxton |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2019: 81-40 (67%) |
 Chandler (78%) |
 Lima (63%) |
 McKee (74%) |
 Hager (92%) |
 Claxton (86%) |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2019: 83-38 (69%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2019: 83-38 (69%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Trent Reinsmith @TrentReinsmith 2019: 83-38 (69%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Ben Fowlkes @BenFowlkesMMA 2019: 82-39 (68%)  2016 Champion |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Fernanda Prates @nandaprates_ 2019: 82-39 (68%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2019: 81-40 (67%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2019: 79-42 (65%) 2014 Champion |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2019: 78-43 (64%) 2018 Champion |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2019: 77-44 (64%) 2017 Champion |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2019: 76-45 (63%) |
Chandler |
 Page |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Steven Marrocco @MMAjunkieSteven 2019: 76-45 (63%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2019: 76-45 (63%) |
Chandler |
Page |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2019: 73-48 (60%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2019: 14-16 (47%) |
Chandler |
Lima |
McKee |
Hager |
Claxton |
Bellator is back in the Chicago area this week with the potential for promotional history atop the card.
Bellator 221 takes place Saturday at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., near Chicago. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, featherweight champion Patricio Freire (28-4 MMA, 16-4 BMMA) moves up 10 pounds to challenge Michael Chandler (19-4 MMA, 16-4 BMMA) for his lightweight title in an attempt to become a dual champ. Chandler is more than a 2-1 favorite in the fight, and he’s also one of four unanimous picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-main event, former welterweight champion Douglas Lima (30-7 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) takes on the undefeated Michael Page (14-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA) in the semifinals of the ongoing 170-pound grand prix tournament. Lima is more than a 2-1 favorite, and he’s a heavy 12-2 pick from our staff members.
The other three fights on the main card all have unanimous picks. A.J. McKee (13-0 MMA, 13-0 BMMA) tries to stay perfect against former featherweight champ Pat Curran (23-7 MMA, 13-4 BMMA), and McKee is a 14-0 pick.
Former pro wrestler Jake Hager (1-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is a unanimous pick in his second pro fight against T.J. Jones (1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). And to open the main card, Tywan Claxton (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is a 14-0 pick against James Bennett (4-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Chandler (78 percent), Lima (63 percent), McKee (74 percent), Hager (92 percent) and Claxton (86 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on Bellator 221, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
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