Bellator 255 should be an exciting one. Headlining this huge MMA event down in Uncasville, Connecticut will be the rematch between Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez for the featherweight championship. What would be the outcome of their fight this time around? Check out our brief preview of that match along with the others on the main event below.
Patricio Freire (-280) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez Preview (+210)
Featherweight
Freire and Sanchez meet for the second time, with the latter getting another shot at snatching the featherweight belt away from the former. Freire (31-4-0) defeated Sanchez back in Bellator 209 nearly three years ago via unanimous decision and has successfully defended his title three times since. Since that loss, Sanchez (20-4-0) has built a winning streak of his own, racking up three straight victories to earn another title shot.
Writer’s prediction:
Freire wins via unanimous decision.
Kana Watanabe (+150) vs. Alejandra Lara (-180)
Women’s Flyweight
Watanabe returns to action for the first time after a very long while. Watanabe, who had to deal with COVID-19-related issues, is undefeated in her pro career (9-0-1) with three knockout wins and three submission victories. The last time she fought, Watanabe scored a TKO win over Ilara Joanne in 2019 during Bellator 237. Lara (9-3-0) hasn’t also fought since 2019. In her most recent outing, she won via unanimous decision against Veta Arteaga in December 2019.
Writer’s prediction:
Lara wins via knockout.
Matt Mitrione (+180) vs. Tyrell Fortune (-240)
Heavyweight
Writer’s prediction:
Fortune wins by knockout.
Neiman Gracie (-120) vs. Jason Jackson (-110)
Welterweight
After losing to Rory McDonald in a welterweight title back in 2019, Gracie did not see action until over a year later when he submitted another former UFC fighter in Jon Fitch. Gracie (10-1-0) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist who’s got all but one of his 10 wins coming off submissions. Jackson (13-4-0) debuted in Bellator with a loss back in 2019 but has gone 3-0 since — all wins via unanimous decisions. In his last fight, he defeated former UFC champion Benson Henderson last November.
Writer’s prediction:
Gracie submits Jackson.
Usman Nurmagomedov (-800) vs. Mike Hamel (+500)
Lightweight
This will be Nurmagomedov’s first fight not only in Bellator but in North America, so he’s looking to make a strong statement against Hamel. Nurmagomedov should be a familiar name, though, for most MMA fans. After all, he is a cousin of UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov. Usman is undefeated in 11 career MMA fights with seven KOs and three submission victories. Hamel (7-4-0), on the other hand, is struggling with consistency, as he’s gone 2-4 in his past six fights, including a split decision loss to Adam Borics at Bellator 243 in August of last year.
