For the first time, Bellator fighters will compete under the PFL banner after the 2023 merger, and champions will take on champions in Saudi Arabia.
PFL vs. Bellator: Champions (pay-per-view, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
Get pick results from our 10 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Clay Collard vs. A.J. McKee
Records: Collard (24-11), McKee (21-1)
Past five: Collard 3-2, McKee 4-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: McKee No. 9 (featherweight)
Odds (as of 02.23.24): McKee -300, Collard +240
Junkie pick results: McKee 10, Collard 0
Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero
Records: Santos (22-12), Romero (15-7)
Past five: Santos 1-4, Romero 2-3
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Santos -115, Romero -105
Junkie pick results: Santos 8, Romero 2
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov
Records: Cappelozza (16-6), Nemkov (17-2)
Past five: Cappelozza 4-1, Nemkov 5-0
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Nemkov -410, Cappelozza +320,
Junkie pick results: Nemkov 10, Cappelozza 0
Ray Cooper III vs. Jason Jackson
Records: Cooper (25-9-1), Jackson (17-4)
Past five: Cooper 3-2, Jackson 5-0
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Jackson No. 8
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Jackson -650, Cooper +470
Junkie pick results: Jackson 9, Cooper 1
Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen
Records: Kasanganay (15-3), Eblen (14-0)
Past five: Kasanganay 5-0, Eblen 5-0
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Eblen No. 7
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Eblen -395, Kasanganay +310
Junkie pick results: Eblen 10, Kasanganay 0
Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader
Records: Ferreira (12-3), Bader (31-7)
Past five: Ferreira 4-1, Bader 4-1
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Bader No. 14, Ferreira honorable mention
Odds (as of 02.19.24): Ferreira -120, Bader +100
Junkie pick results: Bader 5, Ferreira 5
Check out all the main card picks below.
PFL vs. Bellator: Champions main card picks
| Ferreira vs. Bader |
Kasanganay vs. Eblen |
Cooper III vs. Jackson |
Cappelozza vs. Nemkov |
Santos vs. Romero |
Collard vs. McKee |
|
|
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 14-12 |
 Bader (60%) |
 Eblen (86%) |
 Jackson (84%) |
 Nemkov (93%) |
 Romero (71%) |
 McKee (90%) |
|
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 18-8  |
 Ferreira |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
 Santos |
McKee |
|
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 17-9 |
Bader |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Santos |
McKee |
|
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 17-9 |
Bader |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Santos |
McKee |
|
Simon Samano @SJSamano 16-10 |
Ferreira |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Romero |
McKee |
|
Nolan King @mma_kings 16-10 |
Ferreira |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Santos |
McKee |
|
Brian Garcia @thegoze 15-11 |
Bader |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Santos |
McKee |
|
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 15-11 |
Ferreira |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Santos |
McKee |
|
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 15-11 |
Ferreira |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Santos |
McKee |
|
Matt Erickson @MattE 13-13 |
Bader |
Eblen |
Jackson |
Nemkov |
Romero |
McKee |
|
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 10-16 |
Bader |
Eblen |
 Cooper |
Nemkov |
Santos |
McKee |
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL vs. Bellator: Champions.
