Okay Bellator betting enthusiasts…you’re going to have both, a great chance to cash in with some potentially winning wagers – and the chance to catch what looks like one of the more action-packed fight cards of the year when Bellator 226 goes down live on Saturday, Sept. 7, live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Bellator 226 Odds, Predictions & Picks
- When: September 7, 2019 at 10:00 PM ET
- Where: SAP Center, San Jose, CA
- TV: DAZN
- Live Stream: Bellator Live
- Undercard: 6:45 PM ET
- Main card: (DAZN, 10:00 PM ET)
- Main event: 12:30 AM ET
While Bellator 226 will kick off the organization’s featherweight tournament, the card’s headline bout isn’t part of the tournament and features what looks like a thrilling heavyweight title bout between newly-minted heavyweight champion Ryan Bader and talented former UFC veteran Cheick Kongo.
As far as the featherweight tournament is concerned, there are some big names taking to the octagon as well. Former champion Daniel Straus meets Derek Campos while another former champ, Pat Curran throws down against undefeated prospect Adam Borics. Title contender Emmanuel Sanchez takes on Tywan Claxton and UFC veteran Sam Sicilia battles Bellator’s European prospect, Pedro Carvalho.
Heavyweight Championship: Ryan Bader (27-5) vs. Cheick Kongo (30-10-2)
- Bellator 226 Odds: TBA
Bader is 36-years-old and stands 6’2”. The American has won 12 fights by KO, three by way of submission and 12 via decision while suffering three KO losses and two via submission. Bader has also won seven consecutive fights including his jaw-dropping 35-second win over Fedor Emelianenko for the heavyweight championship in January.
The win helped Bader become the first person in Bellator history to hold two belts simultaneously. Bader has also taken out several other notable fighters recently in dispatching the likes of Matt Mitrione, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Phil Davis.
The 44-year-old Kongo stands 6’4” and he’s recorded 14 wins by KO, four via submission and 12 by way of decision. He’s also suffered three KO losses, one via submission and six by way of decision. Kongo has won eight straight fights including a unanimous decision win over Vitaly Minakov in their rematch in February.
Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Daniel Straus (26-8) vs. Derek Campos
- Bellator 226 Odds: TBA
35-year-old Daniel Straus is one of two former featherweight champions in the tournament. He snapped his two-fight losing streak by submitting Shane Kruchten in his last fight. 31-year-old Derek Campos is on a three-fight losing streak that includes losses to two other fighters in this tournament, Pedro Carvalho and Sam Sicilia. Campos is making the drop down in weight after previously fighting some of the best fighters Bellator has to offer at lightweight.
Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Pat Curran (23-8) vs. Adam Borics (9-0)
- Bellator 226 Odds: TBA
Pat Curran has gone 3-3 since losing the featherweight title for the second time in his 2014 loss to Patricio Freire. Curran comes into this affair off a unanimous decision loss to A.J. McKee at Bellator 221 in May. Adam Borics has risen up out of the ranks of regional European MMA and took out blue-chip prospect Aaron Pico via second round TKO in his last fight. Over his last four bouts, Borics has recorded two TKO wins and two via submission.
Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Tywan Claxton (5-0) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (18-4)
- Bellator 226 Odds: TBA
The unbeaten 26-year-old Tywan Claxton has won two straight and four of his five career Bellator fights via TKO, including a third round win over James Bennett at Bellator 221 in May. 29-year-old Emmanuel Sanchez has won five of his last six fights including a unanimous decision win over Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 218 in March.
Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Sam Sicilia (17-9) vs. Pedro Carvalho (10-3)
- Bellator 226 Odds: TBA
33-year-old Sam Sicilia has lost four of his lasts ix fights, but he’s also won two of his last three including a split decision win over Derek Campos at Bellator 212 in December. 24-year-old Pedro Carvalho has won five straight bouts including his stunning first round win over Derek Campos at Bellator Birmingham in May.
