What better way to start the weekend than with an MMA event that has a title fight as the headliner? That is what we are getting on Friday night with Bellator 259. The main card has 5 fights set to go, with the final fight of the night seeing Cyborg and Smith square off for the second time as they battle it out for the Featherweight belt. While that is the fight that everyone is tuning in to see, the rest of the main card also looks great. Let’s take a moment to have a quick look at all 5 fights on the main card, with predictions for each so you can wager against their Bellator odds.
Bellator 259 Betting Preview | MMA Analysis
Christian Edwards Vs Ben Parrish
The main card begins with a Light Heavyweight bout between a pair of fighters still looking to get rolling in the early stages of their pro careers. You have to like the start that Edwards has made, winning each of his first 4 fights, with 3 of those wins coming inside the 2nd round. Parrish saw his career get off to a 4-0 start, but he lost last time out after suffering a leg injury that has kept him out since 2019. That’s going to make things tough for him, which is why I have Edwards by KO.
Jaleel Willis Vs Maycon Mendonca
Next up is a Featherweight bout between a pair of fighters who are highly ranked in their respective regions. Willis is 14-2 and is on a run that has seen him win each of his last 5 fights, including his first fight under the Bellator banner. This will be the first fight with Bellator for Mendonca, who is 11-4 in his career, while also coming in on a 5-fight winning streak. This looks like a good matchup and one that might go the distance. I think it will be Willis who edges it.
Fabian Edwards Vs Austin Vanderford
The Middleweight bout that is next on the main card looks like a great one, with both fighters combining for just 1 loss in their careers. Edwards will be looking to bounce back after taking his first loss last time out to fall to 9-1 in his pro career. On the flipside, we have Vanderford, who is a perfect 10-0 via a mixture of decision wins and powerful finishes. This is another one that looks set to go the distance with Vanderford getting the decision.
Darrion Caldwell Vs Leandro Higo
The co-main event of the night is Bantamweight bout that features a couple of experienced fighters squaring off in the octagon. Caldwell is 14-4 and is coming into this fight on the heels of a loss, which means that he has now lost 3 of his last 5 fights. Higo is 20-5 and on his way to recovering from a run that saw him lose 3 of 4. He comes into this one having won 2 in a row. This looks like another good fight, but I have Caldwell getting the win.
Cris Cyborg Vs Leslie Smith
The main event of the night is a Featherweight title fight that is a rematch, although the last meeting between these two came in the UFC. Cyborg is the champion and a perfect 2-0 in her time with Bellator. Her last meeting with Smith was over before it really began, and you have to say that Smith has not been in the best form ahead of this fight, struggling to get a unanimous win over a .500 fighter last time out. This should be a comfortable win for the champ.
