| Gracie vs. Storley |
Koreshkov vs. Rencountre |
Karakhanyan vs. Piccolotti |
Franklin vs. Sowma |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 14-12 |
 Gracie (60%) |
 Koreshkov (82%) |
 Piccolotti (78%) |
 Franklin (61%) |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 18-8  2021 Champion |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Piccolotti |
Franklin |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 17-9 |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
 Karakhanyan |
Franklin |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 16-10 |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Karakhanyan |
 Sowma |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 16-10 2018 Champion |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Karakhanyan |
Franklin |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 16-10 |
 Storley |
 Rencountre |
Karakhanyan |
Franklin |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 15-11 |
Storley |
Koreshkov |
Piccolotti |
Franklin |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 14-12 |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Karakhanyan |
Sowma |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 14-12 |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Karakhanyan |
Franklin |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 14-12 2014 Champion |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Piccolotti |
Franklin |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 13-13 2017 Champion |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Karakhanyan |
Franklin |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 13-13 |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Piccolotti |
Franklin |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 11-15 |
Gracie |
Koreshkov |
Karakhanyan |
Franklin |
(Editor’s note: The fight between Brandon Bell and Brennan Ward was moved to the main card after our picks deadline and after this story published.)
Bellator is back in its regular Connecticut stomping grounds this week with a pair of welterweight contenders at the top of the lineup.
Bellator 274 takes place Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, Neiman Gracie (11-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) takes on Logan Storley (12-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA). Gracie is a -170 favorite at Tipico; the comeback on Storley is +135. Our 12 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are backing Gracie at a big 10-2 clip.
In the co-feature, former welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov (24-4 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) meets short-notice replacement Chance Rencountre (16-4 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). Koreshkov is more than a 3-1 favorite and a near-unanimous pick at 11-1.
Also on the main card, Georgi Karakhanyan (31-12-1 MMA, 9-10 BMMA) fights Adam Piccolotti (12-4 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) at lightweight. Piccolotti is the biggest favorite on the main card at -340, but it’s underdog Karakhanyan with an 8-4 advantage in the picks from our staff members.
And to open the main card, Davion Franklin (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) takes on Said Sowma (8-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) at heavyweight. Sowma is a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, but 10 of our 12 pickers are siding with Franklin.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Gracie (60 percent), Koreshkov (82 percent), Piccolotti (78 percent) and Franklin (61 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.