Bellator 253 predictions: Who’s picking Darrion Caldwell to end A.J. McKee’s perfect run?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 253 main card in Connecticut.

Caldwell
vs.
McKee
Henderson
vs.
Jackson
Davis
vs.
Lee
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 141-87
mckee2020
McKee
(78%)
henderson2020
Henderson
(72%)
davis2020
Davis
(84%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 156-72
mckee2020
McKee
jackson2020
Jackson
davis2020
Davis
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 153-75
caldwell2020
Caldwell
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 152-76
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 150-78
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 148-80
trophy copy 2014 Champion
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 147-81
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 146-82
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 143-85
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 143-85
trophy copy 2017 Champion
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 142-86
trophy copy 2018 Champion
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 142-86
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 140-88
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 138-90
mckee2020
McKee
henderson2020
Henderson
davis2020
Davis
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 86-142
caldwell2020
Caldwell
jackson2020
Jackson
lee2020
Lee

Bellator’s featherweight tournament continues this week with the first semifinal fight atop the bill.

Bellator 253 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network/DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former bantamweight champion [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 11-2 BMMA) takes on the unbeaten [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (16-0 MMA, 16-0 BMMA) in the first semifinal fight of Bellator’s 145-pound grand prix. McKee is a -233 favorite at BetMGM; the comeback on Caldwell is +190. McKee has a big 12-2 lead in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, former UFC and WEC lightweight champ [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] (28-9 MMA, 5-4 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) at welterweight. Jackson is a -182 favorite, but it’s Henderson with a heavy 12-2 lead from our staff members.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Joey Davis[/autotag] (7-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) is a 4-1 favorite at welterweight against [autotag]Bobby Lee[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who is making his promotional debut. Only one of our pickers is taking Lee in an upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, McKee (78 percent), Henderson (72 percent) and Davis (84 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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