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All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Nov. 21-27.
Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 273 main card with heavyweight champ Ryan Bader vs. interim champ Valentin Moldavsky.
| Bader vs. Moldavsky |
Henderson vs. Mamedov |
Corrales vs. Lee |
Homasi vs. Willis |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 6-5 |
 Moldavsky (65%) |
 Mamedov (80%) |
 Corrales (71%) |
 Willis (75%) |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 9-2  2021 Champion |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 7-4 |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 7-4 |
 Bader |
 Henderson |
 Lee |
 Homasi |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 7-4 |
Bader |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 6-5 2014 Champion |
Bader |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 6-5 |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Homasi |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 6-5 |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Lee |
Willis |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 6-5 2018 Champion |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 6-5 |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Homasi |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 5-6 |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 5-6 2017 Champion |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 5-6 |
Moldavsky |
Mamedov |
Corrales |
Willis |
Bellator is back for the first time in 2022, and there’s a heavyweight title unification bout at the top of the lineup.
Bellator 273 takes place Saturday at Footprint Center in Phoenix. 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, heavyweight champion [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] (28-7 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) takes on interim champ [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA), in a title unification fight. Moldavsky is a sizable -260 favorite at Tipico; the comeback on Bader is +195. Our 12 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are backing Moldavsky fairly heavily at a 9-3 clip.
In the co-feature, former UFC and WEC lightweight champ [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] (28-11 MMA, 5-6 BMMA) will try to snap a three-fight slide against [autotag]Islam Mamedov[/autotag] (20-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). Mamedov is a big -475 favorite, and he’s got a huge 11-1 lead in the picks.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag] (19-6 MMA, 7-6 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Aiden Lee[/autotag] (10-5 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) in a featherweight fight. And though Lee is a -125 favorite in a close fight at the betting window, our staff members are going with Corrales with a big 10-2 margin.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is a -230 favorite at welterweight against [autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] (15-10 MMA, 4-4 BMMA). Willis, like Corrales, has a hefty 10-2 lead in the picks.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Moldavsky (65 percent), Mamedov (80 percent), Corrales (71 percent) and Willis (75 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
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Bellator is headed to Phoenix for the second time in four months and it’s bringing a welterweight bout with it.
A welterweight fight is headed to Phoenix.
[autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] have been matched up and will square off Jan. 29 at Bellator 273. The event takes place at Footprint Center in Phoenix with the main card streaming on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Homasi (15-10 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) will look to rebound from back-to-back losses against Andrey Koreshkov and Paul Daley. Prior to his current losing skid, Homasi won four-straight fights with three knockouts in that stretch.
Willis (15-3 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), meanwhile, looks to rebound from an October loss at Bellator 268, in which he was submitted by Mukhamed Berkhamov. The defeat snapped a six-fight winning streak for the former LFA welterweight champion.
With the addition, the Bellator 273 lineup includes:
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Five fighters pocketed more than $100,000 at Bellator 268 in Phoenix, according to documents obtained by MMA Junkie.
Bellator 268 featured two light heavyweight grand prix matchups, and the fighters involved were four of the five highest-paid athletes on the card.
Light heavyweight champion [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] and fellow grand prix finalist [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] led all paydays, as they pocketed six figures as a result of their wins Oct. 16 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Grand prix participants [autotag]Julius Anglickas[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag], who lost in the semfinals, and former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag], also took home six figures.
On Monday, MMA Junkie acquired a full list of Bellator 268 salaries from the Arizona Department of Gaming, which oversaw the event.
Check out a full list below.
Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 259 main card, featuring Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith.
| Cyborg vs. Smith |
Caldwell vs. Higo |
Edwards vs. Vanderford |
Mandonca vs. Willis |
Edwards vs. Parrish |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 66-45 |
 Cyborg (86%) |
 Caldwell (77%) |
 Vanderford (70%) |
 Willis (85%) |
 C. Edwards (83%) |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 68-43 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 68-43 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 66-45 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
 Mendonca |
C. Edwards |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 66-45 2018 Champion |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
 F. Edwards |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 65-46 2014 Champion |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 65-46 2017 Champion |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 65-46 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 65-46 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 63-48 2020 Champion |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 62-49 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 61-50 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
F. Edwards |
Willis |
C. Edwards |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 60-51 |
Cyborg |
Caldwell |
Vanderford |
Mendonca |
C. Edwards |
| BetMGM Betting Favorites |
Cyborg -1400 |
Caldwell -350 |
Vanderford -225 |
Mendonca -125 |
C. Edwards -650 |
Bellator is back this week with a title fight at the top of the card.
Bellator 259 takes place Friday 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, women’s featherweight champion [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) puts her title on the line in a rematch with challenger [autotag]Leslie Smith[/autotag] (12-8-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA). Cyborg is a huge favorite at -1400 at BetMGM, so it’s no surprise she’s one of three unanimous picks on the main card from our editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-feature, former bantamweight champ [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 3-3 BMMA). Caldwell is a -350 favorite, and he’s a 12-0 unanimous pick from our staff members.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in a middleweight bout. Vanderford is a -225 favorite, but two of our pickers are taking Edwards in an upset.
[autotag]Maycon Mendonca[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a slight favorite at -125 in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA). But it’s Willis with a big 10-2 picks lead.
Unfortunately, the bout expected to open the main card, which saw [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) as a big -650 favorite at light heavyweight against [autotag]Ben Parrish[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), was called off following the day’s official weigh-ins. Edwards was our third unanimous pick.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Cyborg (86 percent), Caldwell (77 percent), Vanderford (70 percent), Willis (85 percent) and Christian Edwards (83 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
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Five fights have been added to next week’s Bellator 253 lineup.
The Bellator 253 lineup is filling out.
On Monday, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie of five fights including [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Keith Lee[/autotag] and the return of “Baby Slice” [autotag]Kevin Ferguson Jr.[/autotag], son of the late combat sports legend Kimbo Slice.
Bellator 253 takes place Thursday, Nov. 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Stots (14-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) vs. Lee (7-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) will take place on the main card, after Ferguson (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) battles [autotag]Kaheem Murray[/autotag] in a lightweight fight on the prelims. The matchup was first reported by MMA reporter James Lynch on Sunday.
Stots, 31, most recently competed at Bellator 242 in July when he submitted previously-undefeated Cass Bell by third-round rear-naked choke. Seven weeks later at Bellator 245, Lee defeated Vinicius Zani by unanimous decision.
Ferguson and Murray (3-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) were scheduled to fight at Bellator 241 in March 2020. However, the event was canceled hours prior to its scheduled start time due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Also on the prelims, [autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) fights [autotag]Johnny Soto[/autotag] (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at a 140-pound contract weight, [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) fights [autotag]Mark Lemminger[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) at welterweight, and [autotag]Marcus Surin[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Ricardo Seixas[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at lightweight.
With the additions, the Bellator 253 lineup includes:
[vertical-gallery id=473911]
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Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 249 main card in Connecticut.
| Cyborg vs. Blencowe |
Freire vs. Willis |
Bandejas vs. Higo |
Awad vs. Nallo |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 120-76 |
 Cyborg (68%) |
 Freire (72%) |
 Bandejas (68%) |
 Nallo (51%) |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 130-66 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 130-66 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 129-67 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
 Awad |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 128-68 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Awad |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 127-69 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 126-70 2014 Champion |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 126-70 2017 Champion |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 125-71 2019 Champion* |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 124-72 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 121-75 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Awad |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 121-75 2018 Champion |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Awad |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 118-78 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 117-79 |
Cyborg |
Freire |
Bandejas |
Nallo |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 79-117 |
 Blencowe |
 Willis |
 Higo |
Awad |
Bellator is back Stateside this week for a Thursday event – which will be the promotion’s new normal – with the women’s featherweight title on the line.
Bellator 249 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, women’s 145-pound champion [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) puts her title on the line against Australian challenger [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 6-3 BMMA). Cyborg is a heavy 9-1 favorite in the fight, and just one of our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts is picking Blencowe in an upset.
In the co-feature, [autotag]Patricky Freire[/autotag] (23-9 MMA, 14-7 BMMA), brother of Bellator featherweight and lightweight dual champ Patricio Freire, takes on [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). Only one of our staff members is taking Willis, who is making his return to Bellator on the heels of an LFA welterweight title win in August.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Ricky Bandejas[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) meets [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (19-5 MMA, 2-3 BMMA) in a bantamweight bout. Just like the top two bouts, only one picker is taking Higo to win.
And to open the main card, we have our most contentious fight from a picking standpoint. [autotag]Saad Awad[/autotag] (23-13 MMA, 11-10 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Mandel Nallo[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) at lightweight. Awad has some picking support, but Nallo still has a sizable 9-5 lead.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Cyborg (68 percent), Freire (72 percent), Bandejas (68 percent) and Nallo (51 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
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Bellator 249’s Jaleel Willis on his MMA fate and return to Bellator
Bellator 249’s Jaleel Willis on his MMA fate and return to Bellator
