We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 243 event in Connecticut.
We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 243 event in Uncasville, Conn.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 243 event staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 243 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Make your picks for all four main card fights inside:
Bellator is stacking up its second event in its return from a hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Two new fights have been added to Bellator 243, which takes place Aug. 7 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.: A lightweight bout between [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] and [autotag]Georgi Karakhanyan[/autotag] on the main card and a 150-pound catchweight bout between [autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] and [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] on the prelims.
MMA Junkie verified both matchups with a Bellator official. Campos vs. Borics was first reported by Combate.
Jury (18–5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Brandon Girtz in February. He successfully bounced back from a defeat to Benson Henderson, which marked his Bellator debut. Meanwhile, Karakhanyan (29-10-1 MMA, 7-8 BMMA) looks to continue a successful campaign at 155 pounds. The former featherweight fighter most recently fought in February where he submitted Paul Redmond.
In the 150-pound catchweight bout, featherweights Campos (20-10 MMA, 8-8 BMMA) and Borics (14-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) have their first fights since getting bounced from the ongoing Bellator featherweight grand prix. Campos lost to A.J. McKee and Borics fell short to Darrion Caldwell.
Additionally, MMA Junkie confirmed bouts between [autotag]Joel Bauman[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Taylor Johnson[/autotag], which was first reported by Cage Side Press, and[autotag] Chris Lencioni[/autotag] vs. [autotag]AJ Agazarm[/autotag], which was reported by Fansided.
Bellator 243 is being headlined by a key lightweight bout pitting former Bellator champion Michael Chandler against former UFC champion Benson Henderson in a rematch from 2016, which Chandler won by split decision.
With the additions, the Bellator 243 lineup includes:
Ex-UFC fighter and current Bellator featherweight Myles Jury describes the differences between the two promotions.
[autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] has competed in both the UFC and Bellator, so he speaks from firsthand experience.
The main difference between the two promotions is “control,” Jury (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) recently told MMA Junkie. “From 2012-2019, Jury competed 12 times under the UFC banner. According to Jury, the UFC’s urge to be in charge of everything took its toll on him.
A member of the Bellator roster since mid-2019, Jury’s fight week experiences are much different now, he said.
“For Bellator, the main difference is control,” Jury said. “The UFC are control freaks. They like to control everything from what you wear to when you show up to fight week to how you basically present yourself. If you’re saying bad things, you’re going to get cut. Basically, they just love to control.
“For Bellator it’s a little more relaxed. They let you come in and do your own thing. They just want you to show up, go out there, and fight well. There’s no crazy fight week stuff. It’s just very more relaxed at Bellator. I like that, man, because I’m a fighter.”
In Jury’s eyes, the fighters are the product, but he said in the UFC, they aren’t treated as such. At the end of the day, it’s the fighters who fight – not the promotion’s other workers, Jury said.
“I’m a fighter,” Jury said. “I don’t work in an office. I don’t like people telling me what I need to wear, coming backstage telling me, ‘You’re doing this at this time.’ Basically, treat me like an employee, man. I’m a fighter. I’m the product. When I go out there and fight, I’m the man. I’m the one going out there doing it. I don’t care what the cameraman says or what time they think we need to be ready and all this. I don’t want to hear any of that. I’m a product. I’m the one going out there and putting on the show – me and my fellow fighters.”
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Describing the situation in layman’s terms, Jury used an analogy. He compared the UFC to a chain restaurant, with Bellator being the “mom-and-pop” restaurant that serves the better food.
“Sometimes with the UFC, it’s so big. It’s such a corporate feel, like if you go to a restaurant or something,” Jury said. “You’ve got the mom-and-pop restaurant and you’ve got the big corporation restaurants. I feel like that’s Bellator. Bellator is the strong mom-and-pop shop that comes from a good place. They let you be yourself a little bit more.”
Myles Jury believes a win over Georgi Karakhanyan in July will put him in line for a title shot.
[autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] has already signed a contract for his next fight and is looking to position himself as the top welterweight contender in his new promotion.
A newly minted Bellator fighter, Jury (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) picked up his first promotional win when he defeated Brandon Girtz in February and he already has his next opponent lined up.
Jury will take on [autotag]Georgi Karakhanyan[/autotag] sometime this summer in an event to be determined as soon as Bellator resumes operations.
“I’m fighting Georgi Karakhanyan and I’m gonna fight him in July so that’s what my management told me,” Jury told MMA Junkie. “I’m staying ready, I signed the contract, and I’m just looking to go out there and have a great performance against Georgi. I feel like I match up very well with him, I’m more well-rounded, better striker, better grappler and yeah that’s my next challenge.
“My goal as a fighter it’s always been to win a world title and that’s what kinda keeps me in the sport. I’m literally – fighting for a title and winning a world title are the only two things I haven’t done yet and I don’t want to waste talent, I want to seize these opportunities and that’s what keeps pushing me, that’s what keeps motivating me and next step is Georgi.”
Jury, who already called for a title shot after beating Girtz, doesn’t see a clear-cut contender at 155 pounds and is looking earn a crack at gold, with a solid showing against Karakhanyan.
“I see this division wide open, I see the title wide open right there and that’s why I’m taking to Bellator,” Jury said. “Let’s lock up a new contract, we got this next fight coming up, and I’ve already told them that I’m next in line for that title shot. I don’t care what anybody says, I have a great performance over Georgi, this division’s wide open, there’s nobody that deserves it.”
Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 239, which took place Friday in Thackerville, Okla.
Bellator hosted its second event of the year on Friday with Bellator 239, which took place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., with a main card that aired on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.
In the main event, [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) continued the longest MMA winning streak among Bellator fighters when he edged [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision in the matchup of welterweight contenders.
For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 25 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 239.
* * * *
General
Betting favorites went 3-1 on the main card.
Betting favorites improved to 2-0 in Bellator main events this year.
Total fight time for the four-bout main card was 47:35.
Main card
Amosov’s 23-fight winning streak in MMA competition is the longest among active Bellator fighters.
Amosov has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.
Ruth fell to 2-2 in his past four fights after starting his career 6-0.
Ruth fell to 3-2 since he dropped to the Bellator welterweight division in June 2018.
Ruth suffered the first decision loss of his career.
Myles Jury. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
[autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped his three-fight losing skid for his first victory since December 2017.
Jury improved to 1-1 since he returned to the lightweight division in September.
[autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) fell to 2-5 in his past seven Bellator appearances dating back to November 2016.
Girtz has suffered four of his seven Bellator losses by decision.
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[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has earned 10 of his 13 career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMA) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
[autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag]’s (9-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is the second longest active streak in the division behind Tyrell Fortune (eight).
Moldavsky has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.
[autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-8 MMA, 6-5 BMMA) fell to 3-5 in his past eight fights dating back to June 2015.
Preliminary card
[autotag]J.W. Kiser[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]’s (5-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) five victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Juliana Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (10).
Kielholtz’s three-fight Bellator winning streak at women’s flyweight is the third longest active streak in the division behind Macfarlane (10) and Velasquez (five).
Kielholtz’s four stoppage victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (seven).
Kielholtz’s three submission victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Emily Ducote for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six).
[autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) suffered the first submission loss of her career.
[autotag]Shawn Bunch[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) fell to 2-2 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in November 2018.
Bellator kicked off a busy weekend of action in a familiar venue, with a Friday night card in Thackerville, Okla.
Bellator kicked off a busy weekend of action in a familiar venue, with a Friday night card in Thackerville, Okla.
WinStar World Casino and Resort played host to Bellator 239, which aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN. In the night’s main event,
Ukrainian welterweight [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) kept his stellar career record unblemished, scoring a decision win over the highly rated Ed Ruth (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA).
Additionally, [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (19-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) picked up his first win for the promotion, [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) scored a highlight-reel finish in a massive upset and [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) cruised to a comfortable decision win.
You can check out highlights of all four main-card contests in the video above.
Bellator 239 results include:
MAIN CARD
Yaroslav Amosov def. Ed Ruth via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Myles Jury knows what it’s like to be an undefeated prospect, but admits that snapping his three-fight skid at Bellator 239 trumps everything.
THACKERVILLE, Okla. – [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] is back in the win column after securing arguably the most important victory of his career.
Jury (19-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) defeated Brandon Girtz via unanimous decision at Bellator 239 to snap a three-fight losing streak and claim his first win as a Bellator fighter. And, after a run of disappointing defeats, Jury admitted that picking up the victory with his back against the wall trumped just about everything he’d experienced in his career to date.
“This win, it’s been a tough couple of years for me,” Jury told reporters, including MMA Junkie backstage after the fight. “I’m not the kind to (expletive) and complain and stuff like that, but I was coming off of three losses, new organization, and winning tonight, man, it just makes it feel so much more special.
“I know what it feels like to be undefeated as a fighter, and that’s a great feeling, coming off big wins over legends, main cards and all these great things, but nothing feels better than bouncing back from a loss, so tonight I did that. I bounced back from losses and I couldn’t be more proud, more grateful.”
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Hoping to re-up his contract, and even calling for a title shot, Jury may not have had the best performance of his career, but he was able to seal the fight in the third round by securing a late takedown as he used his movement to avoid taking any serious damage from the dangerous Girtz.
“My fight, I always try and fight technical,” Jury said. “I’m a prizefighter first and foremost, but when you try and fight somebody like Girtz, it’s always a tough challenge just because of how explosive he is and how tough he is. I was lucky to have a great performance with him and land some great knees, some great punches and show all my skills.
“This is a huge win for me, not only because coming off of losses, but this is my first win in Bellator. Like I said, fighting here in Bellator, I feel like it’s a top organization and being able to get my first victory here is – it’s just something that I’m so proud of, so this win is just right up there with the best wins I’ve had in my life.”
Myles Jury called for a title shot, new contract and commentary gig after beating Brandon Girtz in the Bellator 239 co-main event.
THACKERVILLE, Okla. – [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] earned his first Bellator victory Friday when he defeated [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] in the Bellator 239 co-headliner.
Jury (19-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped a three-fight losing skid and registered his first victory since December 2017 when he outworked Girtz (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) to a unanimous decision in a largely uneventful contest.
The lightweight bout was the Bellator 239 co-main event at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Girtz wasted little time pressing the action on Jury and landing some solid strikes in the opening minute of the fight. Jury worked behind his jab and tried to stay on the outside as the most aggressive Girtz did his best to close the distance. There was mixed success from both sides, but neither man was able to do anything to badly hurt the other and overtake momentum coming out of the round.
The beginning of the second frame was a different story, however, because Girtz was able to get inside Jury’s range within the first minute and secure a takedown. He spent the next several minutes there, inflicting minimal damage but burning clock and controlling Jury, who seemed content on bottom, from inside the guard. The referee didn’t enjoy it, though, and intervened with a standup with a little more than 90 seconds remaining.
Moments after, Jury poked Girtz in the eye, forcing another break in the action. Once the fight resumed, Jury got a grappling advantage when he took Girtz’s back from a standing position near the fence. Unfortunately, there was short time and he couldn’t get into a fight-finishing position.
With the fight potentially up for grabs going into the final frame, both men looked to force their strategy. Girtz used his forward movement and pressure to attack with big strikes, but he had trouble hurting Jury, who was content to counter with his boxing. Jury secured a takedown in the late stages of the round and took the back again, but he couldn’t finish the fight and left the result to the judges.
In the end, the judges ruled it in favor of Jury.
“I feel like I’m a counter fighter, and this time I had to break in and bring out the dog a little bit,” Jury said during his post-fight interview. “First win finally in Bellator. What do I want next? I want a title shot, I want a new contract and I want a little gig in the side of the booth with you here, ‘Big John.'”
Bellator is back at its regular Oklahoma stomping grounds for the first of its back-to-back shows this week on two continents, and a welterweight showdown tops the bill.
Bellator 239 takes place Friday at WinStar World Casino Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
In the main event, [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) takes on the unbeaten [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) in a welterweight fight that will keep one of them in the title picture. Amosov is a slight favorite with the oddsmakers, and the fight has the closest betting odds on the card. Our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have reflected that, as well – they have the fight split right down the middle at 7-7 in the picks.
For the rest of the main card in Thackerville, our pickers are unanimous at 14-0. All three fights have heavy favorites.
In the co-main event, [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) returns for his second Bellator bout looking to rebound from a loss to former UFC and WEC champion Benson Henderson in his promotional debut. He’s nearly a 3-1 favorite against [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 8-6 BMMA) and he’s got a 14-0 shutout in the picks.
[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) is a 7-1 favorite against [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) in their heavyweight bout, and he’s a 14-0 pick. Fortune is looking to stay unbeaten and insert himself into the title picture. He has four straight knockout wins.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) is a 7-1 favorite, as well, and a 14-0 pick at heavyweight against [autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 6-4 BMMA).
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Ruth (50.5 percent), Jury (71 percent), Fortune (90 percent) and Moldavsky (78 percent) are the choices.
