Bellator’s next big night is set for Thursday, October 15, from Mohegan Sun Arena, in Uncasville, Connecticut. Bellator 249 will offer a Women’s Featherweight World Championship tilt between the current champion, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, and Arlene Blencowe, a former title challenger. The co-headliner will pit Patricky “Pitbull” Freire against Jeleel Willis in a lightweight fight. You can catch the main card on CBS Sports and the preliminary fights on CBSSports.com or Bellator MMA and YouTube streaming.
We have the full fight card and Bellator odds for the key bouts.
MMA News: Bellator 249 Preview
Main Card (CBS Sports)
Cris “Cyborg” Justino vs Arlene Blencowe (Bellator Women’s Featherweight World Championship)
Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs Jeleel Willis (Lightweight)
Ricky Bandejas vs Leandro Higo (Bantamweight)
Saad Awad vs Mandel Nallo (Lightweight)
Preliminary Card (Streamed on Bellator MMA/YouTube and CBSSports.com)
Albert Gonzales vs Kastriot Xhema (Welterweight)
Christian Edwards vs Hamza Salim (Light Heavyweight)
Kyle Crutchmer vs Kemran Lachinov (Welterweight)
Joseph Creer vs Andrew Kapal (Middleweight)
Mike Kimbel vs Da’mon Blackshear (Catchweight – 140 lbs)
Steve Mowry vs Shawn Teed (Heavyweight)
Aviv Gozali vs Logan Neal (Lightweight)
Cris Justino vs Arlene Blencowe gives us Justino’s return to redemption after getting dismantled in just 52 seconds by Amanda Nunes in 2018 at UFC 232. However, in UFC, Justino won six of seven fights, and that loss to Nunes was her first in 13 years. She has held the featherweight title in all four of the promotions in which she has fought. So while the loss to Nunes was vivid, it does not define her career. In her Bellator debut, she was offered a title fight against Julia Budd earlier this year, and she finished Budd in the fourth round.
Next up for Justino is a title defense against Arlene “Angerfist” Blencowe. This will be Blencowe’s toughest task since 2015, when Marloes Coenan finished her via armbar. However, this fight is not likely to head to the ground, as Blencowe is a striker by trade and Cyborg has never used a submission to finish over a 15-year career. While standing and exchanging blows with Justino could lead to a bloody evening for Blencowe, she does have skill as a counter puncher. Blencowe will have to move her head to keep it out of Justino’s center line and mix in some kicks.
Xbet’s Final Prediction:
Cyborg wins via decision | Bet on this Fight Now!
Patricky Freire vs Jaleel Willis marks Willis’ first Bellator fight in four years after putting together a four-bout winning streak in other promotions. He gets a difficult test in his return against Pitbull. This marks Willis’ third lightweight bout, and he will face in Freire the most experienced fighter of his career. The only really comparable bout he has had in terms of experience was James Warfield-Lane.
Freire comes in with an immense chip on his shoulder after UFC overlooked him and his brother for UFC’s lightweight title unification bout, when they needed an alternate. Freire was knocked out by Michael Chandler at Bellator 157 in a lightweight title bout but has since won seven fights in a row. He has a reputation for instincts and patience, making him a dangerous opponent for Willis.
Xbet’s Final Prediction:
Freire wins via decision | Bet on this Fight Now!
Christian Edwards vs Hamza Salim features a knockout artist in Salim, who has finished three of his last four fights in that fashion. Salim will fight one of the training partners of UFC heavyweight Jon Jones, as Edwards has put together experience fighting Jones in exhibition rounds. Edwards started in pro fighting at the age of 20 and won his first two bouts in just 70 seconds combined, using punches and elbows to stop Justin Vargas and knocking out Cesar Bennett with a head kick. Then he beat Marco Mutch via unanimous decision at Bellator 239, showing excellent technique within his striking game. He also used knees in the Thai clinch and put in some oblique kicks to drain Hutch’s tank.
Xbet’s Final Prediction:
Edwards wins via decision | Bet on this Fight Now!
Bellator Betting Odds
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