A.J. McKee vs. Patricio Pitbull Betting Pick
The most popular online sportsbooks are all in agreement — it’s featherweight champion, A.J. McKee’s fight to lose. McKee is a significant betting favorite over the challenger, Patricio Pitbull, as the odds below illustrate:
Given what transpired at Bellator 263 — the first time these two featherweights threw down — you have to understand where the bookmakers are coming from. That night back in July 2021, McKee made quick work of Pitbull, making him “submit” less than two minutes into the fight. Not only did McKee win the division gold that night, but also a $1 million prize as the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix winner. The finish was not without controversy, however, as Pitbull never actually tapped out. The referee stopped it to the confusion of Pitbull and his corner.
Running the fight back makes complete sense given the iffy finish. Plus, Pitbull is arguably the greatest Bellator fighter ever with three different title reigns to his name (twice at featherweight, another at lightweight). Though, the greatest right now is likely McKee, who has 18 straight wins (and no career losses) — an all-time record inside the right promotion.
We’ll be straight up: Pitbull’s betting line is undervalued. Yes, he should be the underdog, but not at +240 like top sports betting sites have it. We mean, back in that July matchup, he was -105 to win — and his so-so performance that night isn’t worth a +245 difference now. He’s had his sights set on McKee since the loss, hence why he vacated the lightweight title. Giving a fighter of Pitbull’s caliber an entire nine months to prepare solely for this fight is a scary thought.
Alas, we’re taking Pitbull, mainly based on the value. We do think McKee is the more skilled fighter of the two (he’s a top-3 featherweight in the world, including UFC fighters). But Pitbull’s betting line is so off that he’s worth taking a flyer on. We’re just not ready to write off the Bellator all-timer as fast as bookies seemingly are.
Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson Betting Pick
Oddsmakers see this lightweight heavyweight title fight much closer than the main event. It’s almost a toss-up in the Nemkov vs. Anderson betting line, as you can see underneath:
Both fighters have absolutely dominated the Bellator scene as of late. The title-holder, Nemkov hasn’t dropped a fight since 2016. He’s strung together nine straight wins after that, seven of which came in Bellator. And then there’s Anderson. His post-UFC career has started with three consecutive wins in Bellator. Something’s got to give in this one.
For the second time, we’re taking the underdog to win. Anderson is our choice, not because his betting line is mispriced akin to Pitbull, but we think he’s a legit better fighter than Nemkov. We say that because he has more paths to victory in this title matchup. On the ground or on the feet striking, we think Anderson is the more skillful fighter of the two.
Plus, we just feel Anderson is more “battle-tested” than Nemkov. Let’s not forget Anderson was a top-5 light heavyweight in the UFC and owns wins against top-notch talent like Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz. Take Anderson at plus-money here in what should be an absolute war of a fight.
Timothy Johnson vs. Linton Vassell Betting Pick
Here’s a fun heavyweight showdown between two old gunslingers on the cusp of turning 40 years old. Though, both are trending in opposite directions. Vassell has rallied off three straight wins, two by stoppage and another by split decision. Johnson, however, has dropped two in a row. The most recent one was a knockout at the hands of Fedor Emelianenko, who even in his mid-40s can still club people out cold, as Johnson found out. It’s a tough matchup, but our betting pick to win is Vassell.
We mean, Vassell hasn’t lost a fight since moving up to heavyweight. He should be able to outpoint Johnson since he’s quicker on the feet. Moreover, Johnson doesn’t have that one-punch knockout power he once did so there’s a clear path to victory for Vassell in this one.
How To Bet On Bellator 277
There are 14 total fights on the Bellator 277 card. That means 14 different betting opportunities for this Saturday. To bet on Bellator 277, you can’t go wrong with one of the bookmakers listed underneath. They’ll have up-to-date odds on each fight on the card.
Better yet, these same sportsbooks also have big-money sign-up bonuses available to new players. That bonus money can go a long way when it comes to betting on Bellator essentially “on the house.” The table below details what bonuses are currently up for grabs!
