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Bellator MMA is at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii for Bellator 236 on Saturday. It’s the second of back-to-back events held by the promotion. The main event takes place in the women’s flyweight division where Ilima-Lei MacFarlane defends her women’s Bellator flyweight championship against Kate Jackson. In the co-main AJ McKee goes up against Derek Campos in the quarterfinal round of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix.
The main card also includes a welterweight bout between Neiman Gracie and Kiichi Kunimoto, in the women’s flyweight division Juliana Velasquez goes up against Bruna Ellen and Raufeon Stots vs. Cheyden Leialoha in a battle of bantamweights.
The prelims will stream on DAZN and the Bellator mobile app beginning at 6:00 PM (CST). The with main card will stream on DAZN starting at 9:00 PM (CST).
Note: The predictions in this column do not necessarily mean that I will be betting them. I have changed my mind in the past and gone the other way after conducting more research. For all my official bets follow me on Twitter @MichaelGrocke.
Main Card
Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (10-0) vs. Kate Jackson (11-3-1) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Current Odds: MacFarlane -650; Jackson +475
Ilima-Lei MacFarlane won her professional debut when she defeated Katie Castro via knockout ten seconds into the fight at Xplode Fight Series – Hurricane. Since that win, MacFarlane has gone on and her next nine in a row, all under the Bellator banner. She won the inaugural Bellator women’s flyweight championship by defeating Emily Ducote via submission at Bellator 186. MacFarlane has successfully defended the title three times. She beat Alejandra Lara via submission at Bellator 201, Valerie Letourneau also by submission at Bellator 213 and her most recent successful title defense was at Bellator 220 where she beat Veta Arteaga via TKO.
Eight of the twenty-nine-year-old’s ten pro victories ended inside the distance. Two by knockout and six via submission. MacFarlane will make the walk for the eleventh time when she defends her title against Kate Jackson on Saturday.
Kate Jackson lost to Valerie Letourneau via unanimous decision at Bellator 191. Since that loss, Jackson is 2-0. She defeated Anastasia Yankova via unanimous decision at Bellator 200 and her most recent win was at Bellator 223 where she defeated Lena Ovchynnilova via TKO. Seven of the English born fighter’s eleven wins ended inside the distance. Six via knockout and one by way of submission. This will be the thirty-three-year-old’s sixteenth professional bout.
My official pick: MacFarlane by (T)KO.
From a betting perspective: Pass
AJ McKee (15-0) vs. Derek Campos (20-9) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: McKee -940; Campos +670
Twenty-four-year-old AJ McKee is undefeated as a pro. All fifteen wins are under the Bellator banner. His most recent victory came at Bellator 228 where he knocked out Georgi Karakhanyan in the first round. The team Bodyshop product has ten finishes in fifteen career victories. Six via knockout and four by submission. This will be McKee’s sixteenth pro bout.
After losing three in a row, Derek Campos finally got back in the win column in his most recent fight. He defeated Daniel Straus via unanimous decision at Bellator 226. The MMA veteran will make the walk for the thirtieth time and the fifteenth time for Bellator. Eleven of the thirty-one-year-old’s twenty career victories ended inside the distance. Six by knockout to go along with five via submission.
My official pick: McKee by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass
Jason Jackson (10-4) vs. Kiichi Kunimoto (20-8-2, 1 NC) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: Jackson -390; Kunimoto +305
Jason Jackson was on a three-fight win streak until he lost his most recent fight to Ed Ruth via split decision at Bellator 231. The Jamaican born fighter has finished seven of his ten career victories. Four via (T)KO and three by way of submission. This will be the twenty-nine-year-old’s fifteenth pro bout.
Japan’s Kiichi Kunimoto was riding a two-fight win streak under the Rizin banner until losing his most recent fight to Ed Ruth via TKO at Bellator 224. This will be Kunimoto’s second fight for Bellator. The former UFC fighter has finished twelve of his twenty pro victories. Two by knockout to along with ten via submission. At thirty-eight-years-old, Kunimoto will make the walk for the thirty-second time when he steps into the cage opposite Gracie.
My official pick: Jackson by (T)KO.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Juliana Velasquez (9-0) vs. Bruna Ellen (5-2) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Current Odds: Velsquez -630; Ellen +465
Juliana Velasquez has yet to lose a fight as a pro. She is 4-0 under the Bellator banner. Her most recent victory was at Bellator 224 where she defeated Kristina Williams via (T)KO in the second round. The Brazilian born has finished five of her nine career wins. This will be the thirty-three-year-old’s tenth professional bout.
After losing to Kristina Williams at Bellator 210, Bruna Ellen bounced back with a victory in her most recent over Elina Kallionidou at Bellator 224. Four of the Brazilian’s five pro victories went to the judge’s scorecards. The twenty-three-year-old will make the walk for the eighth time on Saturday night.
My official pick: Velasquez by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Raufeon Stots (12-1) vs. Cheyden Leialoha (7-1) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Stots -580; Leialoha +430
Raufeon Stots makes his Bellator debut riding a four-fight win streak. His most recent win was at LFA 68 where he beat Ralph Acosta via unanimous decision. Half of the thirty-one-year-old’s twelve career victories went the distance. The Roufusport product will make the walk for the fourteenth time.
Cheyden Leialoha is also making his promotional debut on Saturday night. He is 1-1 over his previous two fights. His most recent fight was at X-1 49 where he defeated Yuto Sekiguchi via first round submission. The Hawaiian born fighter has five finishes in seven career wins. This will be the twenty-five-year-old’s ninth pro bout.
My official pick: Stots by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Nainoa Dung (3-0) vs. Zach Zane (10-7) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Zach Zane was on a six-fight win steak until losing his most recent fight. He dropped a unanimous decision to Justin Gonzales during Season 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series. All ten of the Hawaiian born fighter’s wins ended inside the decision. Two by (T)KO to go along with eight via submission. This will be Zane’s eighteenth pro bout and first under the Bellator banner.
Nainoa Dung is 2-0 in Bellator. His most recent victory was at Bellator 224 where he defeated Brad Robison via unanimous decision. Two of the twenty-year-old’s three wins ended inside the distance.
My official pick: Dung by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Prelims Quick Picks
Swayne Makana Lunasco (0-0) defeats Kaylan Gorospe (0-0) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Keoni Diggs (6-0) defeats Scotty Hao (3-2) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Chas Dunhour (0-1) defeats Nate Yoshimura (0-0) – Flyweight 125 lbs.
Kai Kamaka III (5-2) defeats Spencer Higa (6-9) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Benjamin Wilhelm (1-0) defeats Kealii Kanekoa (3-2) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Dustin Barca (2-0) defeats Brandon Pieper (11-12) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Enjoy the fights!