Bellator 233 predictions: Do we like John Salter or Costello van Steenis in Oklahoma?
| Salter vs. Van Steenis |
Kapel vs. Lawal |
Blencowe vs. Smith |
Anyanwu vs. Fortune |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2019: 189-115 (62%) |
Salter (54%) |
 Lawal (69%) |
 Smith (67%) |
 Fortune (89%) |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2019: 104-58 (64%) |
 Van Steenis |
Lawal |
 Blencowe |
Fortune |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2019: 194-110 (64%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2019: 100-57 (64%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2019: 192-112 (63%)  2018 Champion |
Salter | Lawal |
Blencowe |
Fortune |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2019: 192-112 (63%) 2017 Champion |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2019: 189-115 (62%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Blencowe |
Fortune |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2019: 188-116 (62%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Blencowe |
Fortune |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2019: 187-117 (62%) 2014 Champion |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2019: 184-120 (61%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2019: 91-60 (60%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2019: 178-126 (59%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Blencowe |
Fortune |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2019: 116-96 (55%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2019: 161-143 (53%) |
Salter | Lawal |
Smith |
Fortune |
Bellator is back in Oklahoma this week for the third time this year, and middleweights are at the top of the bill.
Bellator 233 takes place Friday at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, John Salter (16-4 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) takes on Costello van Steenis (12-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in a fight between 185-pound contenders. Despite van Steenis’ unbeaten Bellator record, only one of our 13 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers is picking him to beat Salter in the headliner.
In the co-main event, Muhammed Lawal (21-9 MMA, 10-6 BMMA) returns for what he says will be his retirement fight in a 195-pound catchweight bout. He retired earlier this year after a loss, but wants to go out with a win against promotional newcomer Andrew Kapel (14-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). And “King Mo” is one of two unanimous picks from our staff members on the main card.
The other unanimous nod goes to Tyrell Fortune (7-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) in his heavyweight fight against Azunna Anyanwu (15-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). Fortune is a 13-0 pick to stay unbeaten.
Also on the main card, former women’s featherweight title challenger Arlene Blencowe (12-7 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) takes on Leslie Smith (11-7-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who will try to make it 2-0 under the Bellator banner. It’s our most contentious fight, picks-wise, but it’s Smith with an 8-5 lead.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Salter (54%), Lawal (69 percent), Smith (67 percent) and Fortune (89 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
Bellator 233 predictions: Do we like John Salter or Costello van Steenis in Oklahoma?