| Bader vs. Nemkov |
Budd vs. Miele |
Moldavsky vs. Nelson |
Kapel vs. Salter |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 81-54 |
Bader (60%) |
 Budd (91%) |
 Moldavsky (75%) |
 Salter (82%) |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 93-42 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 92-43 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 91-44 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 90-45  2019 Champion* |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 89-46 2017 Champion |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 87-48 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 87-48 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
 Kapel |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 87-48 2014 Champion |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 85-50 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 83-52 |
Bader | Budd |
 Nelson |
Salter |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 83-52 2018 Champion |
Bader | Budd |
Nelson |
Salter |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 81-54 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 83-52 |
Bader | Budd |
Moldavsky |
Salter |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 56-79 |
 Nemkov |
 Miele |
Nelson |
Kapel |
Bellator is back in Connecticut this week, and one of its dual champions puts a title on the line at the top of the card.
Bellator 244 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (27-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) puts his 205-pound title up against challenger Vadim Nemkov (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA). Bader only is around a -150 favorite at the sports books, but all but one of our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts are picking him to stay champ-champ.
In the co-main event, former women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd (13-3 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) for the first time since losing her belt to Cris Cyborg and takes on Jessy Miele (9-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA). Budd is a 7-1 favorite and has a 13-1 lead in the picks.
Also on the main card, Valentin Moldavsky (9-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is the event’s biggest favorite at more than 9-1 against Roy Nelson (23-18 MMA, 1-4 BMMA). But three of our 14 picker are taking Nelson to pull off a big upset.
And to open the main card, Andrew Kapel (15-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is an underdog to -250 favorite John Salter (17-4 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) in their middleweight bout, but he’s got two of our 14 pickers taking him in an upset.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Bader (60 percent), Budd (91 percent), Moldavsky (75 percent) and Salter (82 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
Bellator 244 predictions: Is anyone picking Vadim Nemkov to end Ryan Bader's dual-champ reign?