Bellator 251 predictions: Is anyone picking against Corey Anderson in his Bellator debut?

	Manhoef vs. C. Anderson	Fortune vs. Sowma	De Jesus vs. Vanderford	D. Anderson vs. Mota
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 133-81	C. Anderson (72%)	Fortune (72%)	Vanderford (76%)	D. Anderson (78%)
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 144-70	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 143-71	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	Mota
Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 143-71	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 142-72	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 139-75 2014 Champion	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 138-76 2019 Champion*	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 137-77	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 137-77 2017 Champion	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	Mota
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 134-80	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 133-81 2018 Champion	C. Anderson	Sowma	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 133-81	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	Mota
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 131-83	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	Mota
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 130-84	C. Anderson	Fortune	Vanderford	D. Anderson
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 83-131	Manhoef	Sowma	De Jesus	Mota

Bellator is back in Connecticut this week and a recent free agent signing tops the card.

Bellator 251 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network 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, Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) takes on Corey Anderson (13-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who will make his promotional debut after years in the UFC, where he won Season 19 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Anderson is a heavy favorite of nearly 5-1, and he’s got a huge 13-1 edge in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, Tyrell Fortune (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) takes on promotional newcomer Said Sowma (6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at heavyweight. Only two of our pickers are taking Sowma to win.

Also on the main card, Vinicius De Jesus (9-3 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) takes a short-notice opportunity at middleweight against Austin Vanderford (9-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA). Vanderford is a near-unanimous pick at 13-1.

And to open the main card, Derek Anderson (16-3 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) nearly is a 3-1 favorite against Killys Mota (12-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at welterweight. In our most contentious fight from a picking standpoint, Anderson has 9-5 lead – but has the largest percentage of picks from our readers.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Corey Anderson (72 percent), Fortune (72 percent), Vanderford (76 percent) and Derek Anderson (78 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.