| Caldwell vs. McKee |
Henderson vs. Jackson |
Davis vs. Lee |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 141-87 |
McKee (78%) |
 Henderson (72%) |
 Davis (84%) |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 156-72 |
McKee |  Jackson |
Davis |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 153-75 |
 Caldwell |
Henderson |
Davis |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 152-76 |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 150-78 |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 148-80  2014 Champion |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 147-81 2019 Champion* |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 146-82 |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 143-85 |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 143-85 2017 Champion |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 142-86 2018 Champion |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 142-86 |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 140-88 |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 138-90 |
McKee | Henderson |
Davis |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 86-142 |
Caldwell |
Jackson |
 Lee |
Bellator’s featherweight tournament continues this week with the first semifinal fight atop the bill.
Bellator 253 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network/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, former bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell (14-3 MMA, 11-2 BMMA) takes on the unbeaten A.J. McKee (16-0 MMA, 16-0 BMMA) in the first semifinal fight of Bellator’s 145-pound grand prix. McKee is a -233 favorite at BetMGM; the comeback on Caldwell is +190. McKee has a big 12-2 lead in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.
In the co-feature, former UFC and WEC lightweight champ Benson Henderson (28-9 MMA, 5-4 BMMA) takes on Jason Jackson (12-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) at welterweight. Jackson is a -182 favorite, but it’s Henderson with a heavy 12-2 lead from our staff members.
And to open the main card, Joey Davis (7-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) is a 4-1 favorite at welterweight against Bobby Lee (12-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who is making his promotional debut. Only one of our pickers is taking Lee in an upset.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, McKee (78 percent), Henderson (72 percent) and Davis (84 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
Bellator 253 predictions: Who’s picking Darrion Caldwell to end A.J. McKee’s perfect run?