Bellator 254 predictions: Anyone picking against champ – and underdog – Ilima-Lei Macfarlane?

	Macfarlane vs. Velasquez	Magomedov vs. Mattos	Markes vs. Vassell
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 150-93	Macfarlane (70%)	Magomedov (85%)	Vassell (75%)
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 166-77	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Markes
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 162-81	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Vassell
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 160-83	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Vassell
Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 158-85 2019 Champion*	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Vassell
Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 158-85	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Vassell
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 157-86 2014 Champion	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Vassell
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 155-88 2017 Champion	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Markes
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 153-90	Velasquez	Magomedov	Vassell
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 152-91	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Vassell
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 152-91 2018 Champion	Velasquez	Magomedov	Markes
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 152-91	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Markes
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 152-91	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Markes
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 148-95	Macfarlane	Magomedov	Vassell
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 90-153	Velasquez	Mattos	Markes

Bellator returns this week with its unbeaten women’s flyweight champion atop the bill.

Bellator 254 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA) puts her title and unbeaten record on the line against fellow undefeated challenger Juliana Velasquez (10-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA). Velasquez actually is a slight favorite at BetMGM at -145, but it’s Macfarlane with a big 11-3 picks lead from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, Magomed Magomedov (16-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes his promotional debut at bantamweight against Matheus Mattos (12-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). Magomedov is a -350 favorite and has a near-unanimous lead in the picks at 13-1.

And to open the main card, Ronny Markes (19-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes his long-awaited Bellator debut against Linton Vassell (20-8 MMA, 8-5 BMMA) at heavyweight. Vassell is a 3-1 favorite, but he has just a slight lead in the picks at 8-6.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Macfarlane (70 percent), Magomedov (85 percent) and Vassell (75 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.