Bellator 259 predictions: What are our three unanimous picks on the main card?

	Cyborg vs. Smith	Caldwell vs. Higo	Edwards vs. Vanderford	Mandonca vs. Willis	Edwards vs. Parrish
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 66-45	Cyborg (86%)	Caldwell (77%)	Vanderford (70%)	Willis (85%)	C. Edwards (83%)
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 68-43	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 68-43	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 66-45	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Mendonca	C. Edwards
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 66-45 2018 Champion	Cyborg	Caldwell	F. Edwards	Willis	C. Edwards
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 65-46 2014 Champion	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 65-46 2017 Champion	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 65-46	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 65-46	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 63-48 2020 Champion	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 62-49	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Willis	C. Edwards
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 61-50	Cyborg	Caldwell	F. Edwards	Willis	C. Edwards
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 60-51	Cyborg	Caldwell	Vanderford	Mendonca	C. Edwards
BetMGM Betting Favorites	Cyborg -1400	Caldwell -350	Vanderford -225	Mendonca -125	C. Edwards -650

Bellator is back this week with a title fight at the top of the card.

Bellator 259 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime 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 featherweight champion Cris Cyborg (23-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) puts her title on the line in a rematch with challenger Leslie Smith (12-8-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA). Cyborg is a huge favorite at -1400 at BetMGM, so it’s no surprise she’s one of three unanimous picks on the main card from our editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-feature, former bantamweight champ Darrion Caldwell (14-4 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) takes on Leandro Higo (20-5 MMA, 3-3 BMMA). Caldwell is a -350 favorite, and he’s a 12-0 unanimous pick from our staff members.

Also on the main card, Fabian Edwards (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) takes on Austin Vanderford (10-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in a middleweight bout. Vanderford is a -225 favorite, but two of our pickers are taking Edwards in an upset.

Maycon Mendonca (11-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a slight favorite at -125 in his welterweight bout against Jaleel Willis (14-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA). But it’s Willis with a big 10-2 picks lead.

Unfortunately, the bout expected to open the main card, which saw Christian Edwards (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) as a big -650 favorite at light heavyweight against Ben Parrish (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), was called off following the day’s official weigh-ins. Edwards was our third unanimous pick.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Cyborg (86 percent), Caldwell (77 percent), Vanderford (70 percent), Willis (85 percent) and Christian Edwards (83 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.