| Mousasi vs. Eblen |
Higo vs. Sabatello |
Barzola vs. Magomedov |
Kayne vs. Ward |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 95-54 |
Mousasi (82%) |
 Sabatello (76%) |
 Magomedov (83%) |
 Ward (87%) |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 100-54  2018 Champion |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
 Barzola |
Ward |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 98-56 2014 Champion |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Magomedov |
Ward |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 97-57 |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Magomedov |
Ward |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 97-57 |
 Eblen |
Sabatello |
Barzola |
Ward |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 97-57 |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Magomedov |
Ward |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 96-58 |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Magomedov |
Ward |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 92-62 2017 Champion |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Barzola |
Ward |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 91-63 |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Magomedov |
Ward |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 90-64 |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Magomedov |
Ward |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 84-70 |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Magomedov |
Ward |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 75-79 |
Mousasi | Sabatello |
Barzola |
Ward |
Bellator returns to Connecticut this week with the middleweight title on the line at the top of the bill.
Bellator 282 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, middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi (49-7-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) takes on unbeaten challenger Johnny Eblen (11-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA). Mousasi is a -250 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook, and only one of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers is picking against him.
In the co-feature, Leandro Higo (21-5 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) takes on Danny Sabatello (12-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) in a quarterfinal fight in the bantamweight grand prix. Sabatello is the biggest favorite on the main card at -600 and is one of two unanimous picks.
Also on the main card, Enrique Barzola (18-5-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) meets Magomed Magomedov (18-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) in another quarterfinal bantamweight tournament bout. Magomedov is a slight favorite at -155 and has a 7-4 lead in the picks in the only contentious fight among our staff members.
And to open the main card, Kassius Kayne (12-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a +210 underdog against -280 favorite Brennan Ward (15-6 MMA, 10-6 BMMA). Ward is our other unanimous pick at 11-0.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Mousassi (82 percent), Sabatello (76 percent), Magomedov (83 percent) and Ward (87 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
Bellator 282 predictions: Who’s picking Johnny Eblen to take title from Gegard Mousasi?