Bellator is still running its own cards despite the merger with Professional Fighters League. The promotion ā and the betting opportunities that come with it ā are flying under the radar going into the next card in Paris. Youāre going to want to read this for three free picks for the next Bellator Paris show.
- What: Bellator Champions Series Paris
- When: Friday, May 17
- Where: Accor Arena in Paris, France
Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov
This is a blockbuster bout for the bantamweight championship between two contenders that could stack up well in the UFC. However, the betting odds are quite one-sided. Hereās how the best Bellator betting sites have the Mix-Magomedov odds pegged:
As you can see, Mix is a convincing favorite and we can see why. Since suffering his first-ever career loss in 20220, Mix has been on a complete tear, winning six in a row and five by finish. Heās always been an excellent grappler, but Mix has developed his striking as of late, which has really taken him to the next level.
Plus, Mix has beaten Magomedov before. These two bantamweights went at it in late 2022. It was a competitive fight until Mix caught Magomedov in a guillotine chokehold mid-way through the second round.
Magomedov, as youād expect from a Dagestan fighter, is a master wrestler. Not Nurmagomedov or Makhachev level, but Magomedov is no slouch. In the first fight, he did have success wrestling with Mix before making the mistake that got him submitted.
We expect some deja vu in this fight. Itāll be close early, but over time, Mix will overwhelm Magomedov. He is the bigger fighter and thatās a huge advantage when wrestling on the ground. Our prediction is Mix taps out Magomedov by the third round ā bank on it!
Cedric Doumbe vs. Jaleel Willis
This is an exciting fight ā maybe not in the sense of who wins, but how Doumbe looks inside the ring. Well explain soon, but as it stands, Doumbe is a staggering favorite to beat Willis on the moneyline:
Doumbe is essentially being billed as the next Alex Periera. Thatās because he too is a world-class kickboxer ā two-time Glory champion ā and is now transitioning to mixed martial arts. He did lose for the first time in MMA last time out with PFL, but that hasnāt slowed his hype train. Doumbe will also be the home-crowd guy here as he was raised in France.
This is a good matchup for Doumbe, and donāt think itās a ātune-upā either. Willis is a 32-year-old veteran with a respectable 16-5 record. The biggest thing Willis has going for him is MMA experience and size. Willis will have a three-inch height advantage in this one.
But even then, weāre thinking Doumbe wins. Thatās because Willis is a striker through and through so this should stay on the feet. In that scenario, you have to believe the world champion kickboxer is more dangerous. Doumbe would struggle against a wrestler, but thatās not Willis at all.
We know the Doumbe moneyline isnāt great so weād advise waiting on an over/under bet to come out. When it does, slam the under because Doumbe is getting Willis out early.
Gregory Babene vs. Costello van Steenis Betting Pick
We had to do a double-take when we initially saw the Babene-Steenis odds. Double take because Babene is quite the underdog despite some interesting advantages. Before we get to that, letās have a look-see at the moneyline:
Babene has one of the more interesting careers youāll find in Bellator. Hereās a fighter who hasnāt lost a fight since 2011. Yes, Babene has now gone 13 years without tasting defeat ā yet heās +270 here. In that timespan, heās gone 12-0 with an impressive 11 finishes (most in the first round). Has he faced the stiffest competition? No, but that run is still remarkable in this sport.
Perhaps oddsmakers are against Babene cause heās now 40 years old. Thatās a big advantage Steenis has going for him. Another is a better ground game, as Babene is a bit more of a pressure fighter on the feet.
Something inside of us tells us Babene is worth a bet here. The odds are just too good for us to pass up. Did we mention heās French and will have the partisan crowd on his side? We wouldnāt be shocked in the slightest if Babene continues his unbelievable winning streak so throw some money on him. At these odds, you donāt need a big bet to come up very profitable anyway.
How To Bet On Bellator?
Like we said, donāt overlook betting on Bellator. The promotion still has plenty of talent, and more importantly, less mature betting markets. That makes it easier to find mispriced bets. To get every type of bet on Bellator, hit one of the below bookmakers. They have you covered for this card, plus others in the future.
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