Bellator MMA travels overseas to the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland for Bellator 227 on Friday night. The main event takes place in the lightweight division where Benson Henderson takes on Myles Jury. The co-main takes place at a 165-pound catchweight where Kiefer Crosbie goes up against Hugo Pereira.
The main card also includes Leah McCourt taking on Kerry Hughes, Frans Mlambo goes up against Dominique Wooding, and Norbert Novenyi vs. Will Fleury.
Bellator 227 broadcast information
The main card will air on the Paramount Network and stream on DAZN starting at 8:00 PM (CST).
Note: The predictions in this column do not necessarily mean that I will be betting them. I have changed my mind in the past and gone the other way after conducting more research. For all my official bets follow me on Twitter @MichaelGrocke.
Bellator 227 Main Card
Benson Henderson (27-8) vs. Myles Jury (17-4) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: Henderson -245; Jury +195
After losing back-to-back fights to Michael Chandler at Bellator 165 and Patricky Freire at Bellator 183, Ben Henderson enters Friday’s fight riding a three-fight win streak. His most recent victory occurred at Bellator 220 where he defeated Adam Piccolotti via split decision. The thirty-five-year-old UFC and Bellator veteran makes the walk for the thirty-sixth time on Friday night. Of the American born fighter’s twenty-seven career victories, five are via knockout to go along with nine by submission.
UFC veteran Myles Jury makes his Bellator debut on Friday night. Jury lost his last two fights before leaving the UFC for Bellator. His most recent loss was to Andre Fili via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 1. Of Jury’s seventeen pro victories, ten are via knockout and three by submission. The thirty-year old will make the walk for the twenty-second time when he steps into the cage opposite Henderson on Friday.
My official pick: Henderson by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Kiefer Crosbie (6-1) vs. Hugo Pereira (3-1) – Catchweight 165 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Ireland’s Kiefer Crosbie is 2-1 under the Bellator banner. He lost his most recent fight to Mike Jackson via disqualification due to an illegal knee in the very first round. Friday’s bout will be the eighth pro fight for Crosbie. Of his six victories, five ended inside the distance.
Hugo Pereira will make his Bellator debut on Friday. He won his most recent fight by beating Adrain Borrull at Porto Fight Club 1. He is 3-1 on the regional scene and will look to make a name for himself in his promotional debut.
My official pick: Crosbie by (T)KO.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Leah McCourt (2-1) vs. Kerry Hughes (3-4) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Friday’s bout will be the second one under the Bellator banner for Leah McCourt. She won her debut by defeating Hatice Ozyurt via TKO at Bellator 217. This is only her fourth professional fight.
Thirty-four-year old Kerry Hughes has lost her last three fights in a row. She’ll be looking to turn things around in her Bellator debut on Friday. Her most recent loss was at Danish MMA Night Vol. 1 where she dropped a unanimous decision to Pannie Kianzad. The English born fighter will make the walk for the eighth time when she steps into the cage opposite McCourt.
My official pick: McCourt by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass
Frans Mlambo (7-4) vs. Dominique Wooding (6-2) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Dominique Wooding won his Bellator debut at Bellator Birmingham by defeating David Khalsa via TKO in the first round. All six of the twenty-three-year old’s victories are via knockout. This will be the English born fighter’s ninth pro fight.
Frans Mlambo is 1-0 in Bellator and 2-0 in his last two bouts. His most recent victory occurred at Bellator 223 where he defeated Nathan Greyson via submission in the second round. All seven of the Irish born fighter’s wins ended inside the distance. Four via knockout and three by submission.
My official pick: Wooding by decision.
From a betting perspective: Pass.
Norbert Novenyi (4-0) vs. Will Fleury (6-1) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: N/A
Norbert Novenyi has won his last two fights under the Bellator umbrella. He beat Mehemet Yueksel at Bellator 196 and Will Lavine at Bellator 218, both wins were via submission. In fact, three of his four pro victories are via submission.
After losing his Bellator debut to Alen Amedovski at Bellator 203, Will Fleury has won his last two fights in the promotion. He defeated Shaun Taylor at Bellator 217 via second round submission and Antonio Jones via unanimous decision at Bellator 224. Four of the thirty-year-old’s six career victories ended inside the distance. Fleury will make the walk for the eight time on Friday.
My official pick: Novenyi by submission.
From a betting perspective: Pass
Enjoy the fights!
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