Bellator 234 Budd vs. Cyborg: Fight Card, Picks & Prognostications + Odds

The Forum
Jan. 25, 2020 exclusively
Inglewood, California

Main Card:

#3 Featherweight Champion Julia Budd (13-2) +385 vs. #2 Cristiane Justino (21-2, 1) -485

MMAFO is actually super excited about this bout. These two ladies have been dominating women's MMA for a long time and it's only right we finally get to seem them clash in a dream fight!

"The Jewel" is the inaugural Bellator Women's Featherweight Champion and has been dominant! Budd suffered her 1st loss to Amanda Nunes in Strikeforce but it was only her 2nd MMA bout and the "Lioness" is the female G.O.A.T. The next and final loss to date, came at the hands of somebody named Ronda Rousey that we have never heard of. Anywho, Julia is the only fighter to defeat Gina Carano in Muay Thai and though she lost to Germaine de Randamie in kickboxing, Budd avenged the loss in her 3rd MMA bout. 

Justino's career is more well known and accomplished having won the 145 title in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and the UFC, as well as being the most feared female fighter in MMA history up until Amanda Nunes ended her UFC title reign. "Cyborg" was not appreciated for her talent and celebrity in the UFC where human scumbag Dana White treated her like shit. Now Cris can ply her trade in a place where she is truly appreciated and we thank Bellator President Scott Coker for that wisdom.

The questions going into this "dream match" are whether or not the less weathered champ can hang with the "Female Tyson," and whether or not Justino still has game. Believe it or not, "Cyborg" is actually two years younger than Budd but Cris has 24 MMA bouts to Budd's 15. "Cyborg" has been against the very best in the world while Budd hasn't faced the same level of competition. Look, we aren't near bailing out on "Cyborg." Anybody, man or woman, can get knocked the fuck out by Amanda Nunes cause she's just that good, but it doesn't make Cris washed up, and more likely, she's now super hungry to right the wrongs in her world. "Cyborg" reminds the haters and the doubters just how bad ass she is as she dispatches the best female contender at 145 in the world not named Amanda. 

WiNNER-Cristiane Justino by Rd.2 TKO

2020 Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix

Darrion Caldwell (14-3) -130 vs. Adam Borics (14-0) +110

The two-time, two-time, Bellator Bantamweight Champion dropped the belt to Kyoto Horiguchi last out but the "Gooch" is a monster. Now "The Wolf" has thrown his hat into the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix which will have an easier weight cut for Caldwell. Darrion is a Division 1 NCAA National Wrestling Champion with good submissions and an unlimited gas tank, but he's also boring as hell.

The undefeated "Kid"  has thrashed Aaron Pico and Pat Curran (former champ) respectively in his last two which jumped him up and into this tourney. The Hungarian does have subs but he's primarily a creative striker.

This is a tough one. The "safe bet" would be Caldwell to slow down Borics and win a boring decision, but we're rolling them dice and saying the newcomer gets another big win as his star rises.

Upset Pick WiNNER-Adam Borics by Decision

Sergio Pettis (18-5) -280 vs. Alfred Khashakyan (11-4) +240

MMAFO tried to inform people back in 2014 that the "lesser" Pettis isn't worthy of the hype he was getting. Now,  Sergio is making his Bellator debut trying to make a new start of things. "Lil" Pettis isn't terrible, but he gets hurt often in fights and he has pillow fists. He should still win here though.

WiNNER-Sergio Pettis by Decision

Raymond Daniels (1-1) -250 vs. Jason King (8-5, 1) +210

"The Real Deal" returned to MMA after an eleven year hiatus! Daniels was working in kickboxing where he has defeated the likes of Stephen Thompson and Michael Page. Ray is 39 years of age and we have zero idea how he would do on the mat but it won't matter as he does something flashy for the fun finish.

WiNNER-Raymond Daniels by Rd.1 TKO

Ava Knight (1-0) -325 vs. Emilee Gettys (3-4) +265

Former IBF boxing champion Ava Knight made a successful MMA debut last September. Knight is training with Randy Couture but is still awful on the ground.

Emilee is married to the aforementioned Jason King and they are both going to get wrecked.

WiNNER-Ava Knight by Rd.2 TKO

Juan Archuleta (23-2) -240 vs. Henry Corrales (17-4) +200

"The Spaniard" called out "Champ Champ" Patricio Freire, and fell short. Dude is still impressive though and Joe Stevenson's student should hold sway over the journeyman.

WiNNER-Juan Archuleta by Decision

Prelims (6pm/CT):

Aaron Pico (4-3) vs. Daniel Carey (7-3)

Who would've thunk the "can't miss" Pico would be 4-3 and buried on a Bellator prelim 3 years into his MMA career? Obviously Aaron is a staunch wrestler but his boxing has always looked great as well. The problem to date, is that his chin is suspect. Or at the very least, he lacks striking defense allowing himself to be hit far too often. Taking 6 months off to recover from back to back (T)KO losses was a good start, but the kid has got to stay safe and get some damn wins together. 

Bellator did not serve Pico a softball as Daniel (3-1 for Bellator) isn't terrible but we gotta believe Aaron can get his hype train back on the tracks.

WiNNER-Aaron Pico by Decision?

Chris Avila (6-8) vs. Anthony Taylor (5-5)
Avila may be Nate Diaz's boy but ooh is he terrible. Chris has lost 6 of his last 7 (!) so we have no faith in the guy even here.

WiNNER-AnthonyTaylor

Jay Jay Wilson (4-0) vs. Mario Navarro (4-5)
WiNNER-Jay Wilson
Chris David Pacheco (1-0) vs. Miguel Jacob (3-0)
WiNNER-Miguel Jacob
Brandon Bender (12-1) vs. Joshua Jones (9-5)
WiNNER-Brandon Bender 
Ricardo Filho (8-2) vs. Dominic Clark (14-9)
WiNNER-Ricardo Filho 
Tony Bartovich (0-0) vs. Jarrett Connor (0-0)
WiNNER-Tony Bartovich 
AJ Agazarm (2-1) vs. Adel Altamimi (8-6)
WiNNER-AJ Agazarm 
Curtis Millender (17-5) vs. Moses Murrietta (8-3)
WiNNER-Curtis Millender