Bellator 245 predictions: Who’s picking Lyoto Machida over Phil Davis in their rematch?

Bellator is back this week with back-to-back events in Connecticut, the first of which features a light heavyweight rematch.

Bellator 245 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis (21-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) takes on former UFC champ Lyoto Machida (26-9 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) in a rematch. The two first met in the UFC, and Davis took a controversial decision in Brazil. Davis is a -350 favorite, and our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have him with a big lead at 12-2.

In the co-main event, former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Cat Zingano (10-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes her promotional debut at featherweight against Gabrielle Holloway (6-5 MMA, 1-2 BMMA). Zingano is by far the biggest favorite on the card at 9-1, and she’s got a 13-1 picks lead.

Also on the main card, Ed Ruth (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) is a 3-1 favorite at middleweight against Taylor Johnson (5-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), and Ruth has a 13-1 picks lead.

And kickboxing standout Raymond Daniels (2-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is a -365 favorite against Peter Stanonik (5-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), and only one picker is taking Stanonik in an upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Davis (56 percent), Zingano (88 percent), Ruth (86 percent), and Daniels (N/A) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.