Bellator 255 prelims betting predictions & odds – April 3, 2021

Bellator returns this Friday night with a cracking card topped by the much-hyped rematch between Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez in the main event. Let’s take a look at our Bellator 255 prelim card betting predictions and fight previews, with odds from BettingPlanet’s top-ranked online sportsbooks.

Branko Busick (+250) vs Jordan Newman (-325)

We have a banger for the first prelim fight of the evening. Branko Busick (2-1-0) is coming into this fight after a more than two-year layoff, while Jordan Newman is entering the competition after last fighting in October of 2019, a year after Busick’s last fight. Busick has fire in his hands and can take a shot, as he has never been finished professionally and his only loss has come from unanimous decision. Newman is yet to lose at any level, professional or amateur, in his career. He is also a two-time Division 3 wrestling champion, so expect him to have the advantage in that department. Newman’s undefeated record may be what is tipping the odds in his favor, but it could also be Busick’s recent lack of activity as well as him moving down in weight for this contest. Busick looked very built at 205 pounds, so it will be interesting to see him down 20 pounds for this contest. We believe that if Newman can effectively wrestle Busick, then the fight is his to lose, but if he decides to brawl on the feet, it could go either way. We like Newman inside the distance here.

Roman Faraldo (-650) vs Trevor Gudde (+475)

Our second prelim bout at Bellator 255 features Roman Faralado (4-0-0) taking on Trevor Gudde (2-1-0). The odds are steep in this fight, and rightly so, as Faraldo is yet to lose in his career and apparently has UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal as a mentor, which ups is potential instantly. These odds may not deter Gudde, though, as he won his last fight in November 2020 against Khonry Gracie as a +455 underdog. That might give you something to think about instead of smashing the bet button on Faraldo. There is also the height difference; Faraldo is 6’1”, while Gudde is a staggering 6’7” as a welterweight. In their professional careers, neither fighter has had a bout go to decision, and we believe it will stay that way in this one. Is it second time’s the charm for Gudde? We don’t believe so, but we wouldn’t blame you for putting a little bit of your bankroll on him to potentially cover some losses.

Chris Gonzalez (-275) vs Roger Huerta (+215)

Our next prelim fight is a catchweight bout featuring Christ Gonzalez (5-0-0) against Roger Huerta (24-12-1). These two fighters are on opposite ends of the limelight, as Gonzalez is riding a five-fight win streak while Huerta is on a three-fight losing streak. One of these two streaks has to give come Friday night. Gonzalez seems to have more wrestling skill in this matchup, and his last four fights have gone the distance, so Gonzalez by decision might be the play here, especially when Huerta is nearly .500 when the fight goes to decision.

Fabio Aguiar (+265) vs Khalid Murtazaliev (-340)

Fabio Aguiar (17-1-0) and Khalid Murtazaliev (14-2-0) are on impressive win streaks of nine and three respectively. Both are making their Bellator debut, but Murtazaliev is coming off of a 2018 UFC Fight Night victory in his last outing. It is interesting he didn’t stay with the promotion, but it is safe to say there must have been something going on behind the scenes. Watching these two fighters’ most recent efforts, we believe that Aguiar has tools to pull off the upset. We also like the under on 2.5 rounds.

Ricardo Seixas (+205) vs Mandel Nallo (-265)

Ricardo Seixas (9-2-0) and Mandel Nallo (7-1-1) are close in age, being 30 and 31 years respectively. Seixas is coming off of a win in his 2020 Bellator debut where he landed a solid front kick to the face of Dominic Clark, but he has taken this bout as a late replacement, so we will see if conditioning is an issue for him. His last victory showed though that for a fighter who has five wins by submission, he can mix it up on the feet. Nallo is coming off of a no contest bout in 2020 and prior to that had a 2019 TKO loss, so he is looking to get back on track in a big way this Friday. We believe that he will do so and finish it inside the distance.

Mukhamed Berkhamov (-650) vs Herman Terrado (+475)

Mukhamed Berkhamov (13-0-0) is a heavy favorite for this welterweight bout, being undefeated in his 13 professional fights, but this is his first outing under the Bellator promotion. Herman Terrado (15-5-1) is making his return to the Bellator promotion for the first time since 2014, and he is looking to bounce back from a two-fight losing skid. Berkhamov seems to have an extreme advantage on the ground, with eight submissions on his career. Terrado is no slouch with six submissions of his own as well as eight KO/TKOs. We believe the safe bet would be to take Berkhamov by submission.

Cee Jay Hamilton (+900) vs Magomed Magomedov (-1800)

The last fight on the Bellator 255 prelim card is a landslide in terms of Bellator betting odds. We’re talking odds like that of Amanda Nunes against her last couple opponents. The challenger, Cee Jay “The Autobot” Hamilton (15-7-0), is taking on Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov (17-1-0). Hamilton took the fight as a late replacement after Magomedov’s original opponent, John Scoggins, withdrew. Hamilton is entering on a two-fight win streak as he makes his Bellator debut. Those making the odds for this fight are not making it nice to even bet on a Magomedov prop here, but inside the distance or a method of victory play seems tough to make given the downside of the profit. We are going with Magomedov to win it in the second round, as this should boost the odds a bit. Of course, our inner underdog is rooting for an upset, but Magomedov seems to have the advantage in most areas of this fight. Magomedov’s only loss was to former UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan, who he has also beaten once before.