Bellator 194 MMA Betting Odds & Expert Analysis

Alright MMA betting enthusiasts, you’re going to have a good chance to cash in with a few potentially winning wagers on what looks like a highly entertaining card, even if it isn’t a UFC event. Bellator remains the world’s No. 2 MMA promotion behind the UFC and it still provides some serious action and great opportunities to cash in with winning wagers in my expert opinion. Okay, with all of that said, Bellator 194 will take place on Friday, February 16, 2018. The undercard features a bunch of other intriguing fights but is headlined by the heavyweight matchup between former UFC fighters Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson as they meet for the second time with Mitrione as the MMA odds slight favorite. Now, let’s get to some expert picks.

Bellator 194 MMA Betting Odds & Expert Analysis

Team Fedor prospect @vadimnemkov has a 100% finish rate, with 90% of finishes happening in the 1st round!

Will he maintain his perfect finish rate with Liam McGeary Friday Feb. 16th? #Bellator194 LIVE & FREE on @paramountnetwork pic.twitter.com/NvNkS8V6Tr — Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) 14 de febrero de 2018

• When: February 16, 2018
• Where: City Uncasville, Connecticut
• Venue: Mohegan Sun Arena

Patricky Freire vs. Derek Campos

• Weight Class: Lightweight
• MMA Betting Odds: -245 / +185

The 32-year-old Brazilian Patricky Freire (18-8) has won two straight fights and four of his last five overall, including a split decision win over former UFC champ Benson Henderson at Bellator 183 in September. 29-year-old Texas native Derek Campos (19-6) has won four straight fights including a second-round TKO (doctor stoppage) over Brandon Girtz in their third meeting at Bellator 181 in July. I like the younger, bigger and stronger Campos to use his longer reach to keep Freire at bay before finishing off his opponent with his third stoppage in his last five fights. Pick: Derek Campos via second-round KO (Punches)

Liam McGeary vs. Vadim Nemkov

• Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
• MMA Betting Odds: -155 / +125

35-year-old Liam McGeary (12-2) has lost two of his last three fights and comes into Bellator 194 off a humbling third-round submission (arm-triangle) loss against Linton Vassell at Bellator 179 in May. 25-year-old Vadim Nemkov (8-2) has won three straight fights all in the first round including his KO (punches) win over Philipe Lins at Bellator 182 in August. Amazingly, all eight of Nemkov’s wins have come via first-round stoppages! Pick: Vadim Nemkov via first-round KO (punches)

Matt Mitrione vs. Roy Nelson

• Weight Class: Heavyweight
• MMA Betting Odds: -170 / +150

39-year-old Matt Mitrione (12-5) has won three straight fights after losing his previous two bouts and beat Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator NYC in June via first-round KO (punches). 41-year-old Roy Nelson recorded a unanimous decision win over Javy Ayala at Bellator 183 in September to rebound from his unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkov at UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Reis in April. While Nelson has gone 3-5 in his last eight MMA bouts, he did manage to beat the hell out of Matt Mitrione at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. team Nelson way back in December of 2012. If you look at these two aging fighters right now, it’s pretty evident that Matt Mitrione is in better shape than Roy Nelson, who looks like he should probably hang it up right about now. However, Nelson doesn’t just bow out easily as each of his last four losses come by way of unanimous decision. Still, Nelson has alternated wins and losses over his last six bouts and Matt Mitrione wants revenge. Mitrione is getting up there, but he’ll get this win – via unanimous decision! Pick: Matt Mitrione via unanimous decision

Rest of the Card

• Women’s Flyweight: Heather Hardy vs. Ana Julaton
• Featherweight: Tywan Claxton vs. Jose Antonio Perez
• Lightweight: Marcus Surin vs. Dean Hancock
• Lightweight: Andre Fialho vs. Nick Giulietti
• Welterweight: Peter Nascimento vs. Kastriot Xhema
• Featherweight: Regivaldo Carvalho vs. Thomas English
• Lightweight: Tyler Hamilton vs. Pat Casey
• Welterweight: Vinicius de Jesus vs. Jesse McElligott
• Bantamweight: Mike Kimbel vs. Geoffrey Then