In this PFL vs Bellator event two of the top mixed martial arts promotions in the world will go head-to-head Saturday on ESPN+. In the Main Event, Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader faces 6’8 PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan “The Problema” Ferreira. Undefeated Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen takes on Light Heavyweight PFL tournament winner Impa Kasanganay in the Co-Main Event. Also on the card, fan favorite Clay Collard returns against the extremely talented AJ McKee in a 155-pound matchup fight fans won’t want to miss.

This entire event is filled with top talent from each promotion with 7 World Champions competing throughout.

(C) Renan Ferreira (12-3) vs. (C) Ryan Bader (31-7)

In the Main Event, former UFC veteran and Two-Weight Bellator World Champion Ryan Bader faces Brazilian knockout artist Renan Ferreira. In last season’s PFL tournament, Ferreira knocked out three opponents in a row en route to a PFL title and one million dollars. Now Ferreira will face the most experienced opponent in his 15-fight career. Bader has fought the best competition the sport has to offer and is a former collegiate wrestler, whose known for utilizing his ground game.

When the betting line for this fight opened Bader was a slight favorite, but late money has changed the odds in favor of Ferreira, who is now trending at (-120).

On the ground, Bader will have a significant advantage, but Ferreira may be hard to get down due to his physical strength and athleticism. Bader is now 40 years old and recently defeated MMA legend Fedor Emelienanko on CBS. If Bader can’t get this fight to the ground he will have significant problems on the feet. Ferreira has ten wins by knockout in his career and is extremely dangerous in the early rounds. Length may be a factor in this one, with Ferreira having an 11-inch reach advantage.

Prediction: Renan Ferreira by KO/TKO

(C) Impa Kasanganay (15-3) vs. (C) Johnny Eblen (14-0)

Undefeated Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen will take on 2023 Light Heavyweight tournament winner Impa Kasanganay in the Co-Main Event. Eblen is one of the most dominant champions on the Bellator roster and recently finished athletic striker Fabian Edwards. Kasanganay is a UFC veteran who has won six fights in a row since leaving the organization. Entering this matchup Eblen is a betting favorite at online sportsbooks (-450).

Eblen is a former collegiate wrestler from the University of Missouri and will have a significant grappling advantage in this contest. Eblen showed against Russian contender Vladimir Tokov that his striking has improved tremendously in his short career. I believe that Eblen will get the job done in this fight, but Kasanganay is a very explosive athlete. On his six-fight win streak, Kasanganay has finished four of his opponents. Eblen will look to find a home for the takedown early and often.

Prediction: Johnny Eblen by Decision

Clay Collard (24-11) vs. AJ McKee (21-1)

One of the top young talents in the sport returns this Saturday when AJ McKee takes on all-action veteran “Cassius” Clay Collard. McKee is undefeated since moving up to 155 pounds and is a former Featherweight Champion in Bellator. Collard is an aggressive boxer who made it to the finals of last year’s PFL tournament. Never taking a step back, Collard was involved in a fight-of-the-year contender in 2023 with Shane Burgos. McKee is one of the most athletic competitors I’ve ever seen and can finish fights standing or on the ground. Currently, McKee is a betting favorite at online sportsbooks (-300).

When standing, McKee will try and utilize his length with dangerous kicks at a distance, while Collard will look to pressure his opponent and get inside to land big combinations. McKee proved in his last contest with Sidney Outlaw that he is dangerous in any situation. Outlaw had top position on the ground for a large portion of their matchup, but McKee opened a cut with elbows from that bottom that awarded him a unanimous decision victory.

This contest between Collard and McKee has Fight of Night written all over it. McKee has seven wins by submission, with Collard tapping out three times before in his career.

Prediction: AJ McKee by Submission

Ray Cooper (25-9-1) vs. (C) Jason Jackson (17-4)

Hard Hitting Hawaiian Ray Cooper will fill in on short notice to face Bellator Welterweight champion Jason Jackson. Cooper and Jackson both weighed in at 182 pounds and bring different skill sets into this fight. Jackson recently upset undefeated champion Yaroslav Amosov in Bellator s final event in Chicago. Something to note is that Jackson will be moving up 12 pounds for this matchup. Cooper is one of the hardest hitters on the PFL roster and is a former Welterweight tournament winner. Currently, Jackson is a massive betting favorite (-750) at online sportsbooks.

Jackson has a sneaky ground game and is very well-rounded. Cooper’s path to victory is to keep the fight standing and look for big punches. If Cooper can catch Jackson clean he can pull off this upset, but the longer this fight goes it favors Jackson.

Prediction: Jason Jackson by Decision

PFL vs Bellator Prelims:

The PFL vs Bellator prelims are filled with fantastic fights. Former UFC title challengers Yoel Romero (15-7) and Thiago Santos (22-11) collide in a matchup that will more than likely not go the distance. Romero last challenged for the Bellator Light Heavyweight title, going the distance with Vadim Nemkov. Since his title loss to Jon Jones, Santos has gone 1-4 in his last five fights. Both these fighters are over 40 years old and want to prove they still have something left.

Also on the PFL vs Bellator fight card, Aaron Pico gets a shot at redemption against Henry Corrales. In their first meeting in 2019, Corrales knocked out a 22-year-old Pico with a devastating right hand in the clinch. Pico was an accomplished wrestler who was thought to be the next big thing in the sport of mixed martial arts. Since that loss, Pico has rebounded nicely going 8-2 in his next ten fights. Pico is now 27 and in the prime of his career but will have to put the past behind him to earn a win on Saturday.

The PFL vs Bellator prelims begin at 11 a.m. CST on ESPN+. The six fight Main Card will start at 2 p.m. CST and can also be seen on ESPN+.

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