Bellator MMA returns on Friday night with a monstrous event. The promotion has two of its biggest title fights of the year slated to go down from the SAP Center in San Jose, California, as a part of the return to action from a short break. The fight card on Friday night kicks off a four-week stretch that will see five different events take place.
Featherweight king AJ McKee looks to leave no doubt once again when he grants former champion and pound-for-pound great Patricio Pitbull a rematch. The two battled last July with McKee needing less than two minutes to finish the former two-division champion and win the title (along with the $1 million prize for the Featherweight World Grand Prix).
The co-main event sees the conclusion of another Grand Prix when champion Vadim Nemkov and Corey Anderson battle to complete the light heavyweight tournament. Nemkov has run roughshod over the division since joining Bellator in 2017 and looks to assert his place at the top once more by beating the red-hot Anderson, who has scored three straight TKO wins since signing with Bellator in 2020.
Can't get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including a complete preview of Bellator 277 from San Jose, California.
The undercard also features a pair of interesting non-title bouts. Featherweight prospect Aaron Pico is back when he takes on Adli Edwards in a catchweight contest at 150 pounds. Pico was once hailed as one of the hottest prospects in MMA history when Bellator signed him to a deal out of high school. The 25-year-old has hit some bumps in the road but seems to have righted the ship with five straight wins and only one reaching the judges' scorecards. Plus, heavyweights Tim Johnson and Linton Vassell are set to slug it out in the opener.
Below is the complete fight card with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook as well as how you can catch the action on Saturday night.
Bellator 277 fight card
- AJ McKee (c) -330 vs. Patricio Pitbull +260, featherweight championship
- Vadim Nemkov (c) -160 vs. Corey Anderson +135, light heavyweight championship (Grand Prix final)
- Aaron Pico -1100 vs. Adli Edwards +700, featherweights
- Linton Vassell -140 vs. Tim Johnson +120, heavyweights
- Tyrell Fortune -1100 vs. Rakim Cleveland +650, heavyweights
- Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov -180 vs. Rafael Carvalho +155, light heavyweights
- Gaston Bolanos -310 vs. Daniel Carey +250, contractweight (140 pounds)
- Kyle Crutchmer -260 vs. Michael Lombardo +210, welterweights
- Bobby Seronio III -1000 vs. Calob Ramirez +650, bantamweights
- Tyson Miller -440 vs. Rhalan Gracie +340, welterweights
- Edwin De Los Santos vs. Alberto Mendez, flyweights
- Rogelio Luna -220 vs. Socrates Hernandez +180, featherweights
- Laird Anderson -575 vs. JT Donaldson +425, featherweights
- Theo Haig -900 vs. Alan Benson +600, light heavyweights
Bellator 277 info
- Date: April 15
- Location: SAP Center -- San Jose, California
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: Showtime
