Emelianenko

vs.

Bader Corrales

vs.

Pico Hager

vs.

Kiser Archuleta

vs.

Bandejas Altamimi

vs.

McMahan MMAjunkie readers’

consensus picks

2019: 4-2

Bader

(50.5%)

Pico

(83%)

Hager

(80%)

Archuleta

(70%)

Altamimi

(72%) Trent Reinsmith

@TrentReinsmith

2019: 6-0

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Ben Fowlkes

@BenFowlkesMMA

2019: 5-1

2016 Champion

Emelianenko

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Simon Samano

@SJSamano

2019: 5-1

Emelianenko

Pico

Hager

Bandejas

Altamimi Fernanda Prates

@nandaprates_

2019: 5-1

Bader

Pico

Hager

Bandejas

Altamimi Dan Tom

@DanTomMMA

2019: 4-2

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi John Morgan

@MMAjunkieJohn

2019: 4-2

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Mike Bohn

@MikeBohnMMA

2019: 4-2

2014 Champion

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Brian Garcia

@thegoze

2019: 4-2

2017 Champion

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi George Garcia

@MMAjunkieGeorge

2019: 4-2

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Matt Erickson

@MMAjunkieMatt

2019: 4-2

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Ken Hathaway

@kenshathaway

2019: 3-3

2018 Champion

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Abbey Subhan

@kammakaze

2019: 3-3

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi Steven Marrocco

@MMAjunkieSteven

2019: 3-3

Bader

Pico

Hager

Archuleta

Altamimi

Bellator opens up its 2019 slate of events Saturday and finally will crown a new heavyweight champion, as well.

Bellator 214 takes place Saturday at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMAjunkie.

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

In the main event, former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko (38-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) takes on light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader (26-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in the final of Bellator’s heavyweight grand prix tournament. The winner will become Bellator’s new heavyweight champion. Bader is more than a 3-1 favorite, and he’s got a bit 11-2 lead in the picks from our 13 MMAjunkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In featherweight co-feature, rising star Aaron Pico (4-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) is a 5-1 favorite against veteran Henry Corrales (16-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA). Not surprisingly, Pico is one of three unanimous picks from our staff members on the main card.

Another unanimous pick is former WWE star Jake Hager (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who is making his pro MMA debut at heavyweight against J.W. Kiser (0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). Hager is a 4-1 favorite and a 13-0 sweep choice. The third unanimous nod goes to featherweight Adel Altamimi (7-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who opens the main card against Brandon McMahan (5-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

Also on the main card, Juan Archuleta (21-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is a big favorite with the oddsmakers in his bantamweight bout against Ricky Bandejas (11-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), and he has a massive 11-2 edge in our picks, as well.

In the MMAjunkie reader consensus picks, Bader (50.5 percent), Pico (83 percent), Hager (80 percent), Archuleta (70 percent), and Altamimi (72 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on Bellator 214, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

Gallery Ryan Bader def. Matt Mitrione at Bellator 207: Best Photos view 9 images

Gallery Photos: Best of Ryan Bader view 42 images

Gallery Fedor Emelianenko def. Chael Sonnen at Bellator 208: Best Photos view 27 images

Gallery Photos: Best of Fedor Emelianenko view 23 images

Gallery Henry Corrales def. Andy Main at Bellator 208: Best Photos view 12 images

Gallery Aaron Pico def. Leandro Higo at Bellator 206: Best photos view 14 images

Gallery Photos: Best of Aaron Pico view 18 images