On Tuesday, Bellator MMA announced its long-awaited return with a
brand-new light heavyweight tournament that will likely take most
of 2021. The new Grand Prix features current 205-pound titleholder
Vadim
Nemkov (12-2), who will be staking his belt each time he
fights, as has been the custom with the promotion’s last several
tournaments. He will attempt to navigate a tournament field that
includes the last two Bellator light heavyweight champs in Phil Davis
and Ryan
Bader — who still holds the heavyweight title — as well as
former Ultimate Fighting Championship 205-pound
champion Lyoto
Machida and two former UFC title challengers in Anthony
Johnson and Yoel
Romero.
Initial odds on some key upcoming Bellator MMA bouts, and the outcome of the newly
announced light heavyweight Grand Prix, have been released by
BetOnline. Unsurprisingly, Nemkov, who is undefeated in Bellator,
riding a seven-fight winning streak and is the youngest fighter in
the field, has the best shot to retain his title, according to the
oddsmakers. For his opening-round matchup at Bellator 257 on April
16, Nemkov opened as a -280 favorite over Davis (+220).
Two-time UFC middleweight title challenger Romero is a distant
runner-up to win the Grand Prix final as he opens as +400, followed
by Bader at +550 and Johnson at +700. Longtime UFC contender
Corey
Anderson and former Absolute Championship Akhmat titleholder
Dovletdzhan
Yagshimuradov both come in at +1000, followed by Davis at +1600
and Machida at +3000.
Odds To Win The Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix:
Vadim
Nemkov +190
Yoel
Romero +400
Ryan
Bader +550
Anthony
Johnson +700
Corey
Anderson +1000
Dovletdzhan
Yagshimuradov +1000
Phil
Davis +1400
Lyoto
Machida +3000
Opening Round Matchup Odds:
Bellator 256 (April 9)
Ryan
Bader (-450) vs. Lyoto
Machida (+350)
Corey
Anderson (-140) vs. Dovletdzhan
Yagshimuradov (+110)
Bellator 257 (April 16)
Vadim
Nemkov (-280) vs. Phil Davis
(+220)
Yoel
Romero (-130) vs. Anthony
Johnson EVEN (+100)