Starting on Thursday night, we have a heavy slate of mixed martial arts (MMA) action. The PFL returns with the hotly anticipated debut of the undefeated three-division champion Claressa Shields. The following night, Bellator returns with a tasty welterweight championship clash between Douglas Lima and Yaroslav Amosov.
There is also Invicta FC and ONE Championship on Friday as June continues to be a busy month for MMA. Find the best bouts from PFL and Bellator with the MMA betting lines on the online sportsbook and check out this four-leg parlay that pays almost 5-1.
Greatest Female Boxer Makes MMA Debut
Event (Date): PFL 2021 4 Thursday)
Odds: Brittney Elkin +170, Claressa Shields -215
Weight Class (Rounds): Lightweight (155 lbs ) (3 Rounds, Main Event)
Claressa “GWOAT” Shields (0-0) headlines PFL against Brittney Elkin (3-6) looking to kick off her MMA career with a bang. She’s a sizable online betting favorite and that is some risky chalk considering she is a beginner and is going up against someone who can grapple.
Shields will need to stuff Elkin’s attempts to grapple with her. If she can do that, she can light her up with her boxing and put her away. However, Elkin may be able to neutralize Shields by clinging to her and taking her down where she can submit her.
This is a “dog or pass” bet and Elkin is tempting to grab at +170. But it’s more likely this fight gets finished quickly as Shields either knocks out Elkin or Elkin submits her.
Pick: Under 1½ (-140)
Collard, Lutterbach Light Up the Cage
Event (Date): PFL 2021 4 (Thursday)
Odds: Joilton Lutterbach +175, Clay Collard -220
Weight Class (Rounds): Lightweight (155 lbs) (3 Rounds)
Shields is a boxer turned MMA fighter. Clay Collard (19-8-0) is an MMA fighter that is turning into a boxer. He upset former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in a clinic and now gets a fellow striker in Joilton Lutterbach (34-9-0, 1 NC), who can throw some heat.
However, it’s not the fighter who throws harder but the fighter who hits more effectively and that will be Collard. Lutterbach will try to knock him out and Collard will see it coming as he picks him apart and wins another impressive victory here.
Pick: Clay Collard -220
Lima, Amosov Clash for Welterweight Strap
Event (Date): Bellator 260 (Friday)
Odds: Yaroslav Amosov -110, Douglas Lima -120
Weight Class (Rounds): Welterweight (170 lbs) (5 Rounds, Championship Main Event)
Bellator Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima (32-8-0) finally defends his belt against unbeaten Ukrainian Yaroslav Amosov (25-0-0). The champion has not lost at 170 for over three years, since falling to Rory MacDonald, and he has since avenged that by showing improved wrestling defense.
But Amosov is a different beast. The three-time combat sambo gold medalist has already beaten two NCAA Division I All-Americans in Ed Ruth and Logan Storley. As far as dominant grapplers go, he’s at the top of the food chain in the promotion.
The game plan for Amosov is to mix in his wrestling and striking to keep Lima from picking him apart. However, he’ll need the endurance to keep pressing for five rounds, of which he still hasn’t shown he’s capable.
Lima can weather his attack for the first three rounds and take over once Amosov gasses to win a decision. It will be a close fight and it will go five rounds due to the durability of both fighters.
Pick: Totals – Over 4½ (-160)
Jackson Meets Daley: Prospect vs Legend
Event (Date): Bellator 260 (Friday)
Odds: Paul Daley +190, Jason Jackson -240
Weight Class (Rounds): Welterweight (170 lbs ) (3 Rounds)
Jason Jackson (14-4-0) and Paul Daley (43-17-2) clash in a battle of two hot welterweights looking for a title shot. On paper, this is a wrestler vs striker match, though Jackson can also hang with Daley on his feet while the other way isn’t true.
Jackson should win this fight should he choose to fight smartly: Take Daley down and neutralize him. He could still beat Daley if he stands and trades with him as Daley’s durability is fading. But that’s a recipe for an upset so Jackson will go the wrestling route.
