PFL vs Bellator: Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero Prediction
If you want to bet on MMA fights tonight, the PFL vs. Bellator event this weekend in Saudi Arabia is a perfect place to start. One of the most exciting fights on that card will be this showdown between Thiago Santos and Yoel Romero. Two massive names in MMA going at it for the first time as their careers are winding down.
Santos vs. Romero Picks
- Pick: Romero -110.
Read more for the official Santos vs Romero prediction, gaining valuable knowledge about scores and odds before you bet on MMA this weekend.
Thiago Santos vs Yoel Romero Information
Thiago Santos vs Yoel Romero
Location of the game: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Date & Time: February 24, 2024.3 PM ET card start
How to Watch: ESPN+ PPV / DAZN PPV
Last Fight Record
Santos is coming off a loss to Rob Wilkinson in April 2023,
Romero is coming off a Bellator light heavyweight title fight loss to Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 297 last June.
Thiago Santos vs Yoel Romero Betting Analysis
Thiago Santos
Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a 22-11 professional MMA record, including 15 wins by TKO/KO and one submission. Some key MMA accomplishments for Santos include earning 7 post-fight bonuses in the UFC, tying for most UFC bouts in a calendar year (5), and tying with the great Anderson Silva for most KO wins in UFC middleweight history.
Santos is listed as a 6’2” light heavyweight with a 76” reach while fighting out of the switch stances. In the UFC, he averaged 3.72 significant strikes landed and 2.57 absorbed per minute. He also had a modest 65% takedown defense while fighting in the company.
Yoel Romero
Romero is a Cuban mixed martial artist with a 15-7 professional MMA record, including 13 wins by TKO/KO. Before starting his MMA career, Romero represented his country in freestyle wrestling and collected a total of 10 gold medals, including one at the World Championships, and a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games.
Romero is a 6’0” southpaw fighter with a 73” reach at 46 years old. During his 14-fight UFC career, he averaged 3.44 significant strikes landed and 3.05 absorbed per minute. He also averaged 1.57 takedowns per 15 minutes while having a solid 78% takedown defense.
Updates
No injuries have been reported to the PFL, ESPN, or DAZN.
Thiago Santos vs Yoel Romero Betting Preview
This Santos vs Romero prediction is arguably the toughest one to make this weekend because not too many MMA fans want to see either of these guys lose again at the end of their careers. But, to make the correct pick, we have to preview the betting lines and study some recent footage of both men’s last few performances.
Starting with the available PFL odds, Santos is coming in as the slim -120 betting favorite against the -110 Romero. Don’t be surprised if these lines close at EVEN odds on Saturday afternoon when more of the public starts betting. The over/under is set at 2.5 rounds according to BetUS.
It’s difficult to break this matchup down technically and stylistically because these two are both not the same fighters they were 5+ years ago. Romero is 46 years old and Santos is 40 with no knees. The explosiveness from both is only a fraction of what it used to be.
Santos is the longer fighter and would do his best work striking at range and keeping the fight in the center of the cage, and off the ground. Romero still has a few bursts of explosiveness left in him, but he will need to choose his timing wisely.
Romero is 2-5 in his last 7 fights, and Santos is 1-6. This fight is a coin flip to bet on and doesn’t have any championship implications tied to it. It will be a celebration of their careers and a treat for the fans.
Thiago Santos vs Yoel Romero Best Bets and Prediction
This is probably the toughest PFL prediction to make this week because of the even matchup and the fact that no one wants to see either of them lose.
If we had to make a Santos vs Romero prediction, we are going to Romero to win as the slight underdog. If he decides to show up in shape and mentally ready to take chances, he will win on output alone.
Santos has been a very passive fighter on the outside since his title fight against Jon Jones and all the knee surgeries. Romero can use his better leverage and get on the inside, landing big shots to the body of Santos against the cage and controlling the clinch there as well.
- Pick: Romero -110.
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