MMA expert picks: Can Muhammad win in a rematch? Will McKee retain over Pitbull?

A massive weekend in mixed martial arts is headlined by a highly anticipated Bellator rematch between undefeated featherweight champion AJ McKee and Patricio “Pitbull” Freire on Friday night in San Jose, California, at Bellator 277. Plus, the conclusion of the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix will determine a champion when Vadim Nemkov faces Corey Anderson.

Another pivotal rematch will take center stage in the UFC as welterweights Vicente Luque and Belal Muhammad headline Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas.

The two UFC contenders will meet in the Octagon for the first time since Luque scored a first-round knockout over Muhammad at UFC 205 in 2016. Since that meeting over five years ago, Muhammad has compiled a 10-1 record, with his latest win coming against Stephen Thompson in December. Meanwhile, Luque enters Saturday night on a four-fight winning streak during which he has finished each opponent.

With champion Kamaru Usman hoping to return to the Octagon in the second half of the year, both Luque and Muhammad will be looking to get their names on the list of contenders for the welterweight belt.

MMA coach Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture MMA breaks down both Bellator championship fights and the UFC main event for Marc Raimondi from his perspective, while experts Ian Parker and Reed Kuhn look at the betting point of view.

Bellator MMA featherweight championship: AJ McKee vs. Patricio Freire 2, (Friday, 10 p.m. ET)

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