Bellator vs Rizin Odds, Picks, and Best Fights to Bet On

In their second-ever clash, Bellator champions will face Rizin champions to determine MMA supremacy. The Bellator fighters have the favorite position in the Bellator vs Rizin odds, but let’s look for big upsets and parlay picks in this five fight MMA event. Currently odds money line only, but expect some prop bets at most MMA betting sites as we get closer to fight night.

Bellator vs Rizin Predictions

Our top picks for Bellator vs Rizin FF include a few surprises. Most of these fighters have never competed against the same pool of opponents, so it can be difficult to tell, even from fight tape, how their styles will clash. We’ve crunched the stats to give your our most confident money line for the Bellator vs Rizin odds.

• Roberto de Souza +180
• Patricio Pitbull Freire -360
• Kyoji Horiguchi -500
• Soo Chul KIm +120
• Gadzhi Rabadanov – 275

Ready to place your bet on the Bellator vs RIZIN odds? Scroll to the bottom of the page for the top MMA betting sites legal in your area.

Bellator vs RIZIN Prop Bets to Watch Out For

The prop bets haven’t been released yet on any of the major betting websites. Look for Gadzhi vs Koji Takeda: Under 2.5 rounds. Bet this prop if you’re a Takeda fan staying away from the Bellator picks. Patricio Pitbull vs Erbst is a sure fire decision, and the over 1.5 rounds prop bet could be a parlay addition. Bet Kyoji Horiguchi by double chance decision/knockout if the prop is offered.

How to Watch and Bet on Bellator vs Rizin

Bellator vs Rizin airs on Showtime, December 31st, 2022. The Saitama Super Arena in Japan hosts this bout with 36,500 seats, so there are still a few VIP tickets if you can make it to Japan. Our odds for this fight are from Bovada, on of the safest betting websites online.

A.J. McKee -200 vs Roberto de Souza +180

McKee’s starpower is undeniable, managing to headline the show above Patricio Freire, the only man to beat him in 20 fights. Rizin’s Souza is a slight underdog, with a heavily submission and ground focused fight game that has been dominant in the Japanese and East Asian fight scene. Outside of Patricio, A.J.’s odds show -265 to -1500 inside his last ten fights. Souza was a -105 in his domination of Johnny Case by first round submission in April to avenge his only loss, and has spent the rest of his career -500 or better.

Betting Stats for McKee vs de Souza

McKee often relies on his lanky BJJ to counter wrestle fighters. Caldwell took him down, and his defense against Pitbull was to accept the shot and defend with guillotines and Anaconda chokes. This isn’t likely to fly against de Souza, who’s BJJ is predicated on very low shooting, and pulling guard into submissions off takedowns.

Roberto Satoshi Souza submits current Bellator #2 ranked Lightweight fighter 🥋 #BellatorvsRizin pic.twitter.com/9dfmGUHIIK

— Phillip Kadek (@phillynextdoor) December 24, 2022

De Souza Submits McKee

After such a dominant career, it’s hard for Bellator fans to think that their are better grapplers out there. McKee has better striking overall, but will struggle against the aggressive BJJ style of de Souza. Bet the underdog for 1.8 times your bet at the Bellator vs Rizin main event.

Kleber Koike Erbst +255 vs Patricio Freire -360

Current Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull shocked us with a win over Adam Borics at -140. His opponent Kleber Erbst is another Bonsai BJJ fighter, with a seven fight submission streak for RIZIN and ONE. Erbst last loss was to the UFC’s Mateusz Gamrot at +180, and it’s hard to put Patricio at a better odds position than Gamrot, especially considering he’s 35; nearly 36 years old. Kleber Erbst upsets include a +140 win over Marcin Wrzosek and a +425 upset of Anzor Azhiev by Triangle choke to win the KSW title in 2015.

Betting Stats for Freire vs Erbst

Bonsai BJJ hasn’t really gotten it’s chance to show if it can be dominant at a top level in MMA. Erbst has had only one interaction with a UFC level fighter, and it was heavily competitive. With BJJ, if you’re not on a technical level with the opponent you’ll see a string of early finishes; this is what we see with Erbst. Pitbull Brothers, Patricio’s Camp, is one of the top schools in the world for producing fighters that win via submissions inside the top twenty fighters.

Patricio Pitbull Beats Erbst by Decision -360

This prediction is a value bet and not something to be added to a parlay. It’s $27.78 in winnings per $100 wagered is a moderate payout for a three time Bellator champion. Expect Erbst to initiate BJJ scrambles and multiple submission attempts per round, only to end up chipped away at by Patricio.

Hiromasa Ougikubo +325 vs Kyoji Horiguchi -500

American Top Team’s Kyoji is contracted by both RIZIN and Bellator. He lost to champion Patchy Mix, and managed to submit legacy Bellator grappler Darrion Caldwell. Ougikubo is a fighter out of China, who lost to Kyoji back in 2018. Ougikubo is a staple in the RIZIN bantamweight division, seeing favorite status in the majority of his last five. He upset Naoki Inoue at +250 last year via decision.

Betting Stats for Ougikubo vs Horiguchi

Kyoji is 2-3 over his last five, winning both fights via finish, but being knocked out twice. Back in 2014 -2016, Kyoji was in the UFC going 7-1 for the promotion. As he ages, we’re seeing a fighter that’s had a bit too much wear and tear over 35 bouts. Ougikubo is even older, at 35. His Karate style is predicated on leaping into the pocket and winning point fighting exchanges; as demonstrated in his TUF 24 run and loss to Tim Elliot.

Kyoji Horiguchi Beats Ougikubo by Decision

Horiguchi has more knockout power overall, but Ougikubo has shown his age since his 2016 TUF appearances. Ougikubo’s grappling game is clutch in winning rounds, but Kyoji’s grappling will continue to give him the edge in their rematch. Bet Kyoji, and avoid the under 1.5 rounds if you’re looking at the prop bets.

Juan Archuleta -155 vs Soo Chul Kim +120

“The Spaniard” Archuleta has struggled against Stots, Pettis and the Bellator Bantamweight top five. He’s a power puncher turned decision fighter over a nine year career. His recent upsets make him the favorite, beating Enrique Barzola at +105 and Patchy Mix at +158. Former Road to FC champion, Kim has been the underdog in every major fight of his career; beating Ogikubo last September at +130. Our underdog had a rocky start to his career, going 4-1 from 2011 to 2012. Kim is 11-1-1 since 2014.

Betting Stats for Archuleta vs Kim

Archuleta’s power is his biggest threat, but his last KO was in 2019. Kim has ever been knocked out, and we struggled to find a fight where he was even dropped. Archuleta’s recent knockout loss from Stots and Beating from Sergio Pettis, all in the last 18 months. We’re concerned at Archuleta’s activity level, and the Bellator vs RIZIN odds are narrow for that reason. Kim could be a bigger underdog, but Archuleta’s taken a beating lately.

Soo Cul Kim Beats Archuleta by Decision or KO

Archuleta was a force in his Gladiator Challenge and KOTC level competition. Now, at the top of the division, he’s inconsistent. His win over Mix was Patchy’s first loss, and we were sure he’d bring it to Pettis. Archuleta’s power is best met with technical pressure, which is something Kim brings to the fight game. His recent string of finishes feel like he’s picking up steam, while Archuleta struggles to stay active after taking huge damage in April.

Gadzhi Rabadanov -275 vs Koji Takeda +200

After losing his EFC belt, Gadzhi went on a four fight Bellator winning streak, including giving Jay Jay Wilson his first loss. Underdog Koji takeda is in the RIZIN top five, beating Johnny Case and Zach Zane in his last two fights. Koji is a fantastic submission fighter, but Gadzhi has that anti-grappling combat Sambo style we see out of Russia.

Takeda upset Johnny Case as a +200 just two fights ago, making him 1-1 as an underdog in his last ten bouts.

Betting Stats for Gadzhi vs Takeda

Slightly less durable, Gadzhi faced serious fighters early in his career, with a knockout loss back in 2013. Koji has only been finished by Spike Carlyle, but his 18 fight career has been primarily against journeyman fighters with plenty of losses on their record. Expect Gadzhi to be more dangerous, and Koji to hunt for the submission finish the entire fight.

Bet Gadzhi or the Under Prop Bet Over Takeda’s Money Line

RIZIN fans think Takeda has this one in the bag, but Gadzhi isn’t easy to submit. If you’re a fan of Takeda, wait for the Under or No Decision prop bets to come out. Gadzhi has a more consistent style for a decision win. Koji’s point fighting and clench grappling that won him the fight against Case won’t fly vs Gadzhi, and he’ll be forced to meet center ring and deal with his power. Bet Gadzhi Rabadanov’s money line for a $36 return per $100 wagered, our only fight of the Bellator vs RIZIN odds that we can recommend a parlay on.

Bellator vs Rizin to Beat the UFC Internationally

The UFC is announcing their bid to take over MMA in Saudi Arabia. Their goal is to become an international MMA body, to rule the sport all over the world. Smaller promotions may need to combine promotional forces more often to stay relevant, but also to produce bigger shows and even create unified champions. MMA fans may not know it yet, but they don’t want a UFC monopoly on the sport, and neither do bettors. Tune into Bellator vs Rizin, and win big on the underdogs at Bellator MMA vs Rizin FF!