Patricio Freire vs Emmanuel Sanchez – Bellator Betting Pick

This Friday, Bellator MMA returns after a four-month layoff with another exciting card! In the main event, Patricio Freire will be looking to defend his featherweight title once again against Emmanuel Sanchez. Today, I’ll be offering an in-depth Freire vs Sanchez betting pick with analysis on how the fight may play out.

Many MMA fans are excited to see Bellator MMA back up and running. This year is already looking like it’s going to be an exciting one for the promotion.

Before looking at the main event for this Friday’s fight card, I’ll quickly explain exactly how and where to bet on Bellator 255 online.

Let’s get into it!

Here’s How to Bet on Bellator 255 Online

Bellator is widely-considered to be the second-biggest MMA promotion on the planet. The Scott-Coker-run league has a huge number of elite fighters now signed to its roster. Some even believe it could grow to become the premier MMA promotion at some point down the line.

Last December, Bellator held its final event of 2020. The promotion has been working hard to put on a variety of exciting shows throughout 2021. The first one takes place on Friday, April 2 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

Fans can now head over to BetOnline to bet on this entire event! This site launched years ago and has grown to become one of the most popular online sports betting sites in the US. It’s now offering some fantastic odds on Bellator’s upcoming event.

Signing-up to BetOnline takes just a few minutes. Simply enter your basic information and deposit a little money into your account. Afterward, you’ll be able to bet on a huge variety of exciting sporting events taking place around the world.

Head over to the MMA section to find odds on Bellator 255. There are some fantastic lines available for most of the bouts taking place on this card. That includes the main event between Patricio Freire and Emmanual Sanchez.

Bellator 255 Moneyline Betting Odds: Freire vs Sanchez

• Patricio Freire (-240)
• Emmanuel Sanchez (+205)

Bellator 255 Over/Under Betting Odds: Freire vs Sanchez

• Over 4.5 (+140)
• Under 4.5 (-170)

This should be a fantastic bout. Now is the perfect time to break down how this bout may end up playing out.

Patricio Freire vs Emmanuel Sanchez: Tale of the Tape

Patricio Freire is one of the most skilled featherweight fighters in the world right now. He holds two different championship belts in Bellator and is currently riding a six-fight win streak. Freire even holds a win over current UFC title challenger, Michael Chandler.

Sanchez is a fantastic fighter in his own right. He’s facing an uphill battle against Patricio in this one, though.

Before getting into the keys of victory for each man, let’s take a look at the physical attributes both of these men are bringing into the cage.

Patricio Freire

• Height: 5’5”
• Weight: 145 lbs
• Reach: 65.5”
• Age: 33

Emmanuel Sanchez

• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 145.5 lbs
• Reach: 76”
• Age: 30

On paper, it seems as if Emmanuel Sanchez is coming into this bout with all of the advantages. He is taller, younger, and has a longer reach. Many would see these advantages and feel this should be an easy night at the office for him.

The #Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix moves one step closer to its final bout this Friday night.

Don’t miss @PatricioPitbull vs. Emmanuel Sanchez LIVE on @SHOSports, April 2️⃣nd. #Bellator255 kicks off at 6pm ET/3pm PT. pic.twitter.com/h54SifodHV

— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) March 30, 2021

That is not necessarily the case, though. Freire is a significantly harder puncher and has vastly more experience at a high level. He’s an extremely powerful fighter and uses his small stature to get inside on many of his rangier opponents.

Both of these men have a game plan in mind for Friday night. Now is the perfect time to talk about what both will be looking to accomplish once the cage door closes.

Freire vs Sanchez: Paths to Victory

Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez have competed in the past. In November of 2018, they fought in the main event of Bellator 209. Most felt that Patricio would steamroll his opponent, yet it ended up being a competitive fight.

Freire was declared the winner via unanimous decision in this bout. Sanchez managed to win a few of the rounds, though. This time around, both men will be looking to earn a victory in a much more convincing manner.

Here’s a quick look at the best path to victory for each of these fighters.

Freire’s Goal

Patricio Freire has always been a great MMA fighter. He’s been fighting in Bellator since 2010 and has recorded victories over some of the roster’s best athletes. Most agree that he is in the best fighting form of his life right now.

Patricio won the featherweight title in April of 2017. Two years later, he captured the lightweight belt. It’s his striking game that seems to be bringing him the most success. Freire defended his featherweight title back in November by knocking out Pedro Carvalho in the first round.

Striking will be a key to victory in this bout. He is a significantly better kickboxer than Sanchez and will want to keep this fight on the feet for as long as possible. If he can do that, there’s a good chance he’ll score another knockout victory. BetOnline gives Freire odds of -255 to get the win on Friday.

Sanchez’s Goal

Emmanuel Sanchez entered Bellator MMA in 2014. He’s never put together the kind of win streak that makes him a champion, though. He has won his past three bouts and is finally looking to win a world title against Patricio Friere in this bout.

Takedowns and submissions may be key for Emmanuel in this one. He’s a black belt in jiu jitsu and has won eight of his 20 wins with his grappling skills. If he can get Patricio to the mat, there’s a chance he could catch him with a quick submission. He is given odds of just +215 to get the win here.

Emmanuel will also want to avoid the striking power of Patricio. He can do that by pressing the champion against the cage whenever possible. It won’t be easy, but he proved he can last five rounds with the champion and has the skills to pull off the upset in this bout.

This should be a very competitive fight. The idea that Patricio will steamroll Emmanuel in this one seems far-fetched. I expect a battle here. Now is finally the time for me to offer the official prediction for how this fight plays out!

Final Freire vs Emmanuel Betting Pick

It’s fun to see Bellator up and running again. This promotion is working hard to have a special year. This Friday marks the first Bellator event of 2021. Fans around the world will be curious to see how the fight between Freire and Sanchez plays out.

As I just mentioned, this should be a war. If Patricio Freire wasn’t in Bellator, there is a good chance that Emmanuel Sanchez could be a long-reigning champion here. Unfortunately for him, that is not the case.

I believe that Patricio Freire is in his fighting prime right now. He is showing a new level to his striking game and now seems to have the confidence that he is the best in the world. When considering his recent win over Michael Chandler, that might actually be true.

I expect Friere to have to work hard in this bout. Sanchez will begin to tire showing for takedowns as the fight goes on. In the third, Patricio will land a hard shot on the challenger and finish him with strikes on the ground. Do you agree with this Freire vs Sanchez betting pick? How do you see this fight playing out? Let us know in the comments section below!