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MMASucka’s UFC on ESPN 4 Staff Picks

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Only one card this weekend for our MMASucka staff picks. Later tonight, July 20th, UFC on ESPN 4 will take place from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The six-fight main card will begin at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) on ESPN.

THE FIGHTS

An intriguing is slated at welterweight for the main event spot between top contenders Rafael dos Anjos and Leon Edwards. Dos Anjos, the former UFC lightweight champion, had a rough 2018 suffering back-to-back decision losses to Colby Covington (for the interim welterweight title) and now-champion Kamaru Usman. He rebounded in May this year with a fourth-round submission over another former lightweight, Kevin Lee. He will look to stop the impressive run of Leon Edwards tonight, who has defeated seven straight inside the octagon dating back to May of 2016. The former BAMMA welterweight champion has only faced defeat twice in the UFC, those coming to Usman and Claudio Silva by decision. Well-rounded abilities from both dos Anjos and Edwards should make for a thrilling way to cap off the San Antonio event.

Crafty grappler Alexey Oleynik and the heavy-hitting Walt Harris will battle at heavyweight in the co-main slot. Oleynik sits at 2-1 in his last three suffering a knockout loss to Alistair Overeem in April, as Harris looks for a sixth knockout victory under the UFC banner.

Two more heavyweight fights are scheduled for the main card: one between newer additions Greg Hardy and Juan Adams, and one between fan-favorite veterans Andrei Arlovski and Ben Rothwell.

An additional two 155-pound bouts will also be counted towards staff picks. James Vick will try to avoid a three-fight skid against the well-rounded New Zealander of Dan Hooker. 26-year-old Alexander Hernandez will face-off against 40-year-old Francisco Trinaldo to kick off the main card.

STAFF PICKS

Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of four different MMA promotions: UFCBellatorONE, and RIZIN. Main cards will make up both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE and RIZIN events will be used. The WINNER of staff picks will have a choice between receiving a championship belt from ProAmBelts or a championship chain from Championship Chains. The 2018 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 202-101.

Check out our staff picks for UFC on ESPN 4 below.


Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 155:

1. Michael DeSantis: 159-93
2. Connor Deitrich: 158-84
3. Ed Gallo: 156-86
4. Brian Gerson: 154-88
5. Mitchell Banuelos: 151-86
6. Mike Skytte: 150-92
7. Jeremy Brand: 146-96
8. Ryan Wagner: 137-70
9. Matt Bricker: 135-96
10. Patrick Auger: 133-102
11. Ash Camyab: 131-95
12. Justin Pierrot: 123-90
13. Frazer Krohn: 46-33
14. Ryan Hobbs: 42-37
15. Matheus Costa: 34-20
16. Ryan Fortune: 24-14
17. Andrew Benjamin: 14-9
18. McKenzie Guardiero: 8-6


Andrei Arlovski (27-18, 2 NC) vs. Ben Rothwell (36-11)

Jeremy Brand: Rothwell via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Rothwell via UD
Michael DeSantis: Rothwell via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Rothwell via UD
Ed Gallo: Rothwell via Round 2 TKO
Brian Gerson: N/A
Matt Bricker: Arlovski via UD
Connor Deitrich: Rothwell via UD
Ash Camyab: Arlovski via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Rothwell via UD
Frazer Krohn: Arlovski via UD
Ryan Fortune: Rothwell via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Arlovski via Round 2 TKO

Staff picking Arlovski: 4
Staff picking Rothwell: 8


Alexander Hernandez (10-2) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (23-6)

Jeremy Brand: Hernandez via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Trinaldo via UD
Michael DeSantis: Hernandez via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Trinaldo via UD
Ed Gallo: Trinaldo via UD
Brian Gerson: N/A
Matt Bricker: Hernandez via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Trinaldo via UD
Ash Camyab: Hernandez via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Trinaldo via UD
Frazer Krohn: Hernandez via UD
Ryan Fortune: Hernandez via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Hernandez via Round 1 TKO

Staff picking Hernandez: 7
Staff picking Trinaldo: 5


James Vick (13-3) vs. Dan Hooker (17-8)

Jeremy Brand: Vick via Round 2 SUB
Mike Skytte: Hooker via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Hooker via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Hooker via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Hooker via UD
Brian Gerson: N/A
Matt Bricker: Hooker via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Hooker via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Hooker via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Vick via UD
Frazer Krohn: Hooker via UD
Ryan Fortune: Hooker via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Vick via SD

Staff picking Vick: 3
Staff picking Hooker: 9


Greg Hardy (4-1) vs. Juan Adams (5-1)

Jeremy Brand: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Adams via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Adams via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Brian Gerson: N/A
Matt Bricker: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Adams via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Adams via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Hardy via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Fortune: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Hardy via Round 2 TKO

Staff picking Hardy: 6
Staff picking Adams: 6


Alexey Oleynik (57-12-1) vs. Walt Harris (12-7, 1 NC)

Jeremy Brand: Oleynik via Round 2 SUB
Mike Skytte: Harris via SD
Michael DeSantis: Oleynik via Round 1 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Oleynik via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Oleynik via Round 1 SUB
Brian Gerson: N/A
Matt Bricker: Harris via UD
Connor Deitrich: Oleynik via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Oleynik via Round 3 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Oleynik via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Harris via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Fortune: Harris via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Oleynik via Round 2 SUB

Staff picking Oleynik: 8
Staff picking Harris: 4


Rafael dos Anjos (29-11) vs. Leon Edwards (17-3)

Jeremy Brand: dos Anjos via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: dos Anjos via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: dos Anjos via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Edwards via UD
Ed Gallo: dos Anjos via Round 4 TKO
Brian Gerson: N/A
Matt Bricker: Edwards via UD
Connor Deitrich: dos Anjos via UD
Ash Camyab: Edwards via Round 5 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Edwards via UD
Frazer Krohn: dos Anjos via Round 4 SUB
Ryan Fortune: dos Anjos via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: dos Anjos via Round 3 TKO

Staff picking dos Anjos: 8
Staff picking Edwards: 4

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Wesley Riddle is a 29-year-old writer residing in Raleigh, North Carolina from Harrisonburg, Virginia. He has been part of the MMASucka team since the fourth quarter of 2016. Additionally, he serves as a writer with partner site Last Word on Motorsports.

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