MMASucka staff picks are in for UFC Fight Night 157 taking place tomorrow morning, August 31st, from the Shenzhen Universade Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, China. Main card action will begin at 6:00am ET (3:00am PT) live on ESPN+.
THE FIGHTS
In the main event, UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade will look to defend her title for the first time against fast-rising challenger Weili Zhang. Andrade captured three impressive victories spanning from September of 2017 to September of 2018, propelling her to a second attempt at the 115-pound strap; her first coming up short by decision to Joanna Jedrzejczyk. This title match, coming against Rose Namajunas, saw a powerful slam knockout in the second after decisively losing the early portion of the fight. A victory Saturday would give Andrade the UFC record for the most wins in UFC women’s history. Her opponent, Zhang, rides a 19-fight win streak following a lone defeat in her first professional fight. Since making her UFC debut in 2018, she has scored three dominant victories including a first-round submission over former WSOF champion Jessica Aguilar and a decision over Invicta FC & UFC veteran Tecia Torres.
A thrilling co-main event is in store between dangerous welterweights Li Jingliang and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. With 28 combined finishes in 37 victories, a potential post-fight bonus could be in store for either man. Jingliang is looking for a seventh victory in his last eight fights, while Zaleski dos Santos hopes to extend his seven-fight UFC win streak to eight.
A fight between undefeated Movsar Evloev and promotional debutante Zhenhong Lu was scheduled for the main card. However, the fight would be scrapped after Lu received a cut following weigh-ins and the commission not clearing him to fight. As result from this late change, there will be one less intend fight counted towards our staff picks. Kenan Song and Derrick Krantz, now moved to the main card, will not be counted.
Check out the remaining main card fights further below.
STAFF PICKS
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of four different MMA promotions: UFC, Bellator, ONE, 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 MMASucka staff picks for UFC Fight Night 157: Andrade vs. Zhang below.
Staff Records after Bellator 225:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 200-102
1T. Connor Deitrich: 200-102
3. Ed Gallo: 194-109
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 186-104
5. Mike Skytte: 184-118
6. Jeremy Brand: 179-123
7. Brian Gerson: 176-99
8. Matt Bricker: 173-119
9. Ryan Wagner: 169-83
10. Ash Camyab: 159-111
11. Patrick Auger: 157-119
12. Frazer Krohn: 86-53
13. Ryan Fortune: 69-29
14. Ryan Hobbs: 66-58
15. Suraj Sukumar: 58-26
16T. Andrew Benjamin: 44-32
16T. McKenzie Guardiero: 44-30
Yanan Wu (10-2) vs. Mizuki Inoue (13-5)
Jeremy Brand: Inoue via UD
Mike Skytte: Inoue via UD
Michael DeSantis: Inoue via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Inoue via UD
Ed Gallo: Inoue via UD
Matt Bricker: Inoue via UD
Connor Deitrich: Inoue via UD
Ash Camyab: Inoue via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Inoue via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Inoue via UD
Frazer Krohn: Inoue via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Inoue via UD
Tanner Russ: Inoue via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Wu: 0
Staff picking Inoue: 13
Kai Kara-France (19-7, 1 NC) vs. Mark De La Rosa (11-2)
Jeremy Brand: Kara-France via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Kara-France via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Kara-France via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Kara-France via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Kara-France via UD
Matt Bricker: Kara-France via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Kara-France via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Kara-France via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Kara-France via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: De La Rosa via UD
Frazer Krohn: Kara-France via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Kara-France via UD
Tanner Russ: Kara-France via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Kara-France: 12
Staff picking De La Rosa: 1
Li Jingliang (16-5) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (21-5)
Jeremy Brand: Jingliang via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Jingliang via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Zaleski dos Santos via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Zaleski dos Santos via UD
Ed Gallo: Zaleski dos Santos via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Zaleski dos Santos via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Zaleski dos Santos via UD
Ash Camyab: Zaleski dos Santos via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Jingliang via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Zaleski dos Santos via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Zaleski dos Santos via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Zaleski dos Santos via UD
Tanner Russ: Zaleski dos Santos via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Jingliang: 3
Staff picking Zaleski dos Santos: 10
Jessica Andrade (20-6) vs. Weili Zhang (19-1)
Jeremy Brand: Andrade via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Zhang via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Andrade via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Zhang via UD
Ed Gallo: Andrade via UD
Matt Bricker: Andrade via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Zhang via Round 4 TKO
Ash Camyab: Andrade via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Zhang via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Andrade via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Zhang via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Zhang via Round 3 TKO
Tanner Russ: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Andrade: 7
Staff picking Zhang: 6
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