The second card for our triple-header MMASucka staff picks weekend is in. UFC Fight Night 160 will take place this afternoon, September 28th from the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark. Main card action will kick off at 2:00pm ET (11:00pm PT) live on ESPN+. Check out Friday’s picks from Bellator 227, and look out for Bellator 228 picks in the coming hours.
The Fights
Middleweights will collide in the main event between rising contenders Jack Hermansson and Jared Cannonier. Hermansson comes in making his tenth appearance inside the octagon suffering defeats in only two of those fights. His current win streak stands at four straight since 2018, including three straight finishes by way of either knockout or submission (all by guillotine). Hermansson’s last bout in April saw his first main event spot defeating long-time veteran and BJJ ace Jacare Souza. His opponent, Cannonier, will be competing in his third straight bout at 185-pounds. A body transformation over the years moved him from once competing in heavyweight and light heavyweight in the UFC, compiling a 3-4 record with the promotion. Since moving down near the close of 2018, he has finished back-to-back opponents including former two divisional WSOF champion David Branch by strikes and the legendary Anderson Silva with a leg kick.
In the co-main event spot, former Greco-Roman phenom Mark Madsen makes his UFC debut against former Venator FC lightweight champion Danilo Belluardo. Madsen will look to keep his undefeated 8-0 intact while Belluardo hopes to rebound after a recent loss in his octagon debut last June.
The stacked card features numerous other match-ups including a returning Nicolas Dalby against the always entertaining Alex Oliveira. A man that once defeated Oliveira, Gunnar Nelson, will take on the short-notice replacement of Gilbert Burns. Check out all the main card fights (and our picks) 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 160 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 159:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 211-113
1T. Connor Deitrich: 211-113
3. Ed Gallo: 203-122
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 197-115
5. Mike Skytte: 196-128
6. Jeremy Brand: 188-136
7. Matt Bricker: 181-130
8. Brian Gerson: 176-99
9. Ash Camyab: 171-121
10. Ryan Wagner: 169-83
11. Patrick Auger: 157-119
12. Frazer Krohn: 98-63
13. Ryan Hobbs: 79-67
14. Ryan Fortune: 78-39
15. Suraj Sukumar: 58-26
16T. Andrew Benjamin: 56-42
16T. McKenzie Guardiero: 56-40
18. Tanner Russ: 12-10
19. Dan Rose: 3-5
*Bellator Dublin / Bellator 227 & UFC Fight Night 160 picks have not been added*
Nicolas Dalby (17-3-1, 1 NC) vs. Alex Oliveira (19-7-1, 2 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Oliveira via SD
Michael DeSantis: Oliveira via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Oliveira via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Dalby via UD
Matt Bricker: Oliveira via UD
Connor Deitrich: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Dalby via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Oliveira via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Dalby via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Dalby via SD
Tanner Russ: Dalby via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Oliveira via UD
Staff picking Dalby: 5
Staff picking Oliveira: 9
Michal Oleksiejczuk (14-2, 1 NC) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (23-13)
Jeremy Brand: Saint Preux via UD
Mike Skytte: Saint Preux via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Oleksiejczuk via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Saint Preux via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Oleksiejczuk via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Oleksiejczuk via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Saint Preux via Round 3 SUB
Ash Camyab: Saint Preux via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Saint Preux via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Saint Preux via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Saint Preux via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Saint Pruex via Round 1 TKO
Tanner Russ: Saint Preux via UD
Dan Rose: Oleksiejczuk via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Oleksiejczuk: 4
Staff picking Saint Preux: 10
Ion Cutelaba (14-4, 1 NC) vs. Khalil Rountree (8-3, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Rountree via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Rountree via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Rountree via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Rountree via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Rountree via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Rountree via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Rountree via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Rountree via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Rountree via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Rountree via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Rountree via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Rountree via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Cutelaba via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Rountree via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Cutelaba: 1
Staff picking Rountree: 13
Gunnar Nelson (17-4-1) vs. Gilbert Burns (16-3)
Jeremy Brand: Nelson via Round 3 SUB
Mike Skytte: Burns via UD
Michael DeSantis: Burns via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Burns via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Burns via UD
Matt Bricker: Burns via SD
Connor Deitrich: Burns via UD
Ash Camyab: Nelson via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Nelson via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Nelson via UD
Frazer Krohn: Nelson via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Nelson via UD
Tanner Russ: Nelson via UD
Dan Rose: Burns via SD
Staff picking Nelson: 7
Staff picking Burns: 7
Mark Madsen (8-0) vs. Danilo Belluardo (12-4)
Jeremy Brand: Madsen via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Madsen via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Madsen via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Madsen via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Madsen via UD
Matt Bricker: Madsen via UD
Connor Deitrich: Madsen via UD
Ash Camyab: Madsen via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Madsen via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Madsen via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Madsen via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Belluardo via UD
Tanner Russ: Madsen via UD
Dan Rose: Madsen via UD
Staff picking Madsen: 13
Staff picking Belluardo: 1
Jack Hermansson (20-4) vs. Jared Cannonier (12-4)
Jeremy Brand: Hermansson via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Hermansson via UD
Michael DeSantis: Hermansson via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Cannonier via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Hermansson via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Cannonier via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Hermansson via Round 3 SUB
Ash Camyab: Hermansson via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Hermansson via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Cannonier via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Hermansson via Round 4 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Cannonier via Round 3 TKO
Tanner Russ: Cannonier via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Hermansson via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Hermansson: 9
Staff picking Cannonier: 5
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