Another triple-header for MMASucka staff picks are here as we near the end of 2019. Tomorrow morning, November 8, ONE Championship: Masters of Fate will take place from the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. The event will begin at 4:30am ET (1:30am PT) with prelims on the ONE Super App and the main card portion on B/R Live. Stay tuned to MMASucka for our Bellator 233 picks Friday afternoon and UFC Fight Night 163 picks Saturday.
The Fights
ONE’s strawweight title is on the line in the main event between current champion Joshua Pacio and challenger Rene Catalan. Team Lakay’s Pacio claimed the divisional title in September last year over Yoshitaka Naito in a title fight rematch; their 2016 bout seeing Naito defend his belt by submission. Pacio’s first defense did not go to plan dropping a close decision to Yosuke Saruta in January. However, a “Knockout of the Year” contender would come in their rematch with Pacio’s knee finishing the title fight in round four. His opponent, Catalan, looks to add a seventh straight victory underneath the ONE banner. Multiple victories over newcomers led to his biggest test in July of 2018 against then-undefeated Stefer Rahardian, taking the unanimous decision. Catalan would back it up in March by taking out the aforementioned Yoshitaka Natio by knockout in the first, propelling him to this title fight with Pacio.
Former two-time ONE lightweight champion Eduard Folayang will face-off against Mongolian star Amarsanaa Tsogookhuu in the co-main event. Folayang looks to snap a two-fight skid in 2019 while Amarsanaa hopes to continue his rise towards becoming ONE’s second Mongolian champ (Jadambaa Narantungalag being the first).
Also on the card sees the likes of former flyweight king Geje Eustaquio and two-combat queen Nong Stamp battling their respected opponents. See the five ONE Championship: Masters of Fate fights counted towards our MMASucka staff 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 ONE Championship: Masters of Fate below.
Staff Records after UFC 244:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 266-151
1T. Connor Deitrich: 266-151
3. Ed Gallo: 256-157
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 250-153
5. Mike Skytte: 247-170
6. Jeremy Brand: 245-171
7. Matt Bricker: 231-173
8. Ash Camyab: 216-163
9. Frazer Krohn: 145-104
10. Ryan Hobbs: 127-112
11. Andrew Benjamin: 107-78
12. McKenzie Guardiero: 101-79
13. Tanner Russ: 75-40
14. Dan Rose: 59-42
15. Mike Lynch: 32-30
Yoshitaka Naito (14-3) vs. Pongsiri Mitsatit (10-3)
Jeremy Brand: Mitsatit via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Naito via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Naito via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: N/A
Ed Gallo: Naito via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Naito via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Naito via UD
Ash Camyab: Naito via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Naito via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Naito via UD
Frazer Krohn: Naito via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Naito via UD
Tanner Russ: Naito via UD
Dan Rose: Naito via UD
Mike Lynch: Naito via UD
Staff picking Naito: 13
Staff picking Mitsatit: 1
Nong Stamp (2-0) vs. Bi Nguyen (5-4)
Jeremy Brand: Nguyen via UD
Mike Skytte: Stamp via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Stamp via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: N/A
Ed Gallo: Stamp via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Nguyen via UD
Connor Deitrich: Stamp via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Nguyen via Round 2 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Stamp via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Nguyen via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Stamp via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Nguyen via UD
Tanner Russ: Nguyen via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Stamp via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Nguyen via UD
Staff picking Stamp: 7
Staff picking Nguyen: 7
Geje Eustaquio (12-8) vs. Toni Tauru (11-7-1)
Jeremy Brand: Tauru via UD
Mike Skytte: Tauru via SD
Michael DeSantis: Eustaquio via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: N/A
Ed Gallo: Eustaquio via UD
Matt Bricker: Tauru via UD
Connor Deitrich: Eustaquio via UD
Ash Camyab: Eustaquio via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Tauru via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Eustaquio via UD
Frazer Krohn: Tauru via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Tauru via UD
Tanner Russ: Eustaquio via UD
Dan Rose: Eustaquio via UD
Mike Lynch: Tauru via SD
Staff picking Eustaquio: 7
Staff picking Tauru: 7
Eduard Folayang (21-8) vs. Amarsanaa Tsogookhuu (5-1)
Jeremy Brand: Folayang via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Folayang via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Folayang via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: N/A
Ed Gallo: Folayang via UD
Matt Bricker: Folayang via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Folayang via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Folayang via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Tsogookhuu via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Folayang via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Folayang via Round 3 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Tsogookhuu via SD
Tanner Russ: Folayang via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Folayang via UD
Mike Lynch: Folayang via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Folayang: 12
Staff picking Tsogookhuu: 2
Joshua Pacio (17-3) vs. Rene Catalan (6-2, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Pacio via UD
Mike Skytte: Pacio via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Pacio via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: N/A
Ed Gallo: Pacio via UD
Matt Bricker: Pacio via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Pacio via UD
Ash Camyab: Catalan via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Catalan via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Catalan via UD
Frazer Krohn: Catalan via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Catalan via Round 1 TKO
Tanner Russ: Catalan via UD
Dan Rose: Catalan via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Catalan via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Pacio: 6
Staff picking Catalan: 8
FEATURED IMAGE:
Joshua Pacio (left) and Rene Catalan (right) face-off ahead of their strawweight world championship title fight taking place at ONE Championship: Masters of Fate on Friday, November 7 from the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines (photo credits to ONE Championship, ONEFC.com)
