MMASucka staff picks are almost at its close for the 2019 year. UFC 245 will be one of two final UFC cards this year, the event taking place later tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The five-fight main card will begin at the usual time of 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) on pay-per-view. RIZIN and three Bellator cards are left before the year’s end; ONE Championship has ended with no further cards planned until 2020 begins.
The Fights
Three incredible title fights will be on the line, the headliner seeing champion Kamaru Usman look to defend his belt against rival Colby Covington. Usman has not looked back since his The Ultimate Fighter win in 2015 having won all ten of his UFC fights. The most recent came earlier this year, ending the run of Tyron Woodley by decision. A defense for Usman would be his first as the 170-pound champ and a potential win being his fifteenth straight in professional competition. His opponent, Covington, has used his trash-talking and skills to receive a chance at gold. A loss in 2015 has been the only defeat thus far of his career defeating seven straight inside the octagon. Covington captured the interim title over Rafael dos Anjos last year but would be stripped soon after following a surgery. Despite this, he rebounded with an August decision over fan-favorite Robbie Lawler.
Our second title fight in the co-main event drops down to featherweight between one of the greatest all-time Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. 28-year old Holloway will look for his fourth title defense in hopes to continue his legacy, while Volkanovski hopes to add an eighteenth victory in a row.
The final title fight sees all-time female-great Amanda Nunes defend her bantamweight strap in a rematch against former featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie. Nunes will look for a fourth straight win by knockout with de Randamie riding the momentum of a 16-second knockout over Aspen Ladd.
Action doesn’t stop there, as the always dangerous Marlon Moraes battles all-time great Jose Aldo with rising sensation Petr Yan taking on veteran Urijah “The California Kid” Faber. See these fights at UFC 245 counted for 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 UFC 245 below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN 7:
1. Michael DeSantis: 297-165
2. Connor Deitrich: 293-169
3. Ed Gallo: 286-172
4. Mike Skytte: 271-191
5. Jeremy Brand: 268-193
6. Mitchell Banuelos: 263-165
7. Matt Bricker: 259-191
8. Ash Camyab: 236-183
9. Frazer Krohn: 168-126
10. Ryan Hobbs: 154-130
11T. Andrew Benjamin: 121-87
11T. McKenzie Guardiero: 121-96
13. Tanner Russ: 103-61
14. Dan Rose: 93-53
15. Mike Lynch: 54-55
Petr Yan (13-1) vs. Urijah Faber (35-10)
Jeremy Brand: Faber via UD
Mike Skytte: Yan via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Yan via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Yan via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Yan via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Yan via SD
Connor Deitrich: Yan via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Faber via Round 3 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Yan via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Faber via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Yan via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Yan via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Yan via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Faber via UD
Staff picking Yan: 10
Staff picking Faber: 4
Marlon Moraes (22-6-1) vs. Jose Aldo (28-5)
Jeremy Brand: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Aldo via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Moraes via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Aldo via UD
Ed Gallo: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Moraes via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Moraes via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Moraes via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Aldo via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Aldo via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Aldo via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Moraes: 9
Staff picking Aldo: 5
Amanda Nunes (18-4) vs. Germaine de Randamie (9-3)
Jeremy Brand: Nunes via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Nunes via UD
Michael DeSantis: Nunes via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Nunes via Round 3 SUB
Ed Gallo: de Randamie via UD
Matt Bricker: Nunes via UD
Connor Deitrich: de Randamie via UD
Ash Camyab: Nunes via Round 3 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Nunes via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: de Randamie via UD
Frazer Krohn: Nunes via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Nunes via Round 1 TKO
Tanner Russ: Nunes via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Nunes via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Nunes: 11
Staff picking de Randamie: 3
Max Holloway (21-4) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (20-1)
Jeremy Brand: Volkanovski via UD
Mike Skytte: Holloway via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Holloway via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Holloway via Round 4 TKO
Ed Gallo: Holloway via UD
Matt Bricker: Volkanovski via UD
Connor Deitrich: Holloway via UD
Ash Camyab: Holloway via Round 5 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Volkanovski via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Holloway via SD
Frazer Krohn: Holloway via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Holloway via UD
Tanner Russ: Holloway via UD
Dan Rose: Holloway via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Holloway: 11
Staff picking Volkanovski: 3
Kamaru Usman (15-1) vs. Colby Covington (15-1)
Jeremy Brand: Covington via UD
Mike Skytte: Usman via Round 4 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Covington via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Usman via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Usman via Round 4 TKO
Matt Bricker: Usman via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Usman via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Usman via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Usman via Round 4 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Covington via UD
Frazer Krohn: Usman via Round 4 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Covington via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Usman via UD
Dan Rose: Usman via UD
Staff picking Usman: 10
Staff picking Covington: 4
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