The second card of our triple-header weekend for MMASucka staff picks are in. Tomorrow morning, December 21, will see UFC Fight Night 165 go down from the Sajik Arena in Busan, South Korea. Five fights lead off the main card beginning at an early time of 5:00am ET (2:00am PT) live on ESPN+.
Check out our staff picks for tonight’s Bellator 235 event, and stay tuned to MMASucka for our picks for tomorrow evening’s Bellator 236 event.
The final staff picks card of 2019 will be in next weekend with Bellator 237.
The Fights
An exciting main event is in store between fan-favorites Frankie Edgar and Chan Sung Jung in the featherweight division. Former king Edgar looks to rebound after a recent title fight decision loss to now-former champion Max Holloway in July. His time with the UFC extends all the way back to early 2007, having already established his legacy as one of the best fighters in promotional history. Edgar looks for his 23rd career victory and a potential seventh by knockout or fifth by submission. His opponent, “The Korean Zombie,” always delivers a show for the fans in every appearance. Three fights since his South Korean military service has seen two first-round knockouts in his favor, in-between an unfortunate last-second knockout loss to Yair Rodriguez. A strong showing against the likes of a veteran in Edgar would show that Sung Jung has what it takes to contend for the 145-pound belt.
Light heavyweights Volkan Oezdemir and Aleksandar Rakic are looking to make statement in the co-main event. An August knockout over Ilir Latifi put Oezdemir back in the win column after dropping three straight, looking to make his climb back towards a shot at gold. Rakic has won twelve straight in professional MMA, looking to back up back-to-back first-round knockouts over Devin Clark and Jimi Manuwa.
Also on the main card sees the return of thrilling striker Doo Ho Choi and the 11-fight win streak of Da Un Jung. See our MMASucka main card picks for UFC Fight Night 165 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 165 below.
Staff Records after UFC 245:
1. Michael DeSantis: 300-167
2. Connor Deitrich: 296-171
3. Ed Gallo: 289-174
4. Mike Skytte: 274-193
5. Jeremy Brand: 271-195
6. Mitchell Banuelos: 266-167
7. Matt Bricker: 264-191
8. Ash Camyab: 239-185
9. Frazer Krohn: 171-128
10. Ryan Hobbs: 159-130
11. McKenzie Guardiero: 123-99
12. Andrew Benjamin: 122-91
13. Tanner Russ: 107-62
14. Dan Rose: 95-56
15. Mike Lynch: 54-55
*Friday night’s Bellator 235 event will be added to the above records next weekend for the final staff picks of 2019*
Kyung Ho Kang (16-8, 1 NC) vs. Liu Pingyuan (13-6)
Jeremy Brand: Ho Kang via Round 3 SUB
Mike Skytte: Ho Kang via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Ho Kang via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Ho Kang via UD
Ed Gallo: Ho Kang via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Ho Kang via UD
Connor Deitrich: Ho Kang via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Ho Kang via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Ho Kang via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Ho Kang via UD
Frazer Krohn: Ho Kang via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Ho Kang via UD
Tanner Russ: Ho Kang via Round 2 SUB
Dan Rose: Ho Kang via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Pingyuan via UD
Staff picking Ho Kang: 14
Staff picking Pingyuan: 1
Jun Yong Park (9-4) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (11-3)
Jeremy Brand: Yong Park via UD
Mike Skytte: Barriault via UD
Michael DeSantis: Barriault via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Yong Park via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Barriault via UD
Matt Bricker: Barriault via UD
Connor Deitrich: Yong Park via SD
Ash Camyab: Barriault via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Yong Park via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Yong Park via UD
Frazer Krohn: Barriault via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Yong Park via UD
Tanner Russ: Yong Park via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Barriault via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Barriault via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Yong Park: 7
Staff picking Barriault: 8
Da Un Jong (11-2) vs. Mike Rodriguez (9-3, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Un Jung via UD
Mike Skytte: Un Jung via UD
Michael DeSantis: Rodriguez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Un Jung via UD
Ed Gallo: Rodriguez via UD
Matt Bricker: Rodriguez via UD
Connor Deitrich: Rodriguez via UD
Ash Camyab: Rodriguez via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Un Jung via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Un Jung via UD
Frazer Krohn: Rodriguez via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Rodriguez via UD
Tanner Russ: Un Jung via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Un Jung via UD
Mike Lynch: Un Jung via UD
Staff picking Un Jung: 8
Staff picking Rodriguez: 7
Doo Ho Choi (14-3) vs. Charles Jourdain (9-2)
Jeremy Brand: Ho Choi via UD
Mike Skytte: Ho Choi via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ho Choi via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Ho Choi via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Ho Choi via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Ho Choi via UD
Connor Deitrich: Ho Choi via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Ho Choi via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Ho Choi via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Ho Choi via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Ho Choi via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Jourdain via UD
Tanner Russ: Ho Choi via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Ho Choi via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Jourdain via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Ho Choi: 13
Staff picking Jourdain: 2
Volkan Oezdemir (16-4) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (12-1)
Jeremy Brand: Oezdemir via Round 1 SUB
Mike Skytte: Rakic via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Oezdemir via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Rakic via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Oezdemir via UD
Matt Bricker: Rakic via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Oezdemir via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Oezdemir via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Oezdemir via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Oezdemir via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Rakic via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Oezdemir via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Rakic via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Rakic via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Rakic via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Oezdemir: 8
Staff picking Rakic: 7
Frankie Edgar (23-7-1) vs. Chan Sung Jung (15-5)
Jeremy Brand: Edgar via UD
Mike Skytte: Sung Jung via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Sung Jung via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Sung Jung via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Sung Jung via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Sung Jung via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Sung Jung via UD
Ash Camyab: Edgar via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Sung Jung via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Edgar via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Edgar via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Edgar via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Sung Jung via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Sung Jung via Round 4 TKO
Mike Lynch: Sung Jung via Round 4 TKO
Staff picking Edgar: 5
Staff picking Sung Jung: 10
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