MMASucka staff picks are locked in for today’s UFC 247. The event will take place from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Preliminary action will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm ET) on ESPN with the main card at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) on pay-per-view.
Due to time constraints, staff picks for ONE Championship: Warrior’s Code were unable to get published. Results from the card will be posted in parentheses in our “Staff Records” section.
The Fights
The UFC’s light heavyweight title is on the line as champion Jon Jones looks to defend his strap against rising star Dominick Reyes. After getting stripped for a second time of the belt in 2017, Jones rebounded winning the vacant title over Alexander Gustafsson by knockout. 2019 saw two more title defenses including a unanimous decision over Anthony Smith and a back-and-forth split decision over Thiago Santos. Despite the controversial Santos win, 32-year-old Jones will look for his third straight defense aiming to further extend his resume as the greatest light heavyweight all-time. His opponent, Reyes, comes in two years younger on a dominant twelve-fight win streak. A controversial decision win over Volkan Oezdemir last March was followed in October by a vicious first-round knockout over former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. The undefeated Reyes will look for a potential eighth career knockout or third by way of submission.
A title in the co-main event is also up for grabs between flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Katlyn Chookagian. Shevchenko looks for her third straight title defense as the 125-pound champion while Chookagian attempts to get her third straight victory within a non-calendar year.
See the remaining fights for UFC 247 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of five different MMA promotions. UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN all appeared for the 2019 season and will make returns. The newest addition for the 2020 year will see the PFL including their regular season, playoffs, and championship card. A special staff picks bonus will be introduced and discussed regarding PFL’s playoff format as time gets closer.
Main cards will makeup both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE, RIZIN, and PFL 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 2019 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 321-178. Second-place Connor Deitrich collected a close score of 319-180 with third-place Ed Gallo not far behind totaling at 312-183.
Check out our staff picks for UFC 247: Jones vs. Reyes below.
Staff Records after ONE Championship: Warrior’s Code:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 23-4 (3-1)
1T. Michael DeSantis: 23-4 (3-1)
3. Connor Deitrich: 22-5 (3-1)
4. Ed Gallo: 21-6 (3-1)
5T. Andrew Benjamin: 20-7 (3-1)
5T. Dan Rose: 20-7 (3-1)
5T. Ashwin Viswanathan: 20-7 (4-0)
8T. Jeremy Brand: 19-8 (1-3)
8T. Matt Bricker: 19-8 (2-2)
10T. Ash Camyab: 18-9 (3-1)
10T. Frazer Krohn: 18-9 (1-3)
12T. Mike Skytte: 16-11 (3-1)
12T. McKenzie Guardiero: 16-11 (2-2)
12T. Mike Lynch: 16-11 (2-2)
15. Mitchell Banuelos: 16-7 (N/A), missed one event
16T. Ryan Hobbs: 15-12 (2-2)
16T. Nate Freeman: 15-8 (2-2), missed one event
18. Jeremy Cook: 3-1 (N/A), missed five events
19. Jack Buchanan: NEW, missed five events
Derrick Lewis (22-7, 1 NC) vs. Ilir Latifi (14-7, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Latifi via UD
Matt Bricker: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Lewis via UD
Ash Camyab: Lewis via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Latifi via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Latifi via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Latifi via UD
Jeremy Cook: Latifi via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Lewis via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Lewis via Round 3 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Lewis: 13
Staff picking Latifi: 5
Mirsad Bektic (13-2) vs. Dan Ige (12-2)
Jeremy Brand: Bektic via UD
Wesley Riddle: Bektic via UD
Mike Skytte: Ige via UD
Michael DeSantis: Bektic via UD
Ed Gallo: Ige via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Ige via UD
Connor Deitrich: Ige via UD
Ash Camyab: Bektic via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Bektic via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Bektic via UD
Frazer Krohn: Ige via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Ige via UD
Dan Rose: Ige via UD
Mike Lynch: Ige via UD
Jeremy Cook: Bektic via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Ige via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Bektic via UD
Jack Buchanan: Bektic via UD
Staff picking Bektic: 9
Staff picking Ige: 9
Juan Adams (5-2) vs. Justin Tafa (3-1)
Jeremy Brand: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Tafa via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Adams via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Adams via UD
Matt Bricker: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Adams via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Adams via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Tafa via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Tafa via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Tafa via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Adams via Round 3 TKO
Jeremy Cook: Adams via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Adams via UD
Nate Freeman: Adams via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Tafa via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Adams: 13
Staff picking Tafa: 5
Valentina Shevchenko (18-3) vs. Katlyn Chookagian (13-2)
Jeremy Brand: Shevchenko via UD
Wesley Riddle: Shevchenko via UD
Mike Skytte: Shevchenko via UD
Michael DeSantis: Shevchenko via UD
Ed Gallo: Shevchenko via UD
Matt Bricker: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Shevchenko via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Shevchenko via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Chookagian via UD
Frazer Krohn: Shevchenko via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Chookagian via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Shevchenko via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Chookagian via Round 3 TKO
Jeremy Cook: Shevchenko via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Shevchenko via UD
Nate Freeman: Shevchenko via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Shevchenko via UD
Staff picking Shevchenko: 15
Staff picking Chookagian: 3
Jon Jones (25-1, 1 NC) vs. Dominick Reyes (12-0)
Jeremy Brand: Jones via UD
Wesley Riddle: Reyes via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Jones via Round 4 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Jones via UD
Ed Gallo: Reyes via UD
Matt Bricker: Jones via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Jones via UD
Ash Camyab: Jones via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Jones via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Reyes via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Jones via Round 3 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Reyes via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Jones via UD
Mike Lynch: Jones via Round 3 SUB
Jeremy Cook: Reyes via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Jones via Round 5 SUB
Nate Freeman: Jones via UD
Jack Buchanan: Jones via Round 4 SUB
Staff picking Jones: 13
Staff picking Reyes: 5
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