MMASucka staff picks are locked in for this evening’s UFC Fight Night 170. Fight action will take place from the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasília, Brazil, only the promotion’s second trip to the country’s capital. The main card will begin at 6:00pm ET (3:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
Bellator 241 staff picks were intended for this weekend until it was announced Friday afternoon the event would be postponed as a result of the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Fights
A thrilling main event will be in store as former lightweight interim title challenger Kevin Lee takes on bonus-racking veteran Charles Oliveira. The bout will be met at a catchweight of 158.5 pounds after Lee came in two and-a-half pounds over the allotted limit.
Lee comes in fresh off the biggest victory of his career, stopping the undefeated run of Gregor Gillespie with one of the greatest head-kick knockouts in UFC history. The win came in his return to the lightweight division, having moved up in weight for one fight previously suffering a loss to Rafael dos Anjos. The former title challenger looks to make a statement in his seventeenth UFC outing. His opponent, Oliveira, is set to better that with his 26th promotional fight. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has seen both highs and lows throughout his time but currently rides a dominant six-fight win streak; all of those by finish (two KO’s, four SUB’s). Oliveira will look to back up his strong run in 2019 including knockouts over Nik Lentz and Jared Gordon.
In the co-main event, BJJ wizards Demian Maia and Gilbert Burns will scrap in the welterweight division. Both fan-favorites will look to back up 3-0 runs in 2019 as they make their rise in the 170-pound division.
Also on the main card includes Brazil’s Renato Moicano, the always-entertaining Johnny Walker, and the well-rounded Francisco Trinaldo. See all the UFC Fight Night 170 fights counted for our MMASucka staff picks 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 248 below.
Staff Records after UFC 248:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 56-20
1T. Connor Deitrich: 56-20
3. Wesley Riddle: 55-21
4T. Jeremy Brand: 51-25
4T. Ed Gallo: 51-25
4T. Frazer Krohn: 51-25
7T. Matt Bricker: 49-27
7T. Andrew Benjamin: 49-27
9T. Mike Skytte: 48-28
9T. McKenzie Guardiero: 48-28
11T. Ash Camyab: 47-29
11T. Nate Freeman: 47-25
13. Ashwin Viswanathan: 44-22
14. Dan Rose: 43-23
15. Ryan Hobbs: 40-36
16. Mike Lynch: 39-22
17. Mitchell Banuelos: 36-16
18. Jack Buchanan: 36-17
19. Jeremy Cook: 14-6
Francisco Trinaldo (24-7) vs. John Makdessi (17-6)
Jeremy Brand: Trinaldo via UD
Wesley Riddle: Trinaldo via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Makdessi via UD
Michael DeSantis: Trinaldo via UD
Ed Gallo: Trinaldo via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Trinaldo via UD
Connor Deitrich: Trinaldo via SD
Ash Camyab: Makdessi via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Trinaldo via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Trinaldo via UD
Frazer Krohn: Trinaldo via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Trinaldo via UD
Dan Rose: Makdessi via UD
Mike Lynch: Trinaldo via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Trinaldo via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Trinaldo via UD
Jack Buchanan: Trinaldo via SD
Staff picking Trinaldo: 14
Staff picking Makdessi: 3
Johnny Walker (17-4) vs. Nikita Krylov (25-7)
Jeremy Brand: Krylov via UD
Wesley Riddle: Krylov via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Krylov via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Krylov via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Krylov via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Krylov via Round 1 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Walker via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Krylov via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Walker via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Walker via Round 3 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Krylov via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Krylov via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Walker: 8
Staff picking Krylov: 9
Renato Moicano (13-3-1) vs. Damir Hadzovic (13-5)
Jeremy Brand: Moicano via UD
Wesley Riddle: Moicano via Round 1 SUB
Mike Skytte: Moicano via UD
Michael DeSantis: Moicano via UD
Ed Gallo: Moicano via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Moicano via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Moicano via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Moicano via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Moicano via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Moicano via UD
Frazer Krohn: Moicano via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Moicano via UD
Dan Rose: Moicano via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Moicano via Round 1 SUB
Ashwin Viswanathan: Moicano via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Moicano via UD
Jack Buchanan: Moicano via UD
Staff picking Moicano: 17
Staff picking Hadzovic: 0
Demian Maia (28-9) vs. Gilbert Burns (17-3)
Jeremy Brand: Maia via UD
Wesley Riddle: Burns via UD
Mike Skytte: Maia via UD
Michael DeSantis: Maia via UD
Ed Gallo: Maia via UD
Matt Bricker: Burns via SD
Connor Deitrich: Burns via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Maia via Round 3 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Burns via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Maia via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Burns via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Burns via Round 2 SUB
Dan Rose: Burns via UD
Mike Lynch: Burns via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Maia via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Burns via UD
Jack Buchanan: Maia via UD
Staff picking Maia: 8
Staff picking Burns: 9
Kevin Lee (18-5) vs. Charles Oliveira (28-8, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Lee via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Lee via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Lee via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Lee via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Lee via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Lee via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Lee via Round 5 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Lee via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Lee via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Oliveira via Round 4 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Lee via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Oliveira via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Oliveira via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Lee via UD
Nate Freeman: Lee via Round 3 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Lee via Round 5 TKO
Staff picking Lee: 13
Staff picking Oliveira: 4
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