The second of four cards this weekend for MMASucka staff picks are in. This evening, August 8 will see UFC Fight Night 174 return back home to the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
Make sure to check out our picks from Friday night’s Bellator 243 event.
The Fights
A classic “striker versus grappler” matchup falls in the main event between heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Aleksei Oleinik. Lewis enters the fight in search of his 19th professional knockout. He looks to extend on two straight decision victories over former WSOF champion Blagoy Ivanov and Sweden’s Ilir Latifi. Former title challenger Lewis hopes to work his way back into the championship picture, and a third straight win would be the key. His opponent, Oleinik, hopes for a big win in his 13th UFC fight and 74th career fight. Entering the mixed martial arts scene in 1996, the Russian has defeated numerous talents throughout his career including and Adlan Amagov, Jeff Monson, and Mirko Cro Cop. Oleinik will look to utilize his Sambo and jiu-jitsu expertise to secure a potential 47th career submission.
Middleweights Omari Akhmedov and Chris Weidman will face off in the co-main event of the evening. Akhmedov has quietly climbed into the top 15 of the 185-pound ranks with five decision victories and a draw in his last six showings. Former title holder Weidman has had the opposite path in recent years suffering five knockout losses with a lone victory in his last six.
Also on the main card includes Hawaii’s Maki Pitolo, former Invicta FC bantamweight champ Yana Kunitskaya, and top-ranked lightweight Beneil Dariush. See all of our MMASucka staff picks for UFC Fight Night 174 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 Fight Night 174 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 173:
1. Connor Deitrich: 106-45
2. Michael DeSantis: 104-47
3. Wesley Riddle: 100-51
4. Matt Bricker: 94-57
5. Jeremy Brand: 91-55
6. Dan Rose: 88-63
7T. Frazer Krohn: 87-64
7T. Nate Freeman: 87-60
9. Jack Buchanan: 86-42
10T. Ash Camyab: 84-67
10T. McKenzie Guardiero: 84-67
12T. Ryan Hobbs: 83-59
12T. Mike Lynch: 83-53
14. Ashwin Viswanathan: 76-45
15. Andrew Benjamin: 75-70
16. Mike Skytte: 67-45
17. Mitchell Banuelos: 64-39
18. Ed Gallo: 54-27
19. Joshua Yule: 42-23
20. Jeremy Cook: 14-6
*Note: not all staff has picked for every event*
**Note: Bellator 243 picks will be added to records next week**
Beneil Dariush (18-4-1) vs. Scott Holtzman (14-3)
Jeremy Brand: Dariush via Round 1 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Dariush via UD
Michael DeSantis: Dariush via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Dariush via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: N/A
Ash Camyab: Dariush via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Dariush via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Dariush via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Dariush via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Dariush via UD
Dan Rose: Dariush via UD
Mike Lynch: Dariush via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Dariush via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Dariush via UD
Jack Buchanan: Dariush via UD
Staff picking Dariush: 14
Staff picking Holtzman: 0
Yana Kunitskaya (12-5, 1 NC) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (9-4-1)
Jeremy Brand: Kunitskaya via UD
Wesley Riddle: Kunitskaya via UD
Michael DeSantis: Kunitskaya via UD
Matt Bricker: Kunitskaya via UD
Connor Deitrich: N/A
Ash Camyab: Kunitskaya via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Kunitskaya via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Kunitskaya via UD
Frazer Krohn: Kunitskaya via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Kunitskaya via SD
Dan Rose: Stoliarenko via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Stoliarenko via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Stoliarenko via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Stoliarenko via Round 1 SUB
Jack Buchanan: Stoliarenko via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Kunitskaya: 9
Staff picking Stoliarenko: 5
Maki Pitolo (12-5) vs. Darren Stewart (11-4, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Stewart via UD
Wesley Riddle: Stewart via SD
Michael DeSantis: Stewart via UD
Matt Bricker: Pitolo via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: N/A
Ash Camyab: Stewart via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Stewart via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Stewart via UD
Frazer Krohn: Stewart via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Stewart via UD
Dan Rose: Stewart via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Stewart via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Stewart via UD
Nate Freeman: Stewart via UD
Jack Buchanan: Stewart via UD
Staff picking Pitolo: 1
Staff picking Stewart: 13
Omari Akhmedov (20-4-1) vs. Chris Weidman (14-4)
Jeremy Brand: Weidman via UD
Wesley Riddle: Weidman via UD
Michael DeSantis: Weidman via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Akhmedov via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: N/A
Ash Camyab: Akhmedov via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Akhmedov via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Weidman via UD
Frazer Krohn: Weidman via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Weidman via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Weidman via UD
Mike Lynch: Weidman via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Akhmedov via UD
Nate Freeman: Weidman via Round 2 SUB
Jack Buchanan: Weidman via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Akhmedov: 4
Staff picking Weidman: 10
Derrick Lewis (23-7, 1 NC) vs. Aleksei Oleinik (59-13-1)
Jeremy Brand: Lewis via UD
Wesley Riddle: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Oleinik via Round 3 SUB
Connor Deitrich: N/A
Ash Camyab: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Oleinik via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Oleinik via Round 2 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Oleinik via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Lewis: 10
Staff picking Oleinik: 4
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