MMASucka staff picks are in for the second of two fight cards this weekend. Later this evening, October 10 will see UFC on ESPN+ 37 (also titled UFC Fight Night 179 and UFC Fight Island 5) go down from the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The main card will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
Check out our staff picks from this morning’s Bellator 248 / Bellator Paris / Bellator Euro Series 10 event.
The Fights
A thrilling main event showdown is in store between top-ranked bantamweights Marlon Moraes and Cory Sandhagen. Former WSOF champion Moraes enters his eighth fight with the promotion tonight. His biggest career test fell in June of last year, facing off against Henry Cejudo for the UFC’s gold. Although he would suffer defeat by knockout in the fight, a successful rebound would come for Moraes in December with a tight decision victory over Jose Aldo. His opponent, Sandhagen, is set for his first main event slot after six promotional appearances. He will look to bounce back following a defeat in his last outing, where Aljamain Sterling scored a submission in roughly 90 seconds. Despite this, Sandhagen remains one of the best as his record shows with wins over veterans Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker.
Edson Barboza and Makwan Amirkhani will dance in the co-main event at 145 pounds. Barboza looks to find success in his second featherweight bout while hoping to snap a three-fight losing streak, the longest of his career. Amirkhani targets to follow-up on his quick July finish of Danny Henry.
Also on the main card includes heavyweight veteran Ben Rothwell, newcomer and former KSW welterweight champion Dricus du Plessis, and Morocco’s Youssef Zalal. See all of our picks for UFC on ESPN+ 37 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the remainder of the year, staff picks will be composed of two different MMA promotions: UFC and Bellator. As of September 25th, the events of ONE and RIZIN will no longer be counted for our picks (including a recent deduction of the last two RIZIN cards from our records). With the cancellation of PFL for 2020, this promotion will be excluded as well.
Main cards will makeup both UFC and Bellator picks. 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 UFC on ESPN+ 37 staff picks below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN 16:
1. Michael DeSantis: 152-65
2. Connor Deitrich: 149-68
3. Wesley Riddle: 147-71
4. Jeremy Brand: 133-76
5T. Frazer Krohn: 131-87
5T. Nate Freeman: 131-83
7. Jack Buchanan: 129-66
8T. Dan Rose: 127-91
8T. Mike Lynch: 127-76
10. Ash Camyab: 126-92
11. Matt Bricker: 121-78
12T. Andrew Benjamin: 114-98
12T. McKenzie Guardiero: 114-90
14. Ryan Hobbs: 95-64
15. Ashwin Viswanathan: 83-51
16. Mike Skytte: 67-45
17. Mitchell Banuelos: 64-39
18. Joshua Yule: 55-28
19. Ed Gallo: 54-27
20. Jeremy Cook: 14-6
*Note: not all staff has picked for every event*
**Note: Bellator 248 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend**
Youssef Zalal (10-2) vs. Ilia Topuria (8-0)
Jeremy Brand: Zalal via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Zalal via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Zalal via UD
Matt Bricker: Zalal via UD
Connor Deitrich: Zalal via SD
Ash Camyab: Zalal via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Zalal via UD
Frazer Krohn: Zalal via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Zalal via UD
Dan Rose: Topuria via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Zalal via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Zalal via UD
Jack Buchanan: Topuria via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Zalal: 11
Staff picking Topuria: 2
Tom Aspinall (8-2) vs. Alan Baudot (8-1)
Jeremy Brand: Aspinall via UD
Wesley Riddle: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Aspinall via UD
Frazer Krohn: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Aspinall via UD
Dan Rose: Aspinall via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Aspinall via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Aspinall: 13
Staff picking Baudot: 0
Markus Perez (12-3) vs. Dricus du Plessis (14-2)
Jeremy Brand: Perez via UD
Wesley Riddle: du Plessis via UD
Michael DeSantis: du Plessis via UD
Matt Bricker: du Plessis via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: du Plessis via UD
Ash Camyab: Perez via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Perez via UD
Frazer Krohn: du Plessis via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: du Plessis via UD
Dan Rose: du Plessis via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: du Plessis via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Perez via UD
Jack Buchanan: Perez via UD
Staff picking Perez: 5
Staff picking du Plessis: 8
Ben Rothwell (38-12) vs. Marcin Tybura (19-6)
Jeremy Brand: Rothwell via UD
Wesley Riddle: Tybura via UD
Michael DeSantis: Rothwell via UD
Matt Bricker: Tybura via UD
Connor Deitrich: Rothwell via UD
Ash Camyab: Rothwell via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Rothwell via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Tybura via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Rothwell via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Rothwell via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Tybura via UD
Nate Freeman: Rothwell via UD
Jack Buchanan: Rothwell via UD
Staff picking Rothwell: 9
Staff picking Tybura: 4
Edson Barboza (20-9) vs. Makwan Amirkhani (16-4)
Jeremy Brand: Barboza via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Barboza via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Barboza via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Amirkhani via Round 2 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Barboza via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Amirkhani via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Barboza via UD
Frazer Krohn: Barboza via Round 3 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Barboza via UD
Dan Rose: Barboza via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Barboza via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Barboza via SD
Jack Buchanan: Barboza via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Barboza: 11
Staff picking Amirkhani: 2
Marlon Moraes (23-6-1) vs. Cory Sandhagen (12-2)
Jeremy Brand: Sandhagen via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Moraes via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Moraes via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Moraes via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Moraes via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Moraes via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Sandhagen via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Moraes via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Sandhagen via UD
Jack Buchanan: Sandhagen via UD
Staff picking Moraes: 9
Staff picking Sandhagen: 4
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