MMASucka staff picks are in for the second fight card of the week. UFC on ESPN+ 40 (also referred to as UFC Fight Night 182 and UFC Vegas 13) goes down later this evening, November 7 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Main card action begins at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
Make sure to check out our picks from Thursday’s Bellator 251 event in Uncasville.
The Fights
Top-ranked light heavyweights Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira will clash in this evening’s featured main event. Dangerous striker Santos made work of his power upon his 205-pound debut defeating three straight en route to his first career title shot. Although coming up short to then-champion Jon Jones by split decision, a strong majority had scored the fight to his favor. Santos returns after a 16-month layoff hungry to return to the win column in this potential title eliminator bout. His opponent, Teixeira, rides a four-fight win streak of his own including a late knockout in May over Anthony Smith. This will be his second shot at UFC gold since his lone attempt at the title in 2014 against the aforementioned Jones, losing a decisive decision. 41-year-old Teixeira still competes at the top of his game in hopes to get his potentially final shot at the newly-crowned king Jan Blachowicz.
Andrei Arlovski and Tanner Boser meet at heavyweight in the co-main slot. Former divisional champion Arlovski looks to close out the year 2-0 after defeating and snapping the four-fight win streak of Philipe Lins in May. His opponent, former two-time Unified MMA champion Boser, rides two victories of the year including the aforementioned Lins and Raphael Pessoa.
See all of our MMASucka staff picks for UFC on ESPN+ 40 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.
See our staff picks for UFC on ESPN+ 40: Santos vs. Teixeira below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN+ 39:
1. Michael DeSantis: 173-73
2. Connor Deitrich: 168-78
3. Wesley Riddle: 162-79
4T. Frazer Krohn: 150-97
4T. Dan Rose: 150-97
4T. Jack Buchanan: 150-74
7T. Jeremy Brand: 149-89
7T. Nate Freeman: 149-94
9. Mike Lynch: 147-85
10. Ash Camyab: 143-104
11. Matt Bricker: 135-87
12. Andrew Benjamin: 132-109
13. McKenzie Guardiero: 126-97
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 pick for every event*
*Bellator 251 picks will be added to above records NEXT weekend*
Claudia Gadelha (18-4) vs. Yan Xiaonan (12-1, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Xiaonan via UD
Wesley Riddle: Xiaonan via SD
Michael DeSantis: Xiaonan via UD
Connor Deitrich: Xiaonan via UD
Ash Camyab: Gadelha via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Xiaonan via UD
Frazer Krohn: Gadelha via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Gadelha via SD
Dan Rose: Xiaonan via UD
Mike Lynch: Xiaonan via UD
Nate Freeman: Gadelha via SD
Jack Buchanan: Gadelha via SD
Staff picking Gadelha: 5
Staff picking Xiaonan: 6
Ian Heinisch (14-3) vs. Brendan Allen (15-3)
Jeremy Brand: Allen via UD
Wesley Riddle: Allen via SD
Michael DeSantis: Allen via UD
Connor Deitrich: Allen via UD
Ash Camyab: Heinisch via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Allen via UD
Frazer Krohn: Allen via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Allen via UD
Dan Rose: Allen via UD
Mike Lynch: Allen via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Allen via SD
Jack Buchanan: Heinisch via SD
Staff picking Heinisch: 2
Staff picking Allen: 9
Raoni Barcelos (15-1) vs. Khalid Taha (13-2, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Barcelos via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Barcelos via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Barcelos via Round 1 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Barcelos via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Taha via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Taha via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Taha via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Taha via UD
Dan Rose: Barcelos via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Barcelos via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Barcelos via UD
Jack Buchanan: Barcelos via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Barcelos: 7
Staff picking Taha: 4
Andrei Arlovski (29-19, 2 NC) vs. Tanner Boser (19-6-1)
Jeremy Brand: Boser via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Boser via UD
Michael DeSantis: Boser via UD
Connor Deitrich: Boser via SD
Ash Camyab: Arlovski via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Boser via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Boser via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Boser via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Boser via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Boser via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Boser via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Boser via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Arlovski: 1
Staff picking Boser: 10
Thiago Santos (21-7) vs. Glover Teixeira (31-7)
Jeremy Brand: Santos via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Santos via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Santos via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Santos via Round 1 KO
Ash Camyab: Santos via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Santos via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Santos via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Santos via UD
Dan Rose: Santos via Round 4 TKO
Mike Lynch: Santos via Round 4 TKO
Nate Freeman: Santos via UD
Jack Buchanan: Santos via UD
Staff picking Santos: 11
Staff picking Teixeira: 0
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