Our second card for MMASucka staff picks this weekend is just around the corner. UFC 255 will take place this evening, November 21 from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live on pay-per-view.
Make sure to check out our staff picks from Thursday evening’s Bellator 253 event.
The Fights
Two title fights are official for tonight’s main and co-main event. The featured fight of the night falls in the flyweight division between champion Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Alex Perez. Figueiredo will look for his first defense of the title after claiming the vacant belt with a submission over Joseph Benavidez in July. The victory came as his 19th professionally, having only suffered one defeat throughout his career. His opponent, Perez, sits 11-1 through his last twelve with a lone defeat to the aforementioned Benavidez. Three straight victories with two “Performance of the Night” bonuses have propelled the 28-year-old to his first title fight with the promotion.
Our second title fight in the co-main event for the flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko and her Jennifer Maia. Three-time defending champion Shevchenko will look to make it four, lastly defeating Katlyn Chookagian by knockout in February. The well-rounded combat veteran will aims to continue her legacy as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. Her opponent, Maia, sits at 3-2 in her UFC tenure. The former Invicta FC flyweight champion most recently submitted Joanne Calderwood in the first, now looking to continue her forward momentum against the division’s best.
Check out all our remaining picks for UFC 255 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 staff picks for UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN+ 41:
1. Michael DeSantis: 184-77
2. Connor Deitrich: 178-83
3. Wesley Riddle: 168-88
4T. Dan Rose: 160-102
4T. Jack Buchanan: 160-79
6T. Frazer Krohn: 159-103
6T. Nate Freeman: 159-99
8. Jeremy Brand: 157-96
9. Mike Lynch: 155-92
10. Ash Camyab: 153-109
11. Andrew Benjamin: 141-115
12. Matt Bricker: 136-93
13. McKenzie Guardiero: 127-103
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*
**Note: Bellator 253 picks will be added to above records NEXT weekend**
Mauricio Rua (27-11-1) vs. Paul Craig (13-4-1)
Jeremy Brand: Craig via UD
Wesley Riddle: Rua via UD
Michael DeSantis: Craig via UD
Connor Deitrich: Rua via UD
Ash Camyab: Craig via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Craig via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Craig via UD
Dan Rose: Rua via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Craig via UD
Nate Freeman: Craig via SD
Jack Buchanan: Craig via SD
Staff picking Rua: 3
Staff picking Craig: 8
Katlyn Chookagian (14-4) vs. Cynthia Calvillo (9-1-1)
Jeremy Brand: Calvillo via UD
Wesley Riddle: Calvillo via SD
Michael DeSantis: Calvillo via UD
Connor Deitrich: Calvillo via UD
Ash Camyab: Chookagian via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Chookagian via UD
Frazer Krohn: Chookagian via UD
Dan Rose: Calvillo via UD
Mike Lynch: Chookagian via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Calvillo via SD
Jack Buchanan: Calvillo via UD
Staff picking Chookagian: 4
Staff picking Calvillo: 7
Mike Perry (14-6) vs. Tim Means (29-12-1, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Perry via UD
Wesley Riddle: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Means via UD
Connor Deitrich: Means via UD
Ash Camyab: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Means via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Means via UD
Mike Lynch: Perry via UD
Nate Freeman: Means via UD
Jack Buchanan: Means via UD
Staff picking Perry: 5
Staff picking Means: 6
Valentina Shevchenko (19-3) vs. Jennifer Maia (17-6-1)
Jeremy Brand: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Shevchenko via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Shevchenko via UD
Ash Camyab: Shevchenko via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Shevchenko via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Shevchenko via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Shevchenko via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Shevchenko: 11
Staff picking Maia: 0
Deiveson Figueiredo (19-1) vs. Alex Perez (24-5)
Jeremy Brand: Figueiredo via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Figueiredo via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Perez via UD
Frazer Krohn: Figueiredo via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Figueiredo via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Figueiredo via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Figueiredo: 10
Staff picking Perez: 1
UFC 255 FEATURED IMAGE:
Embed from Getty Images
