MMASucka staff has submitted their staff picks for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 18 card. The solid card is being headlined by a middleweight bout between Jack Hermansson and Marvin Vettori with potential title implications. UFC Vegas 16 prelims will kick off at 7:00 pm EST with the main card following at 10:00. The action can be viewed on ESPN2 or ESPN+.
UFC Vegas 16 Staff Picks
The Fights
As previously stated, the main event is between Hermansson and Vettori in the middleweight division. Hermansson is the number four ranked middleweight fighter while Vettori enters the fight ranked 13. Originally, Hermansson was slated to face former welterweight title challenger Darren Till, who pulled out due to injury. Then, Kevin Holland stepped up, but he was scrapped due to a positive COVID-19 test. Finally, Vettori was able to take the spot. In turn, Holland will now replace Vettori against Jacare Souza next month. It was a rollercoaster ride for this UFC Vegas 16 main event.
The co-main event is a light heavyweight bout between veteran Ovince Saint Preux and Jamahal Hill. Gabriel Benitzez will take on Justin Jaynes at lightweight. Strong grappler Montana De La Rosa takes on Tailia Santos at flyweight, the only women’s fight on the card. The opening bout of the main card is an interesting one between Nate Landwehr and the undefeated Russian Movsar Evloev.
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.
Staff Records after UFC 255:
1. Michael DeSantis: 191-79
2. Connor Deitrich: 185-85
3. Wesley Riddle: 174-91
4. Jack Buchanan: 167-81
5T. Dan Rose: 166-105
5T. Nate Freeman: 166-101
7. Frazer Krohn: 165-106
8. Jeremy Brand: 162-100
9. Mike Lynch: 161-95
10. Ash Camyab: 160-111
11. Andrew Benjamin: 145-116
12. Matt Bricker: 136-93
13. McKenzie Guardiero: 134-105
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
Nate Landwehr vs. Movsar Evloev
Jeremy Brand: Landwehr via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Evloev via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Evloev via UD
Matt Bricker: Landwehr via UD
Connor Deitrich: Evloev via UD
Ash Camyab: Evloev via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Evloev via UD
Frazer Krohn: Evloev via UD
Dan Rose: Evloev via UD
Mike Lynch: Evloev via UD
Nate Freeman: Evloev via SD
Staff picking Landwehr: 2
Staff picking Evloev: 9
Roman Dolidze vs. John Allan Arte
Jeremy Brand: Dolidze via UD
Wesley Riddle: Dolidze via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Dolidze via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Dolidze via UD
Connor Deitrich: Dolidze via UD
Ash Camyab: Dolidze via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Dolidze via UD
Frazer Krohn: Dolidze via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Dolidze via TKO
Mike Lynch: Allan via TKO
Nate Freeman: Dolidze via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Dolidze: 10
Staff picking Allan Arte: 1
Montana De La Rosa vs. Taila Santos
Jeremy Brand: De La Rosa via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: De La Rosa via UD
Michael DeSantis: Santos via UD
Matt Bricker: De La Rosa via Round 3 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Santos via UD
Ash Camyab: Santos via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Santos via UD
Frazer Krohn: Santos via UD
Dan Rose: De La Rosa via UD
Mike Lynch: De La Rosa via SUB
Nate Freeman: De La Rosa via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking De La Rosa: 6
Staff picking Santos: 5
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Jamahal Hill
Jeremy Brand: Saint Preux via UD
Wesley Riddle: Hill via UD
Michael DeSantis: Saint Preux via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Hill via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Hill via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Saint Preux via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Hill via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Saint Preux via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Hill via TKO
Mike Lynch: Hill via TKO
Nate Freeman: Saint Preux via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Saint Preux: 5
Staff picking Hill: 6
Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori
Jeremy Brand: Herrmansson via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Vettori via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Vettori via Round 4 TKO
Matt Bricker: Herrmansson via Round 3 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Herrmansson via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Herrmansson via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Vettori via UD
Frazer Krohn: Herrmansson via Round 4 TKO
Dan Rose: Herrmansson via SUB
Mike Lynch: Herrmansson via UD
Nate Freeman: Vettori via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Hermansson: 7
Staff picking Vettori: 4
Featured image:
Embed from Getty Images
