MMASucka staff picks are locked in for another weekend of fights. Later this evening, February 20 will see UFC Fight Night 185 go down from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the third straight event at the promotion’s newest facility.
The main card will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live for subscribers on ESPN+.
The Fights
Top-ranked heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis are set for a possible five-rounds in what could be a title elimination bout. The two were originally intended to fight last November before a positive COVID-19 test forced Blaydes out of the contest. Blaydes has only faced defeat twice through his 17-fight professional career with stoppage losses to Francis Ngannou. He currently rides a four-fight win streak, lastly taking a 25-minute decision over former Bellator and M-1 champion Alexander Volkov. Blaydes’ opponent, Lewis, will look for a fourth straight win since November of 2019. The fan-favorite aims to get back into the title hunt after his lone opportunity versus Daniel Cormier ended in a submission defeat.
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Brazil’s Ketlen Vieira and Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya will meet in the co-main event. The fight will be at a catchweight of 138 pounds after Vieira missed the bantamweight mark at weigh-ins by two pounds. Vieira targets the 12th win of her career following a decision win over Sijara Eubanks. Kunitskaya looks for back-to-back wins having scored a victory over promotional debutante Julija Stoliarenko in August.
Also on the main card includes heavyweight veterans Aleksei Oleinik and Andrei Arlovski each with their own respected opponents. See all of the remaining main card fights at UFC Fight Night 185 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator MMA events. PFL will make its debut beginning in April, along with an additional promotion to-be-determined.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See who our staff is picking tonight at UFC Fight Night 185: Blaydes vs. Lewis below.
Staff Records after UFC 258:
1. Wesley Riddle: 15-8
2T. Michael DeSantis: 13-10
2T. Nate Freeman: 13-10
4T. Jeremy Brand: 12-11
4T. Mitchell Banuelos: 12-11
4T. Dan Rose: 12-11
7. Joshua Yule: 11-12
8T. Matt Bricker: 10-13
8T. Ash Camyab: 10-13
8T. Frazer Krohn: 10-13
8T. Kenny Lee: 10-13
8T. Mike Lynch: 10-8
13. Andrew Benjamin: 7-16
14. Michael McKenzie: 2-2
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Andrei Arlovski (30-19, 2 NC) vs. Tom Aspinall (9-2)
Jeremy Brand: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Aspinall via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Aspinall via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Aspinall via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Joshua Yule: Arlovski via UD
Kenny Lee: Aspinall via Round 3 TKO
Michael McKenzie: Aspinall via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Arlovski: 1
Staff picking Aspinall: 13
Phil Hawes (9-2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (9-2)
Jeremy Brand: Hawes via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Hawes via UD
Michael DeSantis: Hawes via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Hawes via UD
Matt Bricker: Hawes via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Hawes via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Hawes via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Hawes via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Hawes via UD
Mike Lynch: Hawes via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Hawes via SD
Joshua Yule: Hawes via Round 2 TKO
Kenny Lee: Hawes via UD
Michael McKenzie: Imavov via UD
Staff picking Hawes: 13
Staff picking Imavov: 1
Aleksei Oleinik (59-14-1) vs. Chris Daukaus (10-3)
Jeremy Brand: Oleinik via Round 1 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Daukaus via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Oleinik via Round 1 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Oleinik via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Oleinik via Round 3 SUB
Ash Camyab: Oleinik via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Oleinik via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Oleinik via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Oleinik via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Daukaus via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Daukaus via Round 1 TKO
Joshua Yule: Oleinik via Round 1 SUB
Kenny Lee: N/A
Michael McKenzie: Daukaus via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Oleinik: 9
Staff picking Daukaus: 4
Charles Rosa (13-4) vs. Darrick Minner (25-11)
Jeremy Brand: Rosa via UD
Wesley Riddle: Rosa via UD
Michael DeSantis: Rosa via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Rosa via UD
Matt Bricker: Rosa via SD
Ash Camyab: Rosa via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Rosa via UD
Frazer Krohn: Rosa via UD
Dan Rose: Rosa via UD
Mike Lynch: Rosa via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Rosa via UD
Joshua Yule: Rosa via UD
Kenny Lee: N/A
Michael McKenzie: Minner via UD
Staff picking Rosa: 12
Staff picking Minner: 1
Ketlen Vieira (11-1) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (13-5, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Vieira via UD
Wesley Riddle: Vieira via SD
Michael DeSantis: Vieira via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Kunitskaya via UD
Matt Bricker: Vieira via UD
Ash Camyab: Kunitskaya via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Kunitskaya via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Vieira via SD
Dan Rose: Vieira via UD
Mike Lynch: Vieira via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Vieira via UD
Joshua Yule: Vieira via UD
Kenny Lee: N/A
Michael McKenzie: Vieira via UD
Staff picking Vieira: 10
Staff picking Kunitskaya: 3
Curtis Blaydes (14-2, 1 NC) vs. Derrick Lewis (24-7, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Blaydes via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Blaydes via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Blaydes via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Blaydes via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Blaydes via Round 4 TKO
Dan Rose: Blaydes via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Blaydes via Round 5 TKO
Nate Freeman: Blaydes via Round 4 TKO
Joshua Yule: Blaydes via UD
Kenny Lee: N/A
Michael McKenzie: Blaydes via UD
Staff picking Blaydes: 10
Staff picking Lewis: 3
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