MMASucka staff picks are locked in for another night of fights as we near the end of the month. UFC Vegas 22, mainly referred to as UFC on ESPN 21, will take place tonight, March 20 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin live at 10:00 pm ET (7:00 pm PT) on both ESPN and ESPN+.
The Fights
A must-watch main event is in store between top-ranked middleweights Derek Brunson and Kevin Holland. Brunson will make the walk to the octagon for the 18th time in his fourth UFC main event appearance. The North Carolina native has won three straight since 2019, most recently ending the undefeated run of prospect Edmen Shahbazyan last August. Brunson’s opponent, Holland, fought an incredible five times during the calendar year of 2020. His impressive stretch of victories in that time, including his latest knockout over Ronaldo Souza, have propelled the rising star to his first main event slot.
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A pairing between Gregor Gillespie and Brad Riddell at 155 pounds was the intended co-main event tonight. Earlier this Saturday, however, the fight was scratched due to COVID-19 protocols. In turn, welterweights Kenan Song and Max Griffin will now serve as the second-to-last feature. Song will look for his fifth promotional win through six fights, lastly stopping Callan Potter by knockout in early 2020. Griffin will target his first string of back-to-back wins in over five years having defeated Ramiz Brahimaj in November.
See our remaining staff picks for UFC Vegas 22 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events. PFL will make its debut beginning in April, along with Dana White’s Contender Series in the summer.
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 our UFC Vegas 22: Brunson vs. Holland staff picks below.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 21:
1. Wesley Riddle: 26-17
2T. Michael DeSantis: 23-20
2T. Mitchell Banuelos: 23-20
2T. Nate Freeman: 23-20
5T. Matt Bricker: 22-21
5T. Dan Rose: 22-21
7T. Ash Camyab: 21-22
7T. Frazer Krohn: 21-22
7T. Kenny Lee: 21-22
10. Jeremy Brand: 20-23
11. Joshua Yule: 19-24
12. Mike Lynch: 18-20
13. Andrew Benjamin: 16-27
14. Tim Wheaton: 9-5
15. Michael McKenzie: 5-5
UFC Vegas 22 Staff Picks
Tai Tuivasa (11-3) vs. Harry Hunsucker (7-3)
Jeremy Brand: Tuivasa via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Tuivasa via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Tuivasa via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Tuivasa via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Tuivasa via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Tuivasa via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Tuivasa via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Tuivasa via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Tuivasa via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Tuivasa via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Tuivasa via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Harry Hunsucker via TKO
Josh Yule: Tuivasa via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Tuivasa: 12
Staff picking Hunsucker: 1
Adrian Yanez (12-3) vs. Gustavo Lopez (12-5)
Jeremy Brand: Yanez via UD
Wesley Riddle: Yanez via UD
Michael DeSantis: Yanez via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Yanez via UD
Matt Bricker: Yanez via UD
Ash Camyab: Yanez via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Yanez via UD
Frazer Krohn: Yanez via UD
Mike Lynch: Yanez via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Yanez via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Yanez via UD
Dan Rose: Yanez via TKO
Josh Yule: Yanez via UD
Staff picking Yanez: 13
Staff picking Lopez: 0
Cheyanne Buys (5-1) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (9-1)
Jeremy Brand: Buys via UD
Wesley Riddle: Buys via SD
Michael DeSantis: Buys via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Ruiz via UD
Matt Bricker: Ruiz via Round 3 SUB
Ash Camyab: Ruiz via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Buys via SD
Frazer Krohn: Buys via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Buys via UD
Nate Freeman: Ruiz via SD
Tim Wheaton: Buys via UD
Dan Rose: Buys via UD
Josh Yule: Buys via UD
Staff picking Buys: 9
Staff picking Ruiz: 4
Kenan Song (16-5) vs. Max Griffin (16-8)
Jeremy Brand: Song via UD
Wesley Riddle: Song via SD
Michael DeSantis: Griffin via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Song via UD
Matt Bricker: Song via UD
Ash Camyab: Song via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Song via UD
Frazer Krohn: Griffin via UD
Mike Lynch: Griffin via UD
Nate Freeman: Griffin via SD
Tim Wheaton: Song via UD
Dan Rose: Griffin via UD
Josh Yule: Song via UD
Staff picking Song: 8
Staff picking Griffin: 5
Derek Brunson (21-7) vs. Kevin Holland (22-5)
Jeremy Brand: Holland via Round 3 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Holland via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Holland via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Holland via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Holland via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Brunson via Round 4 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Holland via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Holland via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Holland via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Holland via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Holland via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Holland via TKO
Josh Yule: Brunson via UD
Staff picking Brunson: 2
Staff picking Holland: 11
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