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MMASucka’s UFC Vegas 23 Staff Picks

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Part two of our double-header weekend is here. UFC Vegas 23, also referred to as UFC on ABC 2, will take place in a few short hours this afternoon, April 10 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin at an earlier start time of 3:00pm ET (12:00pm PT) live on ABC for those with cable and ESPN+ for those subscribed.

Make sure to check out picks from last night’s Bellator 256 event in Connecticut.

Also, check out all the results from today’s event here at MMASucka.

The Fights

With Darren Till’s fight withdrawal nearly two weeks ago, Marvin Vettori will take on the short-notice replacement of Kevin Holland. Vettori looks to score his fifth straight victory in the UFC after a split decision loss to now-middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The Italian makes his second straight main event appearance, where in December he took a “Fight of the Night” decision over Jack Hermansson. Vettori’s opponent, Holland, returns to the octagon just three weeks after his main event pairing with Derek Brunson. Despite a loss, the breakout star looks to rebound quickly given this afternoon’s opportunity.

Fireworks will fly in the co-main event between top prospects Arnold Allen and Sodiq Yusuff. England’s Allen looks to remain undefeated in the promotion with a potential eighth straight win, lastly earning a decision over Nik Lentz. Nigeria’s Yusuff targets the same in search of only his sixth UFC win, fresh off a January decision of Andre Fili.

See our remaining fights counted today for UFC Vegas 23 further below.

UFC 246

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 this month, along with Dana White’s Contender Series in the summer months.

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 staff picks for UFC Vegas 23: Vettori vs. Holland below.


Staff Records after Bellator 255:

1. Wesley Riddle: 35-23
2T. Michael DeSantis: 34-24
2T. Nate Freeman: 34-24
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 32-26
5. Ash Camyab: 31-27
6T. Jeremy Brand: 29-29
6T. Frazer Krohn: 29-29
6T. Mike Lynch: 29-24
6T. Joshua Yule: 29-29
6T. Kenny Lee: 29-29
11. Matt Bricker: 27-26
12. Andrew Benjamin: 22-31
13. Tim Wheaton: 19-10

*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – Bellator 256 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*


Mike Perry (14-7) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (13-2)

Jeremy Brand: Perry via UD
Wesley Riddle: Rodriguez via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Rodriguez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Perry via UD
Ash Camyab: Perry via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Rodriguez via UD
Frazer Krohn: Perry via SD
Mike Lynch: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Rodriguez via UD
Joshua Yule: Rodriguez via UD
Kenny Lee: Perry via UD
Tim Wheaton: Rodriguez via UD

Staff picking Perry: 6
Staff picking Rodriguez: 6


Nina Nunes (10-6) vs. Mackenzie Dern (10-1)

Jeremy Brand: Dern via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Nunes via SD
Michael DeSantis: Nunes via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Dern via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Dern via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Dern via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Dern via UD
Mike Lynch: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Dern via SD
Joshua Yule: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Kenny Lee: Dern via Round 3 SUB
Tim Wheaton: Nunes via UD

Staff picking Nunes: 3
Staff picking Dern: 9


Sam Alvey (33-15-1, 1 NC) vs. Julian Marquez (8-2)

Jeremy Brand: Marquez via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Marquez via UD
Michael DeSantis: Marquez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Marquez via UD
Ash Camyab: Marquez via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Alvey via SD
Frazer Krohn: Marquez via UD
Mike Lynch: Alvey via UD
Nate Freeman: Marquez via UD
Joshua Yule: Marquez via UD
Kenny Lee: Marquez via UD
Tim Wheaton: Marquez via Round 1 TKO

Staff picking Alvey: 2
Staff picking Marquez: 10


Arnold Allen (16-1) vs. Sodiq Yusuff (11-1)

Jeremy Brand: Allen via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Allen via UD
Michael DeSantis: Yusuff via SD
Mitchell Banuelos: Yusuff via UD
Ash Camyab: Allen via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Yusuff via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Allen via SD
Mike Lynch: Yusuff via UD
Nate Freeman: Yusuff via UD
Joshua Yule: Allen via UD
Kenny Lee: Allen via UD
Tim Wheaton: Yusuff via UD

Staff picking Allen: 6
Staff picking Yusuff: 6


Marvin Vettori (16-4-1) vs. Kevin Holland (21-6)

Jeremy Brand: Holland via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Vettori via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Vettori via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Holland via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Vettori via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Vettori via UD
Frazer Krohn: Vettori via UD
Mike Lynch: Holland via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Vettori via UD
Joshua Yule: Vettori via UD
Kenny Lee: Vettori via UD
Tim Wheaton: Vettori via UD

Staff picking Vettori: 9
Staff picking Holland: 3

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Wesley Riddle is a 29-year-old writer residing in Raleigh, North Carolina from Harrisonburg, Virginia. He has been part of the MMASucka team since the fourth quarter of 2016. Additionally, he serves as a writer with partner site Last Word on Motorsports.

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