The second-half of our MMASucka staff picks weekend is locked in. UFC Vegas 24, also known as UFC on ESPN 22, goes down tonight, April 17 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the final card in a stretch of ten events from the promotion’s on-site facility. The main card will begin at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live on both ESPN for those with cable and ESPN+ for those subscribed.
Make sure to check out our staff picks from last night’s Bellator 257 event in Uncasville.
The Fights
Top-ranked middleweights Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum are set for a potential five rounds in what could be a title eliminator match. Former middleweight champion Whittaker has been on the climb back to the top ever since his loss of the belt to Israel Adesanya in October of 2019. Two decision wins over Darren Till and Jared Cannonier have propelled the New Zealander back into the championship hunt where he truly belongs. Whittaker’s opponent, Gastelum, broke a three-fight skid in February with a victory over Ian Heinisch. The TUF 17 winner gets another big opportunity to prove himself as one of the division’s best; a win, hopefully granting him his second title shot against the aforementioned Adesanya.
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Expect heavy leather to be thrown in the co-main event between 155-pounders Jeremy Stephens and Drakkar Klose. Stephens will make his 34th walk inside the octagon aiming to snap a four-fight losing streak, the longest of his illustrious career. Klose is targeting a strong return after nearly a year outside the UFC, lastly suffering a knockout loss to Beneil Dariush. An intense faceoff between the two Friday afternoon makes the wait for this pairing all-the-more anticipating.
See all of our MMASucka staff picks for UFC Vegas 24 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 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 24: Whittaker vs. Gastelum below.
Staff Records after UFC on ABC 2:
1. Wesley Riddle: 43-25
2. Nate Freeman: 41-27
3. Michael DeSantis: 40-28
4T. Ash Camyab: 38-30
4T. Frazer Krohn: 38-30
4T. Joshua Yule: 38-30
7T. Mitchell Banuelos: 37-31
7T. Kenny Lee: 37-31
9. Jeremy Brand: 35-33
10. Mike Lynch: 33-30
11. Matt Bricker: 30-28
12. Andrew Benjamin: 25-33
13. Tim Wheaton: 24-15
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – Bellator 257 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Luis Pena (8-3) vs. Alexander Munoz (6-1)
Jeremy Brand: Pena via UD
Wesley Riddle: Pena via UD
Michael DeSantis: Pena via SD
Mitchell Banuelos: Pena via UD
Matt Bricker: Munoz via UD
Ash Camyab: Pena via UD
Frazer Krohn: Pena via SD
Mike Lynch: Pena via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pena via UD
Kenny Lee: Pena via UD
Tim Wheaton: Pena via UD
Staff picking Pena: 10
Staff picking Munoz: 1
Abdul Razak Alhassan (10-3) vs. Jacob Malkoun (4-1)
Jeremy Brand: Razak Alhassan via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Razak Alhassan via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Razak Alhassan via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Razak Alhassan via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Razak Alhassan via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Razak Alhassan via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Razak Alhassan via UD
Mike Lynch: Razak Alhassan via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Razak Alhassan via Round 2 TKO
Kenny Lee: Razak Alhassan via Round 3 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Razak Alhassan via UD
Staff picking Razak Alhassan: 11
Staff picking Malkoun: 0
Andrei Arlovski (30-20, 2 NC) vs. Chase Sherman (15-6)
Jeremy Brand: Arlovski via UD
Wesley Riddle: Arlovski via SD
Michael DeSantis: Sherman via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Arlovski via UD
Matt Bricker: Sherman via UD
Ash Camyab: Arlovski via UD
Frazer Krohn: Arlovski via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Sherman via UD
Nate Freeman: Arlovski via SD
Kenny Lee: Arlovski via UD
Tim Wheaton: Arlovski via UD
Staff picking Arlovski: 8
Staff picking Sherman: 3
Jeremy Stephens (28-18, 1 NC) vs. Drakkar Klose (11-2-1)
Jeremy Brand: Klose via UD
Wesley Riddle: Stephens via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Stephens via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Stephens via UD
Matt Bricker: Stephens via UD
Ash Camyab: Stephens via UD
Frazer Krohn: Stephens via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Stephens via UD
Nate Freeman: Stephens via UD
Kenny Lee: Stephens via UD
Tim Wheaton: Stephens via UD
Staff picking Stephens: 10
Staff picking Klose: 1
Robert Whittaker (23-5) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (17-6, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Gastelum via UD
Wesley Riddle: Whittaker via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Whittaker via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Whittaker via UD
Matt Bricker: Whittaker via UD
Ash Camyab: Whittaker via Round 4 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Whittaker via UD
Mike Lynch: Whittaker via UD
Nate Freeman: Whittaker via UD
Kenny Lee: Whittaker via UD
Tim Wheaton: Whittaker via SD
Staff picking Whittaker: 10
Staff picking Gastelum: 1
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