Our first triple-header weekend of 2021 for MMASucka staff picks will reach its end in just a few short hours. UFC Vegas 26, also referred to as UFC on ESPN 24, will take place this evening, May 8 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin at a slightly earlier start time of 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live on both ESPN and ESPN+.
Make sure to check out our picks from Thursday night’s PFL 3 2021 event from Atlantic City and Friday night’s Bellator 258 event in Uncasville.
The Fights
With the main event cancellation between T.J. Dillashaw and Cory Sandhagen, Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson will now serve as the featured main event. The pairing was changed to five rounds and will be contested at flyweight; the two typically competing at strawweight. Rodriguez will serve in her first main event after six fights in the UFC. The Brazilian hopes for her second win of the year after finishing Amanda Ribas in January. Former Invicta FC atomweight champion Waterson is also targeting her climb back to the top following a September win of Angela Hill. She will look to utilize her well-rounded skillset tonight as she is set for her 27th professional bout in MMA.
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The co-main event will come in the welterweight division between Donald Cerrone and Alex Morono. Fan-favorite Cerrone is long overdue for a win, aiming to snap a four-fight skid and a recent draw-turned-no-contest with Niko Price. The always entertaining Morono is also looking to get his hand raised for the first time since his November win over former BAMMA lightweight champion Rhys McKee.
Check out all the fights counted tonight for staff picks at UFC Vegas 26 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events and a variety of fights from PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will make its debut 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.
Check out our staff picks for UFC Vegas 26: Rodriguez vs. Waterson below.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 25:
1. Wesley Riddle: 60-35
2. Nate Freeman: 58-37
3T. Michael DeSantis: 56-39
3T. Ash Camyab: 56-39
5T. Mitchell Banuelos: 54-41
5T. Frazer Krohn: 54-41
5T. Joshua Yule: 54-41
8. Jeremy Brand: 52-44
9. Kenny Lee: 49-36
10. Mike Lynch: 47-43
11. Tim Wheaton: 40-36
12. Andrew Benjamin: 38-43
13. Matt Bricker: 36-35
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – Both PFL 3 2021 picks & Bellator 258 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Amanda Ribas (10-2) vs. Angela Hill (13-9)
Jeremy Brand: Hill via UD
Wesley Riddle: Ribas via SD
Michael DeSantis: Hill via SD
Mitchell Banuelos: Ribas via UD
Matt Bricker: Ribas via UD
Ash Camyab: Ribas via UD
Frazer Krohn: Ribas via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Ribas via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Ribas via SD
Joshua Yule: Hill via UD
Kenny Lee: Ribas via UD
Tim Wheaton: Ribas via SD
Staff picking Ribas: 9
Staff picking Hill: 3
Diego Ferreira (17-3) vs. Gregor Gillespie (13-1)
Jeremy Brand: Gillespie via UD
Wesley Riddle: Gillespie via SD
Michael DeSantis: Gillespie via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Ferreira via UD
Matt Bricker: Gillespie via UD
Ash Camyab: Gillespie via UD
Frazer Krohn: Gillespie via UD
Mike Lynch: Gillespie via UD
Nate Freeman: Gillespie via UD
Joshua Yule: Ferreira via UD
Kenny Lee: Ferreira via Round 2 SUB
Tim Wheaton: Gillespie via UD
Staff picking Ferreira: 3
Staff picking Gillespie: 9
Maurice Greene (9-6) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (17-8-1)
Jeremy Brand: de Lima via UD
Wesley Riddle: de Lima via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: de Lima via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: de Lima via UD
Matt Bricker: de Lima via UD
Ash Camyab: de Lima via UD
Frazer Krohn: de Lima via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Greene via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: de Lima via Round 2 TKO
Joshua Yule: de Lima via UD
Kenny Lee: de Lima via UD
Tim Wheaton: de Lima via UD
Staff picking Greene: 1
Staff picking de Lima: 11
Neil Magny (24-9) vs. Geoff Neal (13-3)
Jeremy Brand: Neal via UD
Wesley Riddle: Neal via UD
Michael DeSantis: Neal via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Neal via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Neal via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Magny via UD
Frazer Krohn: Magny via UD
Mike Lynch: Magny via UD
Nate Freeman: Magny via UD
Joshua Yule: Neal via Round 1 TKO
Kenny Lee: Neal via UD
Tim Wheaton: Neal via UD
Staff picking Magny: 4
Staff picking Neal: 8
Donald Cerrone (36-15, 2 NC) vs. Alex Morono (18-7, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Cerrone via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Cerrone via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Cerrone via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Cerrone via UD
Matt Bricker: Cerrone via UD
Ash Camyab: Cerrone via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Cerrone via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Cerrone via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Cerrone via SD
Joshua Yule: Morono via UD
Kenny Lee: Cerrone via UD
Tim Wheaton: Cerrone via UD
Staff picking Cerrone: 11
Staff picking Morono: 1
Marina Rodriguez (13-1-2) vs. Michelle Waterson (18-8)
Jeremy Brand: Waterson via UD
Wesley Riddle: Rodriguez via Round 4 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Rodriguez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Waterson via UD
Matt Bricker: Waterson via SD
Ash Camyab: Rodriguez via Round 5 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Rodriguez via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Rodriguez via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Rodriguez via SD
Joshua Yule: Rodriguez via UD
Kenny Lee: Rodriguez via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Rodriguez via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Rodriguez: 9
Staff picking Waterson: 3
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