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MMASucka’s UFC Vegas 32 Staff Picks

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A bantamweight barn burner is in store for this evening’s main event, as well as our usual MMASucka staff picks. UFC Vegas 32, also titled UFC on ESPN 27, will go down in just a couple short hours from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will kick off at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) live on both ESPN and ESPN+.

Results from UFC Vegas 32’s full, eleven-bout fight card can be found here at MMASucka.

The Fights

Top-ranked Cory Sandhagen and T.J. Dillashaw look to make a statement in tonight’s featured, five-round main event. 29-year-old Sandhagen has burst into one of the bantamweight division’s top contenders with only eight fights to his UFC tenure. Back-to-back, highlight-reel knockouts over Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar have propelled the Colorado native to his biggest test to date. Sandhagen’s opponent, Dillashaw, makes his return to the octagon for the first time since January of 2019. The former two-time divisional king looks to climb his way back towards the top and prove doubters wrong following his twelve-month USADA suspension.

In the co-main event, more 135-pounders look to steal the show as youthful prospects Kyler Phillips and Raulian Paiva meet. MMA Lab’s Phillips looks for five in-a-row following a decision win over China’s Song Yadong. Team Alpha Male’s Paiva makes his first appearance of the calendar year following a 2-0 run in 2020.

A pairing between Aspen Ladd and Macy Chiasson was intended to take place before an injury from Chiasson resulted in the fight’s removal. As a result, only five fights will be counted for staff picks. See those for UFC Vegas 32 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 August.

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 UFC Vegas 32: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw staff picks below.


Staff Records after UFC Vegas 31

1T. Wesley Riddle: 116-65
1T. Nate Freeman: 116-65
3. Michael DeSantis: 112-69
4. Frazer Krohn: 106-75
5. Ash Camyab: 101-71
6. Jeremy Brand: 99-83
7T. Mitchell Banuelos: 96-81
7T. Mike Lynch: 96-80
9. Tim Wheaton: 84-60
10T. Kenny Lee: 77-59
10T. Joshua Yule: 77-55
12. Andrew Benjamin: 75-83
13. Matt Bricker: 57-57
14. Brandon Joint: 41-17
15. Maria Morales: 5-0

*Note – not all staff pick for every event*


Mickey Gall (6-3) vs. Jordan Williams (8-4, 1 NC)

Jeremy Brand: Gall via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Williams via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Williams via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Gall via UD
Ash Camyab: Gall via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Gall via UD
Frazer Krohn: Gall via UD
Mike Lynch: Williams via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Gall via SD
Kenny Lee: Williams via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Williams via UD
Brandon Joint: Williams via Round 2 TKO
Chris Presnell: Gall via Round 2 SUB

Staff picking Gall: 7
Staff picking Williams: 6


Miranda Maverick (11-2) vs. Maycee Barber (8-2)

Jeremy Brand: Maverick via UD
Wesley Riddle: Maverick via UD
Michael DeSantis: Maverick via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Maverick via UD
Ash Camyab: Barber via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Barber via UD
Frazer Krohn: Maverick via UD
Mike Lynch: Maverick via UD
Nate Freeman: Maverick via UD
Kenny Lee: Maverick via UD
Tim Wheaton: Maverick via UD
Brandon Joint: Barber via UD
Chris Presnell: Maverick via UD

Staff picking Maverick: 10
Staff picking Barber: 3


Darren Elkins (26-9) vs. Darrick Minner (26-11)

Jeremy Brand: Minner via UD
Wesley Riddle: Minner via SD
Michael DeSantis: Elkins via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Elkins via UD
Ash Camyab: Minner via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Elkins via UD
Frazer Krohn: Minner via UD
Mike Lynch: Elkins via UD
Nate Freeman: Minner via UD
Kenny Lee: Minner via UD
Tim Wheaton: Elkins via UD
Brandon Joint: Elkins via Round 2 TKO
Chris Presnell: Elkins via SD

Staff picking Elkins: 7
Staff picking Minner: 6


Kyler Phillips (9-1) vs. Raulian Paiva (20-3)

Jeremy Brand: Phillips via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Phillips via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Phillips via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Phillips via UD
Ash Camyab: Phillips via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Phillips via UD
Frazer Krohn: Phillips via SD
Mike Lynch: Paiva via UD
Nate Freeman: Phillips via UD
Kenny Lee: Phillips via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Phillips via Round 3 TKO
Brandon Joint: Phillips via UD
Chris Presnell: Phillips via Round 1 TKO

Staff picking Phillips: 12
Staff picking Paiva: 1


Cory Sandhagen (14-2) vs. TJ Dillashaw (17-4)

Jeremy Brand: Dillashaw via UD
Wesley Riddle: Sandhagen via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Sandhagen via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Sandhagen via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Sandhagen via Round 4 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Sandhagen via SD
Frazer Krohn: Sandhagen via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Sandhagen via Round 5 TKO
Nate Freeman: Sandhagen via UD
Kenny Lee: Sandhagen via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Dillashaw via UD
Brandon Joint: Sandhagen via UD
Chris Presnell: Sandhagen via UD

Staff picking Sandhagen: 11
Staff picking Dillashaw: 2

UFC VEGAS 32 FEATURED IMAGE:
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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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