The final quarter of 2021 is underway, as stacked fight pairings look to start the month right. UFC Vegas 38, also referred to as UFC Fight Night 193, will take place in just a few short hours this evening, October 2 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Subscribers to ESPN+ will be able to see the entire event, the main card kicking off at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT).
Live results from UFC Vegas 38 can be found here at MMASucka.
Take a look at our staff picks from Friday night’s Bellator 267 event in London.
UFC Vegas 38 Fights
Top-ranked light heavyweights Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker will look to wrap up the show in today’s main event. Former divisional title challenger and TUF: Brazil competitor Santos comes in need of a victory, having lost three straight without a win since February of 2019. The dangerous striker looks for a potential 16th career knockout in just 21 wins, ready to turn his career back in the right direction. Santos’s opponent, Walker, will also look for the same number of knockouts in just his 24th professional bout. A two-fight skid turned around in September last year with a vicious first-round finish over Ryan Spann.
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In the co-main event, the always-entertaining Kevin Holland will take on the younger Daukaus of Kyle Daukaus in the middleweight division. Twelve-fight UFC veteran Holland aims to rebound following five-round main event decision losses earlier this year to both Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori. Former Cage Fury FC champion Daukaus sits at 1-2 in his last three outings, most recently falling short to Phil Hawes in May.
A failed weight cut from Aspen Ladd resulted in her pairing with Macy Chiasson being scrapped from the fight card. As a result, only four fights will be counted towards our UFC Vegas 38 staff picks. Find those for tonight’s event further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from both UFC and Bellator events. Main card fights and selected preliminary fights will be selected for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the full fight card.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a 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 38: Santos vs. Walker below.
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 41:
1. Nate Freeman: 175-99
2. Wesley Riddle: 172-102
3. Michael DeSantis: 170-104
4. Frazer Krohn: 157-117
5T. Jeremy Brand: 149-125
5T. Ash Camyab: 149-106
5T. Mike Lynch: 149-115
8. Andrew Benjamin: 120-122
9. Tim Wheaton: 103-80
10. Chris Presnell: 54-24
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Misha Cirkunov (15-6) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (22-5)
Jeremy Brand: Jotko via UD
Wesley Riddle: Cirkunov via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Cirkunov via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Jotko via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Cirkunov via UD
Frazer Krohn: Cirkunov via Round 3 SUB
Mike Lynch: Cirkunov via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Cirkunov via SD
Tim Wheaton: Cirkunov via Round 2 SUB
Chris Presnell: Jotko via UD
Staff picking Cirkunov: 7
Staff picking Jotko: 3
Alex Oliveira (22-10-1, 2 NC) vs. Niko Price (14-6, 2 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Price via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Price via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Price via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Price via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Price via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Price via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Price via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Price via SD
Tim Wheaton: Price via Round 3 TKO
Chris Presnell: Price via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Oliveira: 0
Staff picking Price: 10
Kevin Holland (21-7) vs. Kyle Daukaus (10-2)
Jeremy Brand: Holland via UD
Wesley Riddle: Holland via UD
Michael DeSantis: Holland via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Holland via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Holland via UD
Frazer Krohn: Holland via UD
Mike Lynch: Holland via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Holland via SD
Tim Wheaton: Holland via UD
Chris Presnell: Holland via UD
Staff picking Holland: 10
Staff picking Daukaus: 0
Thiago Santos (21-9) vs. Johnny Walker (18-5)
Jeremy Brand: Santos via UD
Wesley Riddle: Santos via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Santos via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Santos via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Walker via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Santos via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Santos via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Walker via Round 4 TKO
Chris Presnell: Santos via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Santos: 7
Staff picking Walker: 3
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