Part two of staff picks this double-header weekend is locked in for the MMASucka team.
UFC Vegas 42, also titled as UFC Fight Night 197, will take place this evening, November 13 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today’s card marks the start of what will only be five promotional events remaining in the 2021 year. Five fights will be featured on the main card kicking off at 4:00pm ET (1:00pm PT) live for subscribers on ESPN+.
Recap our staff picks from Friday night’s Bellator 271 event in Florida.
The Fights
Top-ranked featherweight Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez will meet in the must-watch main event, the two looking to set themselves in proper position for being next at a featherweight (145 lbs.) title shot.
Former divisional king Holloway is set for his tenth straight promotional main event, within that span securing three 145-pound defenses and a “Fight of the Year” attempt at the interim lightweight belt versus Dustin Poirier in 2019. Despite two championship fights going the way of new-champion, Alexander Volkanovski, the Hawaiian made quick recovery in January with his dominant decision win over Calvin Kattar. Holloway’s opponent, Rodriguez, makes his long-awaited return after two plus years of inactivity following two cancelled fights and a temporary USADA suspension. Wins over Chan Sung Jung and Jeremy Stephen come as his most recent, and an impressive return would be just what the 29-year-old needs.
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Heavyweights will clash in the co-main event between Ben Rothwell and Marcos Rogerio de Lima. Veteran Rothwell looks for his second win of the calendar year after submitting Chris Barnett in May. Sao Paulo’s Rogerio de Lima targets back-to-back wins for the first time since his UFC beginnings in 2014.
Find out further below who the MMASucka staff are picking to win on the main card of UFC Vegas 42.
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 below for our UFC Vegas 42: Holloway vs. Rodriguez staff picks.
Staff Records after UFC 268:
1. Nate Freeman: 227-122
2. Wesley Riddle: 223-126
3. Michael DeSantis: 220-125
4. Frazer Krohn: 208-140
5. Mike Lynch: 193-146
6T. Jeremy Brand: 187-152
6T. Ash Camyab: 187-127
8. Andrew Benjamin: 138-132
9. Tim Wheaton: 124-93
10. Chris Presnell: 105-44
11. Jake Broderick: 12-3
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – Bellator 271 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Song Yadong (17-5-1, 1 NC) vs. Julio Arce (17-4)
Wesley Riddle: Yadong via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Yadong via Split Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Yadong via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Yadong via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Arce via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Yadong via Split Decision
Chris Presnell: Yadong via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Yadong: 6
Staff picking Arce: 1
Miguel Baeza (10-1) vs. Khaos Williams (12-2)
Wesley Riddle: Baeza via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Baeza via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Baeza via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Baeza via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Williams via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Baeza via Split Decision
Chris Presnell: Baeza via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Baeza: 6
Staff picking Williams: 1
Felicia Spencer (8-3) vs. Leah Letson (5-2)
Wesley Riddle: Spencer via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Spencer via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Spencer via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Spencer via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Spencer via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Spencer via Round 2 TKO
Chris Presnell: Spencer via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Spencer: 7
Staff picking Letson: 0
Ben Rothwell (39-13) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (18-8-1)
Wesley Riddle: Rothwell via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Rothwell via Round 3 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Rothwell via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Rothwell via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Rothwell via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Rothwell via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Rothwell via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Rothwell: 7
Staff picking Rogerio de Lima: 0
Max Holloway (22-6) vs. Yair Rodriguez (13-2, 1 NC)
Wesley Riddle: Holloway via Round 4 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Holloway via Round 4 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Holloway via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Holloway via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Holloway via Round 5 TKO
Nate Freeman: Holloway via Round 3 TKO
Chris Presnell: Holloway via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Holloway: 7
Staff picking Rodriguez: 0
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