Part-two of our weekend for MMASucka staff picks is here with now only four fights remaining in the 2021 season.
UFC Vegas 44, also titled as UFC on ESPN 31, will take place in just a few short hours today, December 4 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The six-fight main card will kick off live at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) for both cable viewers on ESPN and subscribers to ESPN+.
Recap our staff picks from Friday night’s incredible Bellator 272 event in Uncasville.
The Fights
Possible title implications sit on the line in tonight’s bantamweight (135 lbs.) main event Rob Font and Jose Aldo.
Fourth-ranked Font has blossomed into a true contender over the past three years winning four straight in dominant fashion; most recently a decisive five-round decision win over former divisional king Cody Garbrandt. If victorious, a shot at the winner of a soon-to-be announced title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan would be the right call for the 34-year-old Massachusetts talent. Font’s opponent, Aldo, looks to further his legacy as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all-time in his first main event since a title defeat to the aforementioned Petr Yan in 2020. The former two-time featherweight king targets his third-straight win after three-round decision wins in his last two UFC outings versus Marlon Vera and Pedro Munhoz.
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A must-watch co-main event will take place in the lightweight division (155 lbs.) between rising stars Brad Riddell and Rafael Fiziev.
A late card shuffle sees a welterweight pairing between Bryan Barberena and Darian Weeks counted for our picks with the matchup of Alex Morono and Mickey Gall excluded. Find our staff picks for the remaining main card of UFC Vegas 44 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. A winner is determined simply by the individual correctly picking the most victorious fighters at the year’s end. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See our UFC Vegas 44: Font vs. Aldo picks below.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 43:
1. Nate Freeman: 238-126
2. Wesley Riddle: 233-131
3. Michael DeSantis: 230-130
4. Frazer Krohn: 219-144
5. Mike Lynch: 204-150
6. Jeremy Brand: 190-154
7. Ash Camyab: 189-130
8. Andrew Benjamin: 147-138
9. Chris Presnell: 113-51
10. Tim Wheaton: 124-93
11. Jake Broderick: 12-3
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – Bellator 272 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Bryan Barberena (15-8) vs. Darian Weeks (5-0)
Wesley Riddle: Barberena via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Barberena via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Barberena via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Barberena via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Barberena via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Barberena via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Barberena via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Weeks via Round 3 TKO
Chris Presnell: Weeks via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Barberena: 7
Staff picking Weeks: 2
Brendan Allen (17-4) vs. Chris Curtis (27-8)
Wesley Riddle: Allen via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Allen via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Allen via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Curtis via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Allen via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Curtis via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Allen via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Allen via Round 1 SUB
Chris Presnell: Allen via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Allen: 7
Staff picking Curtis: 2
Clay Guida (36-18) vs. Leonardo Santos (18-5-1)
Wesley Riddle: Santos via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Santos via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Guida via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Guida via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Santos via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Santos via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Santos via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Santos via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Guida via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Guida: 3
Staff picking Santos: 6
Jimmy Crute (12-2) vs. Jamahal Hill (8-1, 1 NC)
Wesley Riddle: Crute via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Crute via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Crute via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Crute via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Crute via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Hill via UD
Nate Freeman: Crute via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Crute via Round 1 TKO
Chris Presnell: Crute via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Crute: 8
Staff picking Hill: 1
Brad Riddell (10-1) vs. Rafael Fiziev (10-1)
Wesley Riddle: Fiziev via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Riddell via Split Decision
Ash Camyab: Riddell via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Fiziev via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Riddell via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Fiziev via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Riddell via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Fiziev via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Fiziev via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Riddell: 4
Staff picking Fiziev: 5
Rob Font (19-4) vs. Jose Aldo (30-7)
Wesley Riddle: Font via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Font via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Aldo via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Aldo via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Font via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Font via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Font via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Aldo via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Font via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Font: 6
Staff picking Aldo: 3
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