MMASucka staff picks concludes the month of June with three weekend fight cards.
Kicking things off sees PFL 5 2022 set to take place in just a few hours today, June 24 from Atlanta, Georgia’s newest Overtime Elite Arena. Tonight’s card will mark the Professional Fighters League’s fifth of six total Regular Season events before the start of the promotion’s playoffs in August. The preliminary fights will begin at 5:30pm ET (2:30pm PT) live on ESPN+ with the main card on both ESPN+ and ESPN at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT).
Live results from the entire PFL 5 2022 fight card will be available here at MMASucka.
Stay tuned later this afternoon for our Bellator 282: Mousasi vs. Eblen picks from Uncasville, Connecticut as well as our UFC Vegas 57: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot picks from Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Fights
Featherweights (145 pounds) and heavyweights (265 pounds) will fight for Regular Season points on tonight’s card.
Featured in the main event sees 2021 heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza and 2022 tournament newcomer Matheus Scheffell. Dangerous finisher Renan Ferreira meets former Brace CF champion Klidson Abreu while 2021 finalist Ante Delija looks for second knockout of the year as he takes on PFL’s new addition of Shelton Graves.
Last year’s tournament finalist Chris Wade will battle former UFC notable Kyle Bochniak on the main card as one of the promotion’s featherweight matchups. Familiar talents Bubba Jenkins and Lance Palmer aim for big performances against their respected opponents.
An additional fight at lightweight (155 pounds) falls in the co-main event between fan-favorite veterans Anthony Pettis and Stevie Ray. Find our PFL 5 2022 staff picks for seven of the Regular Season fights further below.
Staff Picks
Staff picks in 2022 will follow the same set of rules from the 2021 season. 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 included for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the entire fight card; dates for this promotion’s return are soon-to-be announced.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2022 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. Nate Freeman secured his first victory with MMASucka in 2021 with a compiled record 243-136.
See below for our PFL 5 2022 staff picks.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN 37:
1. Wesley Riddle: 110-55
2. Nate Freeman: 109-56
3. Michael DeSantis: 108-57
4. Frazer Krohn: 107-58
5T. Mike Lynch: 103-62
5T. Jeremy Brand: 103-56
5T. Julio Monteros Jr.: 103-51
8. William Dong: 102-63
9. Chris Presnell: 101-64
10. Brandon Joint: 96-57
11. Andrew Benjamin: 95-70
12. Tim Wheaton: 93-51
13. Coby Weinsier: 87-47
14. Ash Camyab: 85-55
15. Jacek Okninski: 69-54
16. Brian Knight: 67-41
17. Chinyere Okafor: 63-30
18. Jack Goodwillie: 62-29
19. Matt Bricker: 24-22
20. Joe Porter: 11-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Lance Palmer (22-6), -135
vs.
Sheymon Moraes (14-5), +115
Heavyweight Division
~ 265 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Palmer via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Moraes via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Moraes via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Moraes via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Palmer via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Moraes via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Chinyere Okafor: Moraes via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Palmer via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Palmer: 10
Staff picking Moraes: 5
Bubba Jenkins (17-5), -280
vs.
Reinaldo Ekson (18-5), +235
Featherweight Division
~ 145 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Jenkins via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Jenkins via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Jenkins via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Chinyere Okafor: Ekson via Round 2 SUB
Julio Monteros Jr.: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Jenkins via Split Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Jenkins: 14
Staff picking Ekson: 1
Ante Delija (20-5), -720
vs.
Shelton Graves (9-5), +520
Heavyweight Division
~ 265 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Delija via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Delija via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Delija via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Delija via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Delija via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Chinyere Okafor: Delija via Round 3 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Delija via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Delija: 15
Staff picking Graves: 0
Chris Wade (21-7), -475
vs.
Kyle Bochniak (11-6), +380
Featherweight Division
~ 145 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Bochniak via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Bochniak via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Wade via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Chinyere Okafor: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Bochniak via Split Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Wade via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Wade: 12
Staff picking Bochniak: 3
Renan Ferreira (9-2, 1 NC), -540
vs.
Klidson Abreu (16-5, 1 NC), +420
Heavyweight Division
~ 265 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Ferreira via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Ferreira via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Chris Presnell: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Chinyere Okafor: Ferreira via Round 3 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Ferreira via Round 2 SUB
Brian Knight: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Ferreira via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Ferreira: 15
Staff picking Abreu: 0
Anthony Pettis (25-12), -215
vs.
Stevie Ray (23-10), +185
Lightweight Co-Main Event
~ 155 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Pettis via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Pettis via Split Decision
Ash Camyab: Pettis via Round 3 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Pettis via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Pettis via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Pettis via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Ray via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Pettis via Round 1 SUB
William Dong: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Chinyere Okafor: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Pettis via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Pettis via Round 3 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Ray via Split Decision
Staff picking Pettis: 13
Staff picking Ray: 2
Bruno Cappelozza (15-5), -580
vs.
Matheus Scheffel (15-8), +440
Heavyweight Main Event
~ 265 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Cappelozza via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Cappelozza via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Cappelozza via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Cappelozza via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Cappelozza via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Chinyere Okafor: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Cappelozza via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Cappelozza via Round 2 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Cappelozza: 15
Staff picking Scheffel: 0
*Fight odds from DraftKings*
PFL 5 2022 FEATURED IMAGE:
Anthony Pettis (left) and Stevie Ray (right) with Ray Sefo ahead of their PFL 5 2022 fight taking place Friday, June 24th from the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia (photo credits to PFL MMA).
