MMASucka staff picks are in as a promotional network returns for the card’s spotlight.
UFC on ABC 3 will take place this afternoon, July 16 from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. This marks the UFC’s first-ever event from the 2021-opened facility as well as the American Broadcasting Company’s return to feature a promotional event in over a year. The main card will begin at an earlier start time of 2:00pm ET (11:00am PT) on both ABC for cable viewers and ESPN+ for those subscribed.
Live results from the entire UFC on ABC 3: Ortega vs. Rodriguez card can be found here at MMASucka.
The Fights
Featherweight friends Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez will turn to foes in tonight’s featured main event.
Two-time divisional title challenger Ortega is look to rebound after his September of 2021 title defeat to the still-reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski. The well-rounded talent has beat some of the best of the best at 145 pounds through his near eight-year UFC tenure including Cub Swanson, Frankie Edgar, and, most recently, Chan Sung Jung in late 2020. Ortega’s opponent, Rodriguez, also hopes to bounce back after his November of last year defeat to Max Holloway, the most recent challenger of Volkanovski. At only 29-years-old, the Mexican talent has accomplished more than most having won The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America in 2014 and recording eight post-fight promotional bonuses with his entertaining style.
In the co-main event, Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Amanda Lemos will look to steal the show as they meet at 115 pounds. Former Invicta FC atomweight champion Waterson-Gomez targets her first win since a five-round split-decision over Angela Hill in 2020. Fast-rising Lemos aims to get back in the win column after having her six-fight win streak snapped in April to Jessica Andrade.
Find our staff picks for the rest of the main card of UFC on ABC 3 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 UFC on ABC 3: Ortega vs. Rodriguez staff picks.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 58:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 133-64
1T. Nate Freeman: 133-64
3. Michael DeSantis: 130-67
4. Frazer Krohn: 127-70
5T. Jeremy Brand: 124-67
5T. William Dong: 124-73
5T. Julio Monteros Jr.: 124-62
8. Mike Lynch: 123-74
9. Chris Presnell: 117-74
10. Andrew Benjamin: 116-81
11. Tim Wheaton: 113-58
12. Brandon Joint: 103-65
13. Ash Camyab: 95-67
14. Coby Weinsier: 87-47
15. Jack Goodwillie: 86-37
16. Brian Knight: 82-51
17. Chinyere Okafor: 72-38
18. Jacek Okninski: 69-54
19. Matt Bricker: 24-22
20. Joe Porter: 11-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Lauren Murphy (15-5), +165
vs.
Miesha Tate (19-8), -195
Flyweight Division
~ 125 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Tate via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Tate via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Tate via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Tate via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Tate via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Tate via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Murphy via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Murphy via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Tate via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Tate via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Tate via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Murphy: 2
Staff picking Tate: 9
Shane Burgos (14-3), -175
vs.
Charles Jourdain (13-4-1), +150
Featherweight Division
~ 145 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Jourdain via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Burgos via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Burgos via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Burgos via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Burgos via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Burgos via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Burgos via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Burgos via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Burgos via Round 2 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Burgos via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Jourdain via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Burgos: 9
Staff picking Jourdain: 2
Matt Schnell (15-6), +220
vs.
Sumudaerji (16-4), -260
Flyweight Division
~ 125 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Sumudaerji via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Schnell via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Sumudaerji via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Schnell: 1
Staff picking Sumudaerji: 10
Li Jingliang (18-7), +145
vs.
Muslim Salikhov (18-2), -170
Welterweight Division
~ 170 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Jingliang via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Salikhov via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Salikhov via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Salikhov via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Jingliang via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Salikhov via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Salikhov via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Jingliang via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Jingliang via Round 2 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Jingliang via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Salikhov via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Jingliang: 5
Staff picking Salikhov: 6
Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-9), +245
vs.
Amanda Lemos (11-2-1), -295
Strawweight Co-Main Event
~ 115 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Waterson-Gomez via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Lemos via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Waterson-Gomez via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Lemos via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Waterson-Gomez via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Waterson-Gomez via Split Decision
Staff picking Waterson-Gomez: 4
Staff picking Lemos: 7
Brian Ortega (15-2, 1 NC), -165
vs.
Yair Rodriguez (14-3, 1 NC), +140
Featherweight Main Event
~ 145 lbs. ~
Jeremy Brand: Ortega via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Ortega via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Ortega via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Ortega via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Ortega via Split Decision
William Dong: Ortega via Round 2 SUB
Julio Monteros Jr.: Ortega via Round 3 SUB
Brian Knight: Ortega via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Ortega: 8
Staff picking Rodriguez: 3
*Fight odds from DraftKings*
UFC ON ABC 3 FEATURED IMAGE:
