MMASucka staff picks are locked in for the night ahead.
UFC Vegas 86, also titled as UFC Fight Night 236, will take place tonight, February 10th from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Preliminary fights begin at 4:00pm ET (1:00pm PT) followed by the main card at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT). All fights will be available to watch for subscribers on ESPN+.
Stay tuned here at MMASucka for results from the entire UFC Vegas 86: Hermansson vs. Pyfer card.
Main Event
Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer will meet in an important fight for the middleweight division.
Looking to change the tides sees Hermansson, an octagon veteran dating back to September of 2016 who returns tonight after a 14-month hiatus following an injury last summer. The former 185-pound Cage Warriors Champion has alternated a win and a loss in his last eight fights as he targets the victory column after a technical knockout defeat in December of 2022 to Roman Dolidze. Hermansson’s opponent, Pyfer, rides the hype train after his contract-winning stoppage of Ozzy Diaz in 2022. Finishing victories over Alen Amedovski, Gerald Meerschaert, and Abdul Razak Alhassan have propelled the former Ring of Combat and Art of War Cage Fight title holder to his first headliner.
Co-Main Event
Exciting featherweights will clash in the co-main event between Dan Ige and Andre Fili. 2017 Contender Series contract winner Ige saw his two-fight win streak last year snapped to Bryce Mitchell in September. Ten-plus year UFC contender and Team Alpha Male veteran Fili returns to the cage eight weeks removed from his first-round knockout of Lucas Almeida.
Additional Pairings
Middleweight matchups compose three of the remaining four fights on the main card. Poland’s Bryczek will make his octagon debut versus 2021 Contender Series alum Ihor Potieria. Longtime fan-favorite Brad Tavares makes his 24th appearance in the UFC against former LFA Champion Gregory Rodrigues. Lastly, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Rodolfo Vieira will open the ESPN+ main card against former AMC Fight Nights Light Heavyweight Champion Armen Petrosyan.
The final main card fight sees a thrilling standup pairing between lightweight strikers Michael Johnson and Darrius Flowers.
Find our staff picks and predictions for UFC Vegas 86: Hermansson vs. Pyfer further below.
Middleweight main event coming atcha 😤@JackTheJokerMMA vs @Joe_Pyfer96
[ #UFCVegas86 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus | 7pmET/4pmPT ] pic.twitter.com/8qNiGHKfT5
— UFC (@ufc) February 9, 2024
Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL MMA), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will compose main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL MMA picks are to be determined as card structures will likely change following last year’s merger with Bellator MMA.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2024 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 were won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Who are the MMASucka crew picking to win at UFC Vegas 86: Hermansson vs. Pyfer?
RECORDS AFTER UFC 297:
1. Frazer Krohn: 17-8
2. Nate Freeman: 15-10
3. Wesley Riddle: 13-12
4T. Michael DeSantis: 12-13
4T. Julio Monteros Jr.: 12-7
6. Jeremy Brand: 10-15
7. Andrew Benjamin: 8-6
8. Lukas DeWitt: 5-6
9. Casey Cooper: 4-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Rodolfo Vieira (9-2), -115
vs.
Armen Petrosyan (9-2), -105
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Vieira via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Petrosyan via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Petrosyan via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Vieira via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Petrosyan via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Petrosyan via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Vieira: 2
Staff picking Petrosyan: 4
Michael Johnson (22-19), -140
vs.
Darrius Flowers (12-6-1), +115
LIGHWEIGHT DIVISION
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Johnson: 6
Staff picking Flowers: 0
Brad Tavares (20-9), +200
vs.
Gregory Rodrigues (14-5), -245
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Rodrigues via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Tavares via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Rodrigues via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Rodrigues via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Rodrigues via Round 2 TKO
Lukas DeWitt: Rodrigues via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Tavares: 1
Staff picking Rodrigues: 5
Robert Bryczek (17-5), -165
vs.
Ihor Potieria (19-5), +135
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Bryczek via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Bryczek via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Bryczek via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Bryczek via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Bryczek via Round 2 TKO
Lukas DeWitt: Bryczek via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Bryczek: 6
Staff picking Potieria: 0
Dan Ige (17-7), -175
vs.
Andre Fili (23-10), +145
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION
– CO-MAIN EVENT –
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Ige via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Ige via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Ige via Split Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Ige via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Ige via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Ige via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Ige: 6
Staff picking Fili: 0
Jack Hermansson (23-8), +205
vs.
Joe Pyfer (12-2), -250
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN EVENT –
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Pyfer via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Pyfer via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Pyfer via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Pyfer via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Hermansson via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Pyfer via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Hermansson: 1
Staff picking Pyfer: 5
