The first quarter of 2024 comes to an end for MMASucka staff picks.
UFC on ESPN 54 will take place later today, March 30th from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This comes as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first event from the seaside town since UFC Fight Night 128 in April of 2018 and the overall tenth trip in company history. The event will begin with preliminary fights on ESPN 2 at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) followed by the main card on ESPN at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT). All fights will be available to ESPN+ subscribers.
Stay tuned here at MMASucka for UFC on ESPN 54: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot results.
Main Event
A pivotal matchup in the women’s flyweight division will take place in the night’s headliner between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot.
24-year-old Blanchfield has done nothing short than impress since joining the promotion in mid-2021. Six octagon wins including two recent over former UFC Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade and former 125-pound title challenger Taila Santos add to a current win streak of nine. Blanchfield’s opponent, Fiorot, brings an identical UFC count of six victories. After losing her professional debut, the French talent has not looked back winning two regional Titles en route to her first UFC main event in her 13th fight.
Only one undefeated record will survive 👀@Blanchfield_MMA vs @ManonFiorot_MMA
[ #UFCAtlanticCity | TOMORROW on @ESPN | 10pmET/7pmPT ] pic.twitter.com/wtPI0eR8tW
— UFC (@ufc) March 29, 2024
Co-Main Event
Dangerous finishers Vicente Luque and Joaquin Buckley will meet in the welterweight division. Eight-time UFC bonus recipient Luque targets a second consecutive win after securing a unanimous decision in August of last year over former Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos. Knockout specialist Buckley aims for three in-a-row following a successful 2023 that saw a second-round finish of Andre Fialho and a decision over Alex Morono.
Remaining Card
Two main card meetings will take place in the middleweight division. Former 185-pound UFC Champion Chris Weidman looks to snap a two-fight skid and his first win since August of 2020 as he battles former M-1 Champion Bruno Silva. Secondly, 45-fight veteran Nursulton Ruziboev is set for only his second UFC bout against 2022 Contender Series contract signee Sedriques Dumas.
Former Ring of Combat Featherweight Champion Bill Algeo and Ontario’s Kyle Nelson both aim for three straight wins after successful 2023’s.
Welterweights of Chidi Njokuani and Rhys McKee will open the night’s ESPN main card.
Find our staff picks and predictions further below for UFC on ESPN 54.
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) with Bellator MMA, ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL and Bellator MMA see picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
- 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 staff picking to win at UFC on ESPN 54? Find out below.
RECORDS AFTER UFC ON ESPN 53:
1. Nate Freeman: 57-25
2. Frazer Krohn: 51-31
3. Michael DeSantis: 48-29
4. Wesley Riddle: 47-35
5. Jeremy Brand: 43-39
6. Andrew Benjamin: 32-36
7. Julio Monteros Jr.: 28-11
8. Lukas DeWitt: 26-23
9. Michael Kachan: 11-7
10. Casey Cooper: 4-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Chidi Njokuani (22-10), -140
vs.
Rhys McKee (13-5), +115
WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Njokuani via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Njokuani via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Njokuani via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Njokuani via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Njokuani via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Njokuani via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Njokuani via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Njokuani: 7
Staff picking McKee: 0
Bill Algeo (18-7), -245
vs.
Kyle Nelson (14-5-1), +200
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Nelson via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Algeo via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Algeo via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Algeo via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Algeo via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Algeo via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Algeo via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Algeo: 6
Staff picking Nelson: 1
Nursulton Ruziboev (35-8-2, 2 NC), -205
vs.
Sedriques Dumas (9-1), +170
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Ruziboev via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Ruziboev via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ruziboev via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Ruziboev via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Ruziboev via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Ruziboev via Round 2 SUB
Lukas DeWitt: Ruziboev via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Ruziboev: 7
Staff picking Dumas: 0
Chris Weidman (15-7), +170
vs.
Bruno Silva (23-10), -205
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Weidman via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Weidman via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Silva via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Silva via Split Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Silva via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Weidman: 2
Staff picking Silva: 5
Vicente Luque (22-9-1), -115
vs.
Joaquin Buckley (17-6), -105
WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION
– CO-MAIN EVENT –
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Luque via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Luque via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Luque via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Buckley via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Luque via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Luque via Round 2 TKO
Lukas DeWitt: Buckley via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Luque: 5
Staff picking Buckley: 2
Erin Blanchfield (12-1), -200
vs.
Manon Fiorot (11-1), +165
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN EVENT –
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Blanchfield via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Blanchfield via Round 4 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Blanchfield via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Blanchfield via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Blanchfield via Split Decision
Nate Freeman: Blanchfield via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Blanchfield via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Blanchfield: 7
Staff picking Fiorot: 0
