Quarter one comes to an end for MMASucka staff picks.
UFC on ESPN 55, also titled as UFC Vegas 91, will wrap up the first 25% of the calendar year later today, April 27th from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Television viewers can watch preliminary fights at 4:00pm ET (1:00pm PT) on ESPN 2 followed by the main card at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) on regular ESPN. The entire card will be available to ESPN+ subscribers.
Stay tuned here at MMASucka for UFC on ESPN 55: Nicolau vs. Perez results.
Card Headliner
A crucial matchup will take place in the night’s featured main event between flyweight contenders Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez. Nicolau’s originally scheduled fight was a rematch with Manel Kape, but the duo was scrapped after Kape suffered an injury.
The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 semifinalist Nicolau (-180) has made the most of his second promotional tenure winning all but his last fight in April of 2023 to Brandon Royval. His loss snapped a string of six victories including his latest two over David Dvorak and Matt Schnell in 2022. Nicolau’s opponent, 2017 Contender Series signee Perez (+150), will target his 25th professional victory on Saturday night. It will be a needed win as he has lost three straight fights including his November of 2020 bout for the Title against then-Champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
A top 10 matchup you DON’T want to miss 👀@NicolauMatheus vs @AlexPerezMMA
[ #UFCVegas91 | TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus | 7pmET/4pmPT ] pic.twitter.com/7tNfr4e770
— UFC (@ufc) April 26, 2024
Co-Main Event
Finishing talents of Ryan Spann and Bogdan Guskov are set for three rounds in the light heavyweight division. Fortis MMA’s Spann (-185) saw a 2-0 run in 2022 snapped by a 0-2 run last year with a first-round submission defeat to Nikita Krylov and a split decision to Anthony Smith. 100% finisher Guskov (+150) makes a quick turnaround after his first-round February knockout of Zac Pauga.
Remaining Fights
Former KSW Women’s Flyweight Champion Ariane Lipski (+130) puts her three-fight win streak on the line against the eight-fight finishing streak of 2021 Contender Series contract victor Karine Silva (-160).
With a combined 17 knockouts in 18 total victories, this heavyweight pairing is a must-watch between two Dana White’s Contender Series alums of former NFL defensive end Austen Lane (+280) and undefeated Brazilian Jhonata Diniz (-375).
Another former Contender Series signee of Jonathan Pearce (-150) looks to bounce back after a November loss as he fights five-time octagon notable David Onama (+125). The matchup will be contested at a catchweight of 148.5 pounds after Onama missed the featherweight mark of 146 pounds.
Opening the main card sees fan-favorite veteran Tim Means (+250) set to fight 2020 Contender Series winner Uros Medic (-300) in the welterweight division.
Who wins and who is picked to win from the main card of UFC on ESPN 55?
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.
See below for our staff picks and betting predictions at UFC on ESPN 55: Nicolau vs. Perez.
RECORDS AFTER PFL 3 2024:
1. Nate Freeman: 94-46
2. Wesley Riddle: 89-51
3. Jeremy Brand: 85-55
4. Michael DeSantis: 84-48
5. Frazer Krohn: 82-58
6. Andrew Benjamin: 61-62
7. Lukas DeWitt: 43-31
8. Julio Monteros Jr.: 28-11
9. Michael Kachan: 19-9
10. Casey Cooper: 4-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Tim Means (33-15-1), +250
vs.
Uros Medic (9-2), -300
WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Medic via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Medic via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Medic via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Means via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Means via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Medic via Round 2 TKO
Lukas DeWitt: Medic via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Means: 2
Staff picking Medic: 5
Jonathan Pearce (14-5), -150
vs.
David Onama (11-2), +125
CATCHWEIGHT FIGHT
– 148.5 LBS. ~ 67.4 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Pearce via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Pearce via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Pearce via Split Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Pearce via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Onama via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pearce via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Onama via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Pearce: 5
Staff picking Onama: 2
Austen Lane (12-4), +280
vs.
Jhonata Diniz (6-0), -375
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– 265 LBS. ~ 120.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Diniz via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Diniz via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Diniz via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Lane via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Lane via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Diniz via Round 1 TKO
Lukas DeWitt: Diniz via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Lane: 2
Staff picking Diniz: 5
Ariane Lipski (17-8), +130
vs.
Karine Silva (17-4), -160
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Silva via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Lipski via Split Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Lipski via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Lipski via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Lipski: 3
Staff picking Silva: 4
Ryan Spann (21-9), -185
vs.
Bogdan Guskov (15-3), +150
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– CO-MAIN EVENT –
– 205 LBS. ~ 93.0 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Guskov via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Spann via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Spann via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Spann via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Spann via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Spann via Unanimous Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Guskov via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Spann: 5
Staff picking Guskov: 2
Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1), -180
vs.
Alex Perez (24-8), +150
FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN EVENT –
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Nicolau via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Nicolau via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Nicolau via Split Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Perez via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Nicolau via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Nicolau via Split Decision
Lukas DeWitt: Nicolau via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Nicolau: 6
Staff picking Perez: 1
