MMASucka’s staff picks are in for Friday’s ONE Championship: Call to Greatness event. This is the third ONE Championship card that we will be doing staff picks for, and it seems to be a card full of exciting fights. The most notable part of the card is the continuation of the lightweight grand prix, which will eventually introduce Eddie Alvarez to the promotion. The prelims will kick off at 5:00 AM EST with the main card following.
The Fights
The first fight that we will be picking is the preliminary bantamweight bout between Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Masakazu Imanari and young Korean finish artist Kwon Won Il. Next, there is the strawweight fight between Japanese prospect Ayaki Miura who puts her three-fight win streak on the line against former title challenger Laura Balin. The other two fights we will be picking are part of the lightweight grand prix. The winners will end up fighting each other in the semifinals. First, there’s the matchup between former title challenger Ev Ting and promising prospect Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev. Finally, there’s the grand prix bout between Amir Khan and Ariel Sexton. Khan is an exciting striker, while Sexton is a TUF vet with impressive submission skills. This ONE Championship card is shaping up to be a good one.
ONE Championship: Call to Greatness Staff Picks
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of four different MMA promotions: UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN. Main cards will make up both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE and RIZIN events will be used. The WINNER of staff picks will have a choice between receiving a championship belt from ProAmBelts or a championship chain from Championship Chains. The 2018 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 202-101.
Staff Records After UFC on ESPN 1
Michael DeSantis: 36-12
Ed Gallo: 33-15
Wesley Riddle: 32-16
Brian Gerson: 32-16
Ryan Wagner: 31-13
Connor Deitrich: 31-17
Jeremy Brand: 30-18
Justin Pierrot: 29-18
Mitch Banuelos: 28-15
Mike Skytte: 27-21
Omar Villagrana: 27-21
Matt Bricker: 27-21
Sasha Moksyakov: 25-13
Ash Camyab: 24-10
Patrick Auger: 24-19
Suraj Sukumar: 23-12
Masakazu Imanari (37-18-2) vs. Kwon Won Il (3-0)
Wesley Riddle: Imanari via Round 1 SUB
Mike Skytte: Imanari via Round 1 SUB
Justin Pierrot: Imanari via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Imanari via Round 1 SUB
Mitch Banuelos: Imanari via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Imanari via Round 2 SUB
Omar Villagrana: Imanari via UD
Brian Gerson: Imanari via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Imanari via Round 2 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Imanari via Round 1 SUB
Patrick Auger: Imanari via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Imanari via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Imanari: 12
Staff picking Won: 0
Ayaki Miura (7-2) vs. Laura Balin (10-3)
Jeremy Brand: Miura via Round 1 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Miura via Round 2 SUB
Mike Skytte: Miura via UD
Justin Pierrot: Miura via UD
Michael DeSantis: Miura via UD
Mitch Banuelos: Miura via UD
Ed Gallo: Miura via UD
Omar Villagrana: Miura via UD
Brian Gerson: Miura via Round 1 KO
Matt Bricker: Miura via UD
Connor Deitrich: Miura via UD
Patrick Auger: Miura via UD
Ash Camyab: Miura via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Miura: 13
Staff picking Balin: 0
Ev Ting (16-5) vs. Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev (6-1)
Jeremy Brand: Ting via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Arslanaliev via UD
Mike Skytte: Arslanaliev via Round 2 SUB
Justin Pierrot: Ting via UD
Michael DeSantis: Arslanaliev via Round 2 TKO
Mitch Banuelos: Arslanaliev via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Ting via UD
Omar Villagrana: Ting via UD
Brian Gerson: Ting via UD
Matt Bricker: Arslanaliev via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Ting via UD
Patrick Auger: Ting via UD
Ash Camyab: Arslanaliev via Round 2 KO
Staff picking Ting: 7
Staff picking Arslanaliev: 6
Amir Khan (11-4) vs. Ariel Sexton (12-4)
Jeremy Brand: Khan via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Khan via SD
Mike Skytte: Khan via Round 2 TKO
Justin Pierrot: Khan via UD
Michael DeSantis: Khan via UD
Mitch Banuelos: Khan via UD
Ed Gallo: Sexton via Round 3 SUB
Omar Villagrana: Khan via UD
Brian Gerson: Khan via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Khan via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Sexton via UD
Patrick Auger: Khan via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Sexton via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Khan: 10
Staff picking Sexton: 3
