MMASucka staff picks are in for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 159, the action going down tonight from the Mexico City Arena in Mexico City. Our five-fight main card will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
The Fights
A clash of exciting featherweights will take place in the main event slot between Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens. Mexico’s Rodriguez has had a very successful run since winning The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America in 2014. Aside from a single defeat in the promotion to Frankie Edgar, he has been victorious in every other bout racking up multiple post-fight bonuses along the way. Rodriguez will be making his return to the octagon for the first time since his 2018 “Fight of the Year” with Chan Sung Jung, a fight and finish everyone needs to watch. His opponent, Stephens, has had a lengthy tenure with the UFC dating back all the way to 2007. Vicious finishes over Rafael dos Anjos, Marcus Davis, and Rony Jason make up only a small amount of his accomplishments. Stephens will look to avoid a three-fight skid with a potential 20th career knockout.
Strawweights Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso will meet in the co-main event. Former divisional champion Esparza hopes to capture her second victory of 2019 while the youthful Grasso aims for a third win under the UFC banner.
Also on the main card sees the octagon return of Brandon Moreno against the debut of undefeated Askar Askarov. See the remaining UFC Fight Night 159 fights below.
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.
Check out our MMASucka staff picks for UFC Fight Night 159 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 158:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 210-111
1T. Connor Deitrich: 210-111
3. Ed Gallo: 202-120
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 195-114
5. Mike Skytte: 194-127
6. Jeremy Brand: 186-135
7. Matt Bricker: 181-130
8. Brian Gerson: 176-99
9T. Ryan Wagner: 169-83
9T. Ash Camyab: 169-120
11. Patrick Auger: 157-119
12. Frazer Krohn: 97-61
13. Ryan Fortune: 78-39
14. Ryan Hobbs: 77-66
15. Suraj Sukumar: 58-26
16. McKenzie Guardiero: 56-37
17. Andrew Benjamin: 54-41
18. Tanner Russ: 10-9
19. Dan Rose: 1-4
Martin Bravo (11-2) vs. Steven Peterson (17-9)
Jeremy Brand: Peterson via UD
Mike Skytte: Peterson via SD
Michael DeSantis: Bravo via SD
Mitchell Banuelos: Peterson via UD
Ed Gallo: Bravo via UD
Connor Deitrich: Bravo via UD
Ash Camyab: Bravo via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Bravo via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Bravo via UD
Frazer Krohn: Bravo via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Bravo via UD
Tanner Russ: Bravo via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Bravo via UD
Staff picking Bravo: 10
Staff picking Peterson: 3
Irene Aldana (10-5) vs. Vanessa Melo (9-5)
Jeremy Brand: Aldana via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Aldana via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Aldana via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Aldana via UD
Ed Gallo: Aldana via UD
Connor Deitrich: Aldana via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Aldana via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Aldana via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Aldana via UD
Frazer Krohn: Aldana via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Melo via UD
Tanner Russ: Aldana via UD
Dan Rose: Aldana via UD
Staff picking Aldana: 12
Staff picking Melo: 1
Brandon Moreno (15-5) vs. Askar Askarov (10-0)
Jeremy Brand: Moreno via Round 2 SUB
Mike Skytte: Askarov via UD
Michael DeSantis: Askarov via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Moreno via Round 3 SUB
Ed Gallo: Askarov via Round 2 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Askarov via UD
Ash Camyab: Moreno via Round 3 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Moreno via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Moreno via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Moreno via Round 2 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Askarov via Round 1 TKO
Tanner Russ: Moreno via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Askarov via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Moreno: 7
Staff picking Askarov: 6
Carla Esparza (14-6) vs. Alexa Grasso (11-2)
Jeremy Brand: Grasso via UD
Mike Skytte: Grasso via SD
Michael DeSantis: Grasso via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Grasso via UD
Ed Gallo: Grasso via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Grasso via UD
Ash Camyab: Esparza via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Esparza via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Esparza via UD
Frazer Krohn: Grasso via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Grasso via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Esparza via UD
Dan Rose: Esparza via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Esparza: 5
Staff picking Grasso: 8
Yair Rodriguez (11-2) vs. Jeremy Stephens (28-16)
Jeremy Brand: Rodriguez via UD
Mike Skytte: Stephens via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Stephens via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Stephens via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Rodriguez via SD
Connor Deitrich: Stephens via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Stephens via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Rodriguez via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Stephens via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Rodriguez via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Stephens via Round 3 TKO
Tanner Russ: Stephens via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Rodriguez via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Rodriguez: 5
Staff picking Stephens: 8
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