Part three of three for MMASucka staff picks this weekend are in. A few hours from now will see UFC Fight Night 163 take place from the CSKA Arena in Moscow, Russia. The main card will begin at 2:00pm ET (11:00am PT) live on ESPN+ for those with subscriptions. Make sure to check out our ONE Championship: Masters of Fate staff picks from Friday morning and Bellator 233 staff picks from last night.
The Fights
A late shift in the bout order following injuries led to Zabit Magomedsharipov and Calvin Kattar moving from the co-main to the main event slot. This three-round bout will be contested at 145 pounds, both men looking to climb one step closer towards receiving their first UFC title shot. Magomedsharipov’s rise to success has come alongside training partners Mark Henry and Frankie Edgar finding triumph early on as the ACB (now ACA) featherweight champion. Upon signing with the UFC, he has captured five additional victories moving his win streak to now thirteen in a row since September of 2013. His opponent, Kattar, will look for his third straight and second win of the calendar year after dropping a decision to Renato Moicano. “The Boston Finisher” held true to his name in those victories finishing both Chris Fishgold and Ricardo Lamas by knockout in the first.
Alexander Volkov was originally set to face-off against in the main event slot. However, following a dos Santos injury, Greg Hardy would step in on short notice thus moving this to the co-main event slot. Volkov hopes to bounce back after a knockout loss to Derrick Lewis in October last year, while Hardy looks for a sixth career first-round knockout.
See all six fights counted for picks this weekend from UFC Fight Night 163 further 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 161 below.
Staff Records after UFC 244:
1T. Michael DeSantis: 266-151
1T. Connor Deitrich: 266-151
3. Ed Gallo: 256-157
4. Mitchell Banuelos: 250-153
5. Mike Skytte: 247-170
6. Jeremy Brand: 245-171
7. Matt Bricker: 231-173
8. Ash Camyab: 216-163
9. Frazer Krohn: 145-104
10. Ryan Hobbs: 127-112
11. Andrew Benjamin: 107-78
12. McKenzie Guardiero: 101-79
13. Tanner Russ: 75-40
14. Dan Rose: 59-42
15. Mike Lynch: 32-30
*Staff records will be updated next week with cards from this weekend*
Shamil Gamzatov (13-0) vs. Klidson Abreu (15-3)
Jeremy Brand: Abreu via UD
Mike Skytte: Abreu via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Gamzatov via UD
Ed Gallo: Gamzatov via UD
Matt Bricker: Abreu via UD
Connor Deitrich: Gamzatov via UD
Ash Camyab: Abreu via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Abreu via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Gamzatov via UD
Frazer Krohn: Abreu via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Abreu via UD
Tanner Russ: Gamzatov via UD
Dan Rose: Gamzatov via UD
Mike Lynch: Abreu via UD
Staff picking Gamzatov: 6
Staff picking Abreu: 8
Ramazan Emeev (18-3) vs. Anthony Rocco Martin (16-5)
Jeremy Brand: Emeev via UD
Mike Skytte: Emeev via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Emeev via UD
Ed Gallo: Rocco Martin via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Rocco Martin via UD
Connor Deitrich: Emeev via UD
Ash Camyab: Rocco Martin via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Rocco Martin via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Rocco Martin via UD
Frazer Krohn: Rocco Martin via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Rocco Martin via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Rocco Martin via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Rocco Martin via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Rocco Martin via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Emeev: 4
Staff picking Rocco Martin: 10
Khadis Ibragimov (8-1) vs. Ed Herman (24-14, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Ibragimov via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Ibragimov via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ibragimov via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Ibragimov via Round 3 SUB
Matt Bricker: Ibragimov via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Ibragimov via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Herman via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Herman via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Herman via UD
Frazer Krohn: Ibragimov via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Herman via UD
Tanner Russ: Herman via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Ibragimov via UD
Mike Lynch: Ibragimov via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Ibragimov: 9
Staff picking Herman: 5
Zelim Imadaev (8-1) vs. Danny Roberts (16-5)
Jeremy Brand: Imadaev via Round 3 SUB
Mike Skytte: Imadaev via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Imadaev via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Roberts via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Roberts via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Roberts via UD
Ash Camyab: Roberts via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Roberts via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Roberts via UD
Frazer Krohn: Roberts via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Roberts via SD
Tanner Russ: Roberts via UD
Dan Rose: Roberts via UD
Mike Lynch: Imadaev via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Imadaev: 4
Staff picking Roberts: 10
Alexander Volkov (30-7) vs. Greg Hardy (5-1, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Volkov via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Volkov via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Volkov via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Volkov via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Volkov via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Volkov via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Volkov via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Volkov via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Volkov via Round 3 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Volkov via Round 1 TKO
Tanner Russ: Volkov via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Volkov via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Volkov via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Volkov: 13
Staff picking Hardy: 1
Zabit Magomedsharipov (17-1) vs. Calvin Kattar (20-3)
Jeremy Brand: Kattar via UD
Mike Skytte: Magomedsharipov via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Magomedsharipov via SD
Ed Gallo: Kattar via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Magomedsharipov via Round 2 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Kattar via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Kattar via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Magomedsharipov via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Kattar via UD
Frazer Krohn: Kattar via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Magomedsharipov via Round 3 SUB
Tanner Russ: Kattar via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Magomedsharipov via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Kattar via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Magomedsharipov: 6
Staff picking Kattar: 8
FEATURED IMAGE:
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