MMASucka staff picks are locked in for one of the biggest cards of the year. Later tonight, March 7, will see UFC 248 kick off from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Main card action will begin at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live for purchase on pay-per-view.
The Fights
The first of two title fights sees current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya look to defend his belt for the first time against Cuba’s Yoel Romero. Within two years of signing with the promotion, Adesanya rallied from the introductory ranks to earning his shot at the interim title. After taking the strap over Kelvin Gastelum, he would follow it up by claiming the official belt last October with a knockout over Robert Whittaker. Adesanya looks for a 19th victory to remain undefeated in his career. His opponent, Romero, has shared both highs and lows competing for the UFC’s 185-pound title. Romero missing weight resulted in a non-title bout rematch in 2018 to the aforementioned Whittaker, dropping a narrow split decision, followed by a defeat to Paulo Costa in August. Despite this two fight skid, 42-year-old Romero still carries the assets needed to become a world champion.
Title fight two moves features UFC strawweight title victor Weili Zhang and former queen of the division, Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Zhang’s current win streak of 20 extends back to 2014, since adding ten knockouts and seven submissions to her name. Three dominant UFC victories propelled her to take on Jessica Andrade for the belt. Zhang would only spend 42 seconds in the octagon, finishing off Andrade with a flurry of strikes to become the new champ. Her opponent, Poland’s Jedrzejczyk, held the belt for five defenses until suffering a knockout loss to Rose Namajunas in late 2017; soon after, a decision defeat in their rematch. An attempt for the flyweight belt did not play out as expected, losing all five rounds to foe Valentina Shevchenko a year later. Jedrzejczyk will attempt to get back the championship she once held for nearly three years.
See the remaining UFC 248 fights for our staff picks further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of five different MMA promotions. UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN all appeared for the 2019 season and will make returns. The newest addition for the 2020 year will see the PFL including their regular season, playoffs, and championship card. A special staff picks bonus will be introduced and discussed regarding PFL’s playoff format as time gets closer.
Main cards will makeup both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE, RIZIN, and PFL 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 2019 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 321-178. Second-place Connor Deitrich collected a close score of 319-180 with third-place Ed Gallo not far behind totaling at 312-183.
Check out our staff picks for UFC 248 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 169:
1. Michael DeSantis: 53-18
2T. Wesley Riddle: 52-19
2T. Connor Deitrich: 52-19
4T. Ed Gallo: 49-22
4T. Dan Rose: 49-22
6T. Matt Bricker: 47-24
6T. Frazer Krohn: 47-24
8. Jeremy Brand: 46-25
9. Andrew Benjamin: 45-26
10T. Mike Skytte: 44-27
10T. Ash Camyab: 44-27
10T. McKenzie Guardiero: 44-27
10T. Nate Freeman: 44-23
14. Ashwin Viswanathan: 40-21
15T. Mitchell Banuelos: 39-18
15T. Mike Lynch: 39-22
17. Ryan Hobbs: 38-33
18. Jack Buchanan: 33-15
19. Jeremy Cook: 10-5
Alex Oliveira (19-8-1, 2 NC) vs. Max Griffin (15-7)
Jeremy Brand: Oliveira via UD
Wesley Riddle: Oliveira via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Oliveira via UD
Ed Gallo: Griffin via UD
Matt Bricker: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Connor Dietrich: Oliveira via UD
Ash Camyab: Oliveira via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Griffin via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Oliveira via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Oliveira via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Oliveira via UD
Dan Rose: Oliveira via Round 1 SUB
Jeremy Cook: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Oliveira via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Oliveira via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Oliveira: 15
Staff picking Griffin: 2
Neil Magny (21-7) vs. Li Jingliang (17-5)
Jeremy Brand: Magny via UD
Wesley Riddle: Jingliang via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Jingliang via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Jingliang via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Jingliang via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Jingliang via Round 2 TKO
Connor Dietrich: Magny via UD
Ash Camyab: Jingliang via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Jingliang via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Magny via UD
Frazer Krohn: Jingliang via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Magny via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Magny via UD
Jeremy Cook: Jingliang via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Magny via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Jingliang via UD
Jack Buchanan: Jingliang via UD
Staff picking Magny: 6
Staff picking Jingliang: 11
Beneil Dariush (17-4-1) vs. Drakkar Klose (11-1-1)
Jeremy Brand: Dariush via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Dariush via Round 1 SUB
Mike Skytte: Dariush via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Dariush via UD
Ed Gallo: Dariush via UD
Matt Bricker: Dariush via UD
Connor Dietrich: Dariush via Round 3 SUB
Ash Camyab: Dariush via Round 2 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Dariush via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Dariush via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Dariush via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Klose via UD
Dan Rose: Dariush via Round 1 SUB
Jeremy Cook: Dariush via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Dariush via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Klose via SD
Jack Buchanan: Dariush via UD
Staff picking Dariush: 15
Staff picking Klose: 2
Weili Zhang (20-1) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-3)
Jeremy Brand: Zhang via UD
Wesley Riddle: Zhang via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Zhang via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Ed Gallo: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Matt Bricker: Jedrzejczyk via Round 1 TKO
Connor Dietrich: Zhang via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Jedrzejczyk via SD
Frazer Krohn: Zhang via Round 3 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Zhang via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Jeremy Cook: Zhang via Round 3 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Jedrzejczyk via Round 5 TKO
Nate Freeman: Zhang via UD
Jack Buchanan: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Staff picking Zhang: 8
Staff picking Jedrzejczyk: 9
Israel Adesanya (18-0) vs. Yoel Romero (13-4)
Jeremy Brand: Adesanya via UD
Wesley Riddle: Romero via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Adesanya via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Adesanya via UD
Ed Gallo: Romero via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Romero via Round 1 TKO
Connor Dietrich: Romero via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Adesanya via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Adesanya via Round 5 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Adesanya via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Adesanya via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Adesanya via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Adesanya via UD
Jeremy Cook: Adesanya via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Adesanya via Round 4 TKO
Nate Freeman: Adesanya via SD
Jack Buchanan: Adesanya via UD
Staff picking Adesanya: 13
Staff picking Romero: 4
FEATURED IMAGE:
Embed from Getty Images
