MMASucka staff picks are locked in for UFC Fight Night 176. The event will take place later this evening, September 5 from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Main card action will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
The Fights
Top-ten ranked heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Augusto Sakai are set to battle in the main event. Overeem, a 65-fight veteran of the mixed martial arts game, still aims to work his way towards capturing UFC gold. The 40-year-old will look to expand upon a recent second-round knockout over Walt Harris in May. His opponent, Sakai, has found victory fifteen times through his career with a lone career defeat in Bellator to Cheick Kongo in 2016. After receiving a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, the Brazilian has earned four straight with the promotion in sight of a fifth tonight.
A rescheduled bout between Ovince Saint Preux and Alonzo Menifield will take place tonight in the co-main event. The two were set to fight at UFC on ESPN 15 two weeks ago until a positive COVID-19 test from Saint Preux resulted in the fight being scrapped.
Also competing on the main card includes the always-entertaining Michel Pereira, former LFA lightweight champion Thiago Moises, and Long Island MMA’s Brian Kelleher. The main card fight between Sijara Eubanks and Karol Rosa has been scrapped from tonight’s event.
See our MMASucka staff picks for UFC Fight Night 176 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 UFC Fight Night 176 staff picks below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 175:
1. Connor Deitrich: 131-53
2. Michael DeSantis: 129-54
3. Wesley Riddle: 119-57
4. Matt Bricker: 117-67
5. Jack Buchanan: 109-52
6. Frazer Krohn: 108-76
7T. Jeremy Brand: 107-64
7T. Dan Rose: 107-77
9. Nate Freeman: 105-67
10T. Ash Camyab: 103-77
10T. McKenzie Guardiero: 103-81
12. Mike Lynch: 100-61
13. Ryan Hobbs: 99-64
14. Andrew Benjamin: 92-86
15. Ashwin Viswanathan: 83-51
16. Mike Skytte: 67-45
17. Mitchell Banuelos: 64-39
18. Ed Gallo: 54-27
19. Joshua Yule: 52-26
20. Jeremy Cook: 14-6
*Note: not all staff has picked for every event*
Brian Kelleher (21-11) vs. Kevin Natividad (9-1)
Jeremy Brand: Kelleher via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Kelleher via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Kelleher via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Kelleher via UD
Connor Deitrich: Kelleher via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Kelleher via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Kelleher via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Kelleher via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Kelleher via UD
Dan Rose: Natividad via UD
Mike Lynch: Kelleher via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Kelleher via UD
Jack Buchanan: Kelleher via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Kelleher: 12
Staff picking Natividad: 1
Thiago Moises (13-4) vs. Jalin Turner (9-5)
Jeremy Brand: Moises via UD
Wesley Riddle: Moises via UD
Michael DeSantis: Moises via UD
Matt Bricker: Moises via UD
Connor Deitrich: Moises via UD
Ash Camyab: Moises via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Moises via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Moises via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Moises via UD
Dan Rose: Moises via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Turner via UD
Nate Freeman: Moises via Round 1 SUB
Jack Buchanan: Moises via UD
Staff picking Moises: 12
Staff picking Turner: 1
Michel Pereira (23-11, 2 NC) vs. Zelim Imadaev (8-2)
Jeremy Brand: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Imadaev via UD
Connor Deitrich: Imadaev via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Pereira via UD
Frazer Krohn: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Pereira via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Pereira: 11
Staff picking Imadaev: 2
Ovince Saint Preux (24-14) vs. Alonzo Menifield (9-1)
Jeremy Brand: Saint Preux via UD
Wesley Riddle: Saint Preux via SD
Michael DeSantis: Saint Preux via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Menifield via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Saint Preux via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Saint Preux via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Saint Preux via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Saint Preux via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Saint Preux via UD
Dan Rose: Saint Preux via UD
Mike Lynch: Menifield via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Saint Preux via UD
Jack Buchanan: Saint Preux via UD
Staff picking Saint Preux: 11
Staff picking Menifield: 2
Alistair Overeem (46-18, 1 NC) vs. Augusto Sakai (15-1-1)
Jeremy Brand: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Overeem via UD
Michael DeSantis: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Overeem via UD
Ash Camyab: Overeem via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Overeem via Round 4 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Overeem via UD
Nate Freeman: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Overeem via UD
Staff picking Overeem:
Staff picking Sakai:
FEATURED IMAGE:
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