Thrilling fights are in store for our MMASucka staff picks. Tonight, October 17 will see UFC on ESPN+ 38, also referred to as UFC Fight Night 180 and UFC Fight Island 6, take place from the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi. The main card will begin at an earlier start time of 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
Check out our picks from Thursday night’s Bellator 249 event in Uncasville.
The Fights
A must-watch main event is in store tonight between top-ranked featherweights Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung. Ortega comes in hungry after his first professional defeat, suffering a doctor stoppage loss for the title against then-champion Max Holloway. The loss snapped a fourteen-fight run including stoppages over notables Frankie Edgar and Renato Moicano. His opponent, Sung Jung, rides a two-fight win streak over the aforementioned Edgar and Moicano. The South Korean fan-favorite holds some of the most exciting moments in UFC history including his twister over b in 2011 and “Fight of the Year” victory over Dustin Poirier in 2012. With a combined 80% finishing rate through 30 wins, expect both men to deliver a main event to remember.
Flyweights Katlyn Chookagian and Jessica Andrade will fight in the co-main event slot. Chookagian will look to follow-up on her decision win over Antonina Shevchenko while former champion Andrade hopes to snap a two-fight skid.
A fight between Cyril Gane and Ante Delija was anticipated for the main card and our picks. However, contract issues forced Delija off the card and the fight being scrapped entirely. See the remainder of our MMASucka staff picks for UFC on ESPN+ 38 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the remainder of the year, staff picks will be composed of two different MMA promotions: UFC and Bellator. As of September 25th, the events of ONE and RIZIN will no longer be counted for our picks (including a recent deduction of the last two RIZIN cards from our records). With the cancellation of PFL for 2020, this promotion will be excluded as well.
Main cards will makeup both UFC and Bellator picks. 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 on ESPN+ 38: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie staff picks below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN+ 37:
1. Michael DeSantis: 160-69
2. Connor Deitrich: 157-72
3. Wesley Riddle: 155-75
4T. Jeremy Brand: 139-82
4T. Frazer Krohn: 139-91
6. Nate Freeman: 138-88
7T. Dan Rose: 136-94
7T. Jack Buchanan: 136-71
9. Mike Lynch: 135-80
10. Ash Camyab: 131-99
11. Matt Bricker: 128-83
12. Andrew Benjamin: 121-103
13. McKenzie Guardiero: 118-92
14. Ryan Hobbs: 95-64
15. Ashwin Viswanathan: 83-51
16. Mike Skytte: 67-45
17. Mitchell Banuelos: 64-39
18. Joshua Yule: 55-28
19. Ed Gallo: 54-27
20. Jeremy Cook: 14-6
*Note: not all staff pick for every event*
**Note: Bellator 249 picks will be added to records NEXT weekend**
Thomas Almeida (22-3) vs. Jonathan Martinez (12-3)
Jeremy Brand: Almeida via UD
Wesley Riddle: Almeida via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Almeida via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Almeida via SD
Ash Camyab: Almeida via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Martinez via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Almeida via UD
Dan Rose: Almeida via UD
Mike Lynch: Almeida via UD
Nate Freeman: Almeida via SD
Jack Buchanan: Almeida via UD
Staff picking Almeida: 10
Staff picking Martinez: 1
Jim Crute (11-1) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (11-2)
Jeremy Brand: Crute via UD
Wesley Riddle: Crute via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Crute via Round 1 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Crute via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Crute via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Crute via UD
Frazer Krohn: Crute via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Crute via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Crute via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Crute via SD
Jack Buchanan: Crute via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Crute: 11
Staff picking Bukauskas: 0
Katlyn Chookagian (14-3) vs. Jessica Andrade (20-8)
Jeremy Brand: Andrade via UD
Wesley Riddle: Andrade via SD
Michael DeSantis: Andrade via UD
Connor Deitrich: Andrade via UD
Ash Camyab: Andrade via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Andrade via UD
Frazer Krohn: Chookagian via UD
Dan Rose: Andrade via UD
Mike Lynch: Chookagian via UD
Nate Freeman: Andrade via UD
Jack Buchanan: Andrade via UD
Staff picking Chookagian: 2
Staff picking Andrade: 9
Brian Ortega (14-1, 1 NC) vs. Chan Sung Jung (16-5)
Jeremy Brand: Sung Jung via Round 4 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Sung Jung via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Sung Jung via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Sung Jung via UD
Ash Camyab: Ortega via Round 5 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Sung Jung via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Sung Jung via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Ortega via UD
Mike Lynch: Sung Jung via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Sung Jung via UD
Jack Buchanan: Ortega via SD
Staff picking Ortega: 3
Staff picking Sung Jung: 8
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