MMASucka staff picks are locked in for the final pay-per-view of 2020, and it is truly one to watch. UFC 256 will take place later tonight, December 12 from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin live at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) available for purchase on the UFC’s home website.
Check out our staff picks from Thursday evening’s Bellator 254. Also, stay tuned next weekend to MMASucka for our final staff picks card of the calendar year.
The Fights
Flyweights Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno will meet center stage for the divisional championship. Current champion Figueiredo has had a year for the books, capturing the 125 pound belt in July and his second win in a row over Joseph Benavidez. 21 days ago was the Brazilian’s last victory, having submitted Alex Perez with a first-round guillotine. Closing the year with a potential fourth victory and second flyweight title defense in 2020 would mark Figueiredo as a definite “Fighter of the Year” contender. His opponent, Moreno, has secured three straight promotional wins after a brief and surprising cut from the UFC in 2018. He also returns after a short 21 days following his first-round knockout of Brandon Royval. 27-year-old Moreno will look to become the division’s fourth champion and the promotion’s current youngest king.
One of the best pairings of the year falls in our co-main event between Tony Ferguson and Charles Oliveira. Ferguson looks to bounce back after his twelve-fight win streak was snapped in May to Justin Gaethje. Oliveira, searches for his eighth stoppage victory in a row since June of 2018, lastly defeating Kevin Lee in March.
Due to a late change, the main card pairing between Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba will not be included for this event. However, a preliminary fight between Renato Moicano and Rafael Fiziev will be included.
See our remaining staff picks for UFC 256 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.
See our staff picks for UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN 19:
1. Michael DeSantis: 195-82
2. Connor Deitrich: 189-88
3. Wesley Riddle: 179-93
4T. Dan Rose: 169-109
4T. Nate Freeman: 169-105
6T. Frazer Krohn: 167-111
6T. Jack Buchanan: 167-81
8. Jeremy Brand: 165-104
9T. Ash Camyab: 163-115
9T. Mike Lynch: 163-100
11. Andrew Benjamin: 148-120
12. Matt Bricker: 141-95
13. McKenzie Guardiero: 134-105
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 254 will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Renato Moicano (14-3-1) vs. Rafael Fiziev (8-1)
Jeremy Brand: Fiziev via UD
Wesley Riddle: Fiziev via UD
Michael DeSantis: Moicano via UD
Connor Deitrich: Fiziev via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Fiziev via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Moicano via UD
Frazer Krohn: Fiziev via UD
Dan Rose: Moicano via UD
Mike Lynch: Fiziev via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Fiziev via SD
Staff picking Moicano: 3
Staff picking Fiziev: 7
Junior dos Santos (21-8) vs. Ciryl Gane (6-0)
Jeremy Brand: dos Santos via UD
Wesley Riddle: Gane via UD
Michael DeSantis: Gane via UD
Connor Deitrich: Gane via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Gane via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Gane via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Gane via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: dos Santos via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Gane via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Gane via UD
Staff picking dos Santos: 2
Staff picking Gane: 8
Kevin Holland (21-5) vs. Ronaldo Souza (26-8, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Holland via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Holland via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Souza via Round 1 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Holland via SD
Ash Camyab: Souza via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Holland via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Holland via SD
Dan Rose: Holland via UD
Mike Lynch: Holland via UD
Nate Freeman: Holland via UD
Staff picking Holland: 8
Staff picking Souza: 2
Tony Ferguson (26-5) vs. Charles Oliveira (29-8, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Ferguson via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Oliveira via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ferguson via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Ferguson via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Ferguson via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Ferguson via UD
Dan Rose: Oliveira via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Ferguson via UD
Nate Freeman: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Ferguson: 6
Staff picking Oliveira: 4
Deiveson Figueiredo (19-1) vs. Brandon Moreno (17-5-1)
Jeremy Brand: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Figueiredo via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Figueiredo via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Figueiredo via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Figueiredo via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Figueiredo via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Figueiredo via Round 4 TKO
Nate Freeman: Figueiredo via UD
Staff picking Figueiredo: 10
Staff picking Moreno: 0
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