For the first time in over a year, MMASucka staff picks sees a triple-header weekend. We kick the busy week of fights off with PFL 3 2021 taking place tonight, May 6 from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The preliminary card will begin at 5:30pm ET (2:30pm PT) live on ESPN+ with the main card beginning at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) on ESPN.
Tonight’s event will be the final PFL card until mid-June.
Stay tuned to MMASucka this Friday afternoon for our Bellator 258 picks, as well as Saturday for our UFC Vegas 26 picks.
The Fights
The final two weight classes of heavyweight (265 lbs.) and women’s lightweight (155 lbs). are set to make their Regular Season debuts. In the featured main event, heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Renan Ferreira will battle for a potential 15-minutes. Former UFC champion Werdum looks to continue his already well-established career inside a new promotion, his first fight outside of the UFC since 2011. The 43-year-old will look for his second straight win after submitting Alexander Gustafsson in July of last year. His opponent, Rio de Janerio’s Ferreira, also is set to make his promotional debut. After almost two years outside the octagon, he hopes to come back stronger than ever with his last win coming in an LFA main event over Jared Vanderaa.
In the co-main event, Kayla Harrison and Mariana Morais are set in the lightweight division. 2019 tournament champion Harrison aims to keep her undefeated 8-0 run intact, lastly defeating Courtney King in Invicta. 26-fight veteran Morais looks to back up her three-fight run in one of the biggest challengers of her MMA career.
See our PFL 3 2021 picks further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events and a variety of fights from PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will make its debut in the summer months.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See our staff picks below for PFL 3 2021: Werdum vs. Ferreira.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 25:
1. Wesley Riddle: 60-35
2. Nate Freeman: 58-37
3T. Michael DeSantis: 56-39
3T. Ash Camyab: 56-39
5T. Mitchell Banuelos: 54-41
5T. Frazer Krohn: 54-41
5T. Joshua Yule: 54-41
8. Jeremy Brand: 52-44
9. Kenny Lee: 49-36
10. Mike Lynch: 47-43
11. Tim Wheaton: 40-36
12. Andrew Benjamin: 38-43
13. Matt Bricker: 36-35
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Cindy Dandois (16-5) vs. Kaitlin Young (11-10-1)
Jeremy Brand: Dandois via UD
Wesley Riddle: Young via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Young via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Dandois via UD
Matt Bricker: Dandois via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Dandois via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Dandois via UD
Mike Lynch: Dandois via UD
Nate Freeman: Dandois via UD
Joshua Yule: Dandois via UD
Kenny Lee: Dandois via UD
Tim Wheaton: Dandois via UD
Staff picking Dandois: 10
Staff picking Young: 2
Ante Delija (17-3) vs. Bruno Henrique Cappelozza (10-5)
Jeremy Brand: Henrique Cappelozza via UD
Wesley Riddle: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Delija via UD
Matt Bricker: Delija via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Delija via UD
Frazer Krohn: Delija via UD
Mike Lynch: Delija via UD
Nate Freeman: Delija via UD
Joshua Yule: Delija via UD
Kenny Lee: Delija via YD
Tim Wheaton: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Delija: 11
Staff picking Henrique Cappelozza: 1
Larissa Pacheco (13-4) vs. Julija Pajic (3-0)
Jeremy Brand: Pacheco via UD
Wesley Riddle: Pacheco via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Pacheco via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Pacheco via UD
Matt Bricker: Pacheco via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Pacheco via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Pacheco via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Pacheco via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Pacheco via Round 1 TKO
Joshua Yule: Pacheco via UD
Kenny Lee: Pacheco via UD
Tim Wheaton: Pacheco via UD
Staff picking Pacheco: 12
Staff picking Pajic: 0
Mohammed Usman (7-1) vs. Brandon Sayles (5-1)
Jeremy Brand: Usman via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Usman via UD
Michael DeSantis: Usman via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Usman via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Usman via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Usman via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Usman via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Usman via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Usman via UD
Joshua Yule: Usman via UD
Kenny Lee: Usman via UD
Tim Wheaton: Usman via SD
Staff picking Usman: 12
Staff picking Sayles: 0
Kayla Harrison (8-0) vs. Mariana Morais (16-10)
Jeremy Brand: Harrison via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Harrison via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Harrison via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Harrison via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Harrison via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Harrison via Round 1 TKO
Joshua Yule: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Kenny Lee: Harrison via Round 3 SUB
Tim Wheaton: Harrison via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Harrison: 12
Staff picking Morais: 0
Fabricio Werdum (24-9-1) vs. Renan Ferreira (6-2)
Jeremy Brand: Werdum via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Werdum via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Werdum via Round 1 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Werdum via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Werdum via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Werdum via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Werdum via UD
Mike Lynch: Werdum via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Werdum via Round 2 SUB
Joshua Yule: Werdum via Round 1 SUB
Kenny Lee: Werdum via Round 3 SUB
Tim Wheaton: Werdum via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Werdum: 12
Staff picking Ferreira: 0
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