Another year for MMASucka staff picks has reached its close as one final fight card looks to finish our 2021 season with a bang.
UFC Vegas 46, also referred to as UFC Fight Night 199, will take place in just a few short hours tonight, December 18 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The six-fight main card will begin at an earlier start time of 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) live for subscribers to ESPN+.
Live results from UFC Vegas 45 can be found here at MMASucka.
The Fights
Heavyweight (265 lbs.) hitters Derrick Lewis and Chris Daukaus will clash for a potential, but likely unneeded, 25 minutes in tonight’s main event.
Lewis looks to bounce back strong after his interim title fight loss to the currently undefeated Ciryl Gane just over fourth months ago. The knockout specialist will look to start a new climb up the divisional ladder with a possible second win of 2021, his first coming in February over Curtis Blaydes. Lewis’s opponent, Daukaus, has won five in-a-row by knockout since August of 2019 with four by stoppage in the first round. Looking to back up his recent finish of Shamil Abdurakhimov, the Philadelphian police officer gets a steep jump in competition in preparation for his first promotional main event.
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Fan-favorite welterweights (170 lbs.) are set for battle in the co-main event between Stephen Thompson and Belal Muhammad. The kickboxing-oriented talent of Thompson looks to get back in the win column following a July defeat to Gilbert Burns. Former Titan FC champion Muhammad aims to continue his rise having fight straight wins in the UFC including two victories in 2021 alone over Dhiego Lima and Demian Maia.
Among those competing on tonight’s main card sees four-time defending KSW lightweight champion Mateusz Gamrot and the octagon return of veteran Raphael Assuncao against their respected opponents. In total, twelve fighters will each look to make a statement in the promotion’s final event of the year.
Who are the MMASucka staff picking to win at UFC Vegas 45: Lewis vs. Daukaus? Find out further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from both UFC and Bellator events. Main card fights and selected preliminary fights will be selected for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the full fight card.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a chain from Championship Chains. A winner is determined simply by the individual correctly picking the most victorious fighters at the year’s end. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
MMASucka staff picks will return for another season at the top of 2022 on January 15 with UFC Vegas 46 (also to be titled as UFC Fight Night 200) with updated news for the calendar year ahead.
See below who the MMASucka staff are picking to win at UFC Vegas 45: Lewis vs. Daukaus.
Staff Records after UFC 269:
1. Nate Freeman: 243-136
2. Wesley Riddle: 237-142
3. Michael DeSantis: 236-139
4. Frazer Krohn: 223-155
5. Mike Lynch: 211-158
6. Ash Camyab: 196-138
7. Jeremy Brand: 190-154
8. Andrew Benjamin: 156-144
9. Tim Wheaton: 129-103
10. Chris Presnell: 118-61
Cub Swanson (27-12), -160
vs.
Darren Elkins (27-9), +140
Featherweight Division, 145 lbs.
Jeremy Brand: N/A
Wesley Riddle: Swanson via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Swanson via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Swanson via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Swanson via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Swanson via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Swanson via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Swanson via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Elkins via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Elkins via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Swanson: 7
Staff picking Elkins: 2
Diego Ferreira (17-4), +175
vs.
Mateusz Gamrot (19-1, 1 NC), -210
Lightweight Division, 155 lbs.
Jeremy Brand: N/A
Wesley Riddle: Gamrot via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Gamrot via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Gamrot via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Ferreira via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Gamrot via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Gamrot via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Gamrot via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Ferreira via Split Decision
Chris Presnell: Gamrot via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Ferreira: 2
Staff picking Gamrot: 7
Raphael Assuncao (27-8), +235
vs.
Ricky Simon (18-3), -300
Bantamweight Division, 135 lbs.
Jeremy Brand: N/A
Wesley Riddle: Simon via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Simon via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Assuncao via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Simon via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Simon via Split Decision
Mike Lynch: Assuncao via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Simon via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Assuncao via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Simon via Split Decision
Staff picking Assuncao: 3
Staff picking Simon: 6
Amanda Lemos (10-1-1), -280
vs.
Angela Hill (13-10), +225
Strawweight Division, 115 lbs.
Jeremy Brand: N/A
Wesley Riddle: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Hill via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Hill via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Lemos via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Hill via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Lemos via Split Decision
Staff picking Lemos: 6
Staff picking Hill: 3
Stephen Thompson (16-5-1), -210
vs.
Belal Muhammad (19-3, 1 NC), +175
Welterweight Co-Main Event, 170 lbs.
Jeremy Brand: N/A
Wesley Riddle: Thompson via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Thompson via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Thompson via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Thompson: 9
Staff picking Muhammad: 0
Derrick Lewis (25-8, 1 NC), +130
vs.
Chris Daukaus (12-3), -150
Heavyweight Main Event, 265 lbs.
Jeremy Brand: N/A
Wesley Riddle: Daukaus via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Daukaus via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Lewis via Round 4 TKO
Nate Freeman: Daukaus via Round 3 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Chris Presnell: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Lewis: 6
Staff picking Daukaus: 3
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