A busy stretch of fights is in store as the MMASucka staff picks starts the week off early.
Kicking things off will see Dana White’s Contender Series 49 taking place tonight, August 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada as the promotion sees its third fight card of ten total this year. The event will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live on ESPN+ for subscribers.
Live results from Dana White’s Contender Series 49 will be available here at MMASucka.
Stay tuned this upcoming weekend to MMASucka for our Bellator 284: Gracie vs. Yamauchi picks on Friday as well as our PFL 8 2022 playoffs and UFC on ESPN 41: Vera vs. Cruz picks on Saturday.
The Fights
Ten fighters from five different weight classes look impress Dana White and company for their chance at a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Week one saw a lone Joseph Pyfer take a promotional contract while everyone victorious in week two earned their UFC contract with style. Who tonight will find the golden ticket?
Featured in tonight’s main event sees former three-time NCAA Division I national champion and American Top Team standout Bo Nickal fight in only his second-ever professional fight against San Antonio, Texas native Zack Borrego who will look for the big upset.
26-year-old Jamal Pogues returns to the Contender Series tonight after his 2019 decision win over Marcos Brigagao left him short of capturing a contract. Pogues will square off against the nine-fight win streak of Brazil’s Paulo Renato Jr. in the co-main event.
Who are the MMASucka staff taking at Dana White’s Contender Series 49? Find out further below.
Staff Picks
Staff picks in 2022 will follow the same set of rules from the 2021 season. 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 included for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the entire fight card.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2022 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. Nate Freeman secured his first victory with MMASucka in 2021 with a compiled record 243-136.
See below for our Dana White’s Contender Series 49 staff picks.
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 48:
1. Nate Freeman: 152-75
2. Wesley Riddle: 151-76
3. Michael DeSantis: 149-78
4. Frazer Krohn: 146-81
5. William Dong: 144-83
6. Julio Monteros Jr.: 142-74
7. Jeremy Brand: 138-83
8. Chris Presnell: 135-86
9. Andrew Benjamin: 129-98
10. Mike Lynch: 123-74
11. Tim Wheaton: 121-66
12. Brandon Joint: 111-72
13. Ash Camyab: 105-77
14. Jack Goodwillie: 100-42
15. Brian Knight: 94-65
16. Coby Weinsier: 87-47
17. Chinyere Okafor: 72-38
18. Jacek Okninski: 69-54
19. Matt Bricker: 24-22
20. Joe Porter: 11-2
21. Roemello Reyes: 6-4
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – PFL 7 2022 & UFC Vegas 59 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Sandra Lavado (10-2), +190
vs.
Karolina Wojcik (8-2), -225
Strawweight Division
– 115 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Lavado via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Wojcik via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Wojcik via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Lavado via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Lavado via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Wojcik via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Lavado via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Wojcik via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Lavado via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Wojcik via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Lavado: 5
Staff picking Wojcik: 5
Clayton Carpenter (5-0), -380
vs.
Edgar Chairez (8-3), +310
Flyweight Division
– 125 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Carpenter via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Carpenter via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Carpenter via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Carpenter via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Carpenter via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Carpenter via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Carpenter via Round 2 TKO
William Dong: Carpenter via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Carpenter via Round 1 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Carpenter via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Carpenter: 10
Staff picking Chairez: 0
Anvar Boynazarov (3-0), +140
vs.
Erik Silva (8-1), -165
Featherweight Division
– 145 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Silva via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Silva via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Silva via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Boynazarov via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Silva via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Silva via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Boynazarov via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Silva via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Boynazarov: 2
Staff picking Silva: 8
Paulo Renato Jr. (10-1), +250
vs.
Jamal Pogues (8-3), -300
Heavyweight Co-Main Event
– 265 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Pogues via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Pogues via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Pogues via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Pogues via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Renato Jr. via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Pogues via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Renato Jr. via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Renato Jr. via Round 1 TKO
Brian Knight: Pogues via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Pogues via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Renato Jr.: 3
Staff picking Pogues: 7
Zachary Borrego (3-0), +1200
vs.
Bo Nickal (1-0), -2400
Middleweight Main Event
– 185 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Nickal via Round 1 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Nickal via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Brian Knight: Nickal via Round 2 SUB
Roemello Reyes: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Borrego: 0
Staff picking Nickal: 10
*Fight odds from DraftKings*
DANA WHITE’S CONTENDER SERIES 49 FEATURED IMAGE:
Embed from Getty Images
