MMASucka staff picks are locked in for the day of combat ahead.
Dana White’s Contender Series 54 will kick off later tonight, September 13th from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Only three events remain as season six of the series reaches its eighth week of ten total fight cards this calendar year. Tonight’s fights will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live for subscribers on ESPN+.
Results from Dana White’s Contender Series 54 will be available here at MMASucka.
Also, recap our staff picks from Saturday night’s UFC 279 event from Vegas.
The Fights
Ten fighters will look to do their part in the cage as each look to impress UFC president Dana White in target of a promotional contract. In the featured three-round main event of the night, former LFA bantamweight title challenger Allan Begosso will take on the undefeated Farid Basharat at 135 pounds. A win for Basharat would put him alongside older brother and 2021 contract winner Javid Basharat with the UFC.
Combat Sambo specialist Ikram Aliskerov and Curitiba, Brazil’s Mario Souza are set for battle in the co-main event. Aliskerov sits with a lone defeat through 13 professional bouts to the fast-rising and this most recent weekend’s victor Khamzat Chimaev. Souza hopes that try number three is the charm having two prior Contender Series fights in 2020 and 2021, going one-and-one in his efforts.
Also fighting on tonight’s card sees undefeated knockout specialist Trevor Peek, recent LFA debutante Bruna Brasil, and the long-awaited return of Daniel Marcos. Find our staff picks for every Dana White’s Contender Series 54 fight 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.
Who are the MMASucka staff taking to win at UFC 279: Diaz vs. Ferguson?
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 53:
1. Nate Freeman: 191-99
2. Wesley Riddle: 188-102
3. Frazer Krohn: 186-104
4. Michael DeSantis: 183-107
5T. Jeremy Brand: 173-111
5T. William Dong: 173-106
7. Chris Presnell: 164-115
8. Julio Monteros Jr.: 161-89
9. Andrew Benjamin: 156-122
10. Tim Wheaton: 152-88
11. Mike Lynch: 123-74
12. Brian Knight: 117-85
13. Brandon Joint: 115-74
14. Jack Goodwillie: 112-53
15. Ash Camyab: 105-77
16. Coby Weinsier: 87-47
17. Chinyere Okafor: 72-38
18. Jacek Okninski: 70-58
19. Roemello Reyes: 48-25
20. Ben Jamieson: 25-19
21. Matt Bricker: 24-22
22. Joe Porter: 11-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – UFC 279 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Brandon Lewis (6-1), -145
vs.
Daniel Marcos (12-0), +125
Bantamweight Division
– 135 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Lewis via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Marcos via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Marcos via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Lewis via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Marcos via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Lewis via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Lewis: 4
Staff picking Marcos: 3
Bruna Brasil (7-2-1), -145
vs.
Marnic Mann (5-0), +125
Women’s Flyweight Division
– 125 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Brasil via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Brasil via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Brasil via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Mann via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Brasil via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Mann via Split Decision
Roemello Reyes: Brasil via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Brasil: 5
Staff picking Mann: 2
Malik Lewis (5-0), -195
vs.
Trevor Peek (6-0, 1 NC), +165
Lightweight Division
– 155 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Lewis via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Peek via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Peek via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Peek via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Peek via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Peek via Round 2 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Lewis via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Lewis: 2
Staff picking Peek: 5
Ikram Aliskerov (12-1), -540
vs.
Mario Sousa (14-2), +420
Middleweight Co-Main Event
– 185 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Aliskerov via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Aliskerov via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Aliskerov via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Aliskerov via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Aliskerov via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Aliskerov via Round 2 SUB
Roemello Reyes: Aliskerov via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Aliskerov: 7
Staff picking Sousa: 0
Allan Begosso (7-1-1), +245
vs.
Farid Basharat (8-0), -295
Bantamweight Main Event
– 135 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Basharat via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Basharat via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Basharat via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Begosso via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Basharat via Split Decision
Nate Freeman: Basharat via Round 1 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Basharat via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Begosso: 1
Staff picking Basharat: 6
*Fight odds from DraftKings*
MMASucka expresses their condolences following the passing of Elias Theodorou on Sunday, September 11th. To those interested in donating to the Theodorou Foundation and Higher Access foundations, click here.
DANA WHITE’S CONTENDER SERIES 54 FEATURED IMAGE:
Embed from Getty Images
