After a near two-month span away, MMASucka staff picks are back for your viewing pleasure. We return to mixed martial arts action with UFC 249 taking place later this evening, May 9 from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The preliminary card will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) on ESPN with the main card at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) available for pay-per-view purchase through ESPN+.
To make up for lost time as a result of COVID-19, the ESPN prelims will be counted towards our staff picks for this event.
Main Event
We have finally made it to the UFC’s return with two thrilling title fights to cap off the night.
In the main event, Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje will square off for the UFC’s interim lightweight strap. TUF 13 winner Ferguson will look for his thirteenth straight victory in the promotion alone, his run stretching back to October of 2013. The former interim holder has defeated the very best of the division including notables like Anthony Pettis, Edson Barboza, and Rafael dos Anjos. Another victory will most definitely cement his spot as one of the greatest lightweights all-time and a shot at the actual 155-pound title. His opponent, Gaethje, always looks to steal the show as one of the most well-rounded in the division. The former WSOF king has knocked out all but two of his 21 career wins, stopping three straight in the first round since August of 2018. Gaethje looks to add a fourth tonight as one of the most thrilling fighters in the UFC.
Co-Main Event
Title fight number two comes in the co-main event between current bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo and former king Dominick Cruz. Cejudo captured the flyweight belt in a controversial yet impressive upset over Demetrious Johnson in 2018, a rematch where Cejudo was finished under three minutes in their first outing. The olympic gold medalist backed it up with two incredible performances: a 32-second knockout over T.J. Dillashaw and a third-round, bantamweight strap-winning performance over Marlon Moraes. His opponent, Cruz, reigned as the 135-pound king through most of the WEC and UFC era until various knee injuries slowed his runs. After rallying to capture the belt over the aforementioned Dillashaw, his run would come to and end dropping a decision to Cody Garbrandt in 2016. Cruz will be searching for his first victory in nearly four years in hopes for a successful return to the octagon.
A fight between Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Uriah Hall was anticipated to kick off the prelims, but in a (not so shocking) turn Souza would test positive for COVID-19 removing both he and Hall from the event entirely. The new televised fight between Luque and Price will not be counted towards our picks due to the late change.
Other fighters counted towards our staff picks include dangerous heavyweight striker Francis Ngannou, rising star Calvin Kattar, and a rematch between fan favorites Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone. See our picks for UFC 249 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of five different MMA promotions. UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN all appeared for the 2019 season and will make returns. The newest addition for the 2020 year will see the PFL including their regular season, playoffs, and championship card. A special staff picks bonus will be introduced and discussed regarding PFL’s playoff format as time gets closer.
Main cards will makeup both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE, RIZIN, and PFL events will be used. 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.
Check out our staff picks for UFC 249 below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 170:
Wesley Riddle: 59-22
Michael DeSantis: 59-22
Connor Deitrich: 59-22
Frazer Krohn: 56-25
Dan Rose: 56-25
Jeremy Brand: 54-27
Ed Gallo: 54-27
Matt Bricker: 53-28
Mike Skytte: 51-30
Andrew Benjamin: 51-30
McKenzie Guardiero: 51-30
Nate Freeman: 51-26
Ash Camyab: 48-33
Ashwin Viswanathan: 46-25
Ryan Hobbs: 43-38
Mike Lynch: 43-23
Jack Buchanan: 39-19
Mitchell Banuelos: 36-16
Jeremy Cook: 14-6
Carla Esparza (15-6) vs. Michelle Waterson (17-6)
Jeremy Brand: Waterson via UD
Wesley Riddle: Waterson via SD
Michael DeSantis: Waterson via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Waterson via UD
Matt Bricker: Waterson via UD
Connor Deitrich: Waterson via UD
Ash Camyab: Waterson via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Waterson via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Waterson via UD
Frazer Krohn: Waterson via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Waterson via UD
Dan Rose: Waterson via UD
Mike Lynch: Esparza via UD
Nate Freeman: Waterson via UD
Jack Buchanan: Esparza via UD
Joshua Yule: Waterson via UD
Staff picking Esparza: 2
Staff picking Waterson: 14
Aleksei Oleinik (58-13-1) vs. Fabricio Werdum (23-7-1)
Jeremy Brand: Oleinik via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Werdum via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Werdum via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Oleinik via Round 3 SUB
Matt Bricker: Werdum via UD
Connor Deitrich: Werdum via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Werdum via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Oleinik via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Oleinik via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Oleinik via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Werdum via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Werdum via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Werdum via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Werdum via Round 2 TKKO
Jack Buchanan: Werdum via UD
Joshua Yule: Werdum via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Oleinik: 5
Staff picking Werdum: 11
Anthony Pettis (22-10) vs. Donald Cerrone (36-14, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Cerrone via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Pettis via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Cerrone via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Pettis via UD
Matt Bricker: Pettis via UD
Connor Deitrich: Pettis via UD
Ash Camyab: Cerrone via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Cerrone via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Pettis via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Cerrone via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Cerrone via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Cerrone via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Cerrone via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pettis via SD
Jack Buchanan: Pettis via Round 2 TKO
Joshua Yule: Pettis via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Pettis: 8
Staff picking Cerrone: 8
Greg Hardy (5-1, 1 NC) vs. Yorgan De Castro (5-0)
Jeremy Brand: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: De Castro via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: De Castro via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: De Castro via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: De Castro via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Hardy via UD
Andrew Benjamin: De Castro via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Hardy via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Hardy via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: De Castro via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: De Castro via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Hardy via Round 1 TKO
Jack Buchanan: De Castro via Round 1 TKO
Joshua Yule: De Castro via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Hardy: 7
Staff picking De Castro: 9
Jeremy Stephens (28-17, 1 NC) vs. Calvin Kattar (20-4)
Jeremy Brand: Kattar via UD
Wesley Riddle: Kattar via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Kattar via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Kattar via UD
Matt Bricker: Kattar via UD
Connor Deitrich: Kattar via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Stephens via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Kattar via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Stephens via SD
Frazer Krohn: Kattar via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Kattar via UD
Dan Rose: Kattar via UD
Mike Lynch: Kattar via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Kattar via UD
Jack Buchanan: Kattar via SD
Joshua Yule: Kattar via UD
Staff picking Stephens: 2
Staff picking Kattar: 14
Francis Ngannou (13-3) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (10-0)
Jeremy Brand: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Rozenstruik via UD
Matt Bricker: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Ngannou via UD
Ash Camyab: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Rozenstruik via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Rozenstruik via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Rozenstruik via UD
Nate Freeman: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Ngannou via Round 1 TKO
Joshua Yule: Rozenstruik via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Ngannou: 11
Staff picking Rozenstruik: 5
Henry Cejudo (15-2) vs. Dominick Cruz (18-1)
Jeremy Brand: Cruz via UD
Wesley Riddle: Cejudo via UD
Michael DeSantis: Cejudo via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Cruz via UD
Matt Bricker: Cruz via SD
Connor Deitrich: Cejudo via UD
Ash Camyab: Cruz via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Cejudo via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Cruz via UD
Frazer Krohn: Cruz via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Cruz via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Cruz via UD
Mike Lynch: Cejudo via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Cejudo via UD
Jack Buchanan: Cruz via SD
Joshua Yule: Cejudo via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Cejudo: 7
Staff picking Cruz: 9
Tony Ferguson (26-3) vs. Justin Gaethje (21-2)
Jeremy Brand: Gaethje via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Gaethje via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Gaethje via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Ferguson via Round 4 TKO
Matt Bricker: Ferguson via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Gaethje via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Ferguson via Round 5 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Gaethje via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Ferguson via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Ferguson via Round 4 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Ferguson via Round 4 TKO
Dan Rose: Ferguson via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Ferguson via UD
Nate Freeman: Gaethje via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Gaethje via Round 1 TKO
Joshua Yule: Gaethje via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Ferguson: 8
Staff picking Gaethje: 8
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