MMASucka staff picks are locked in for the second pay-per-view of the new year. UFC 258 will take place later tonight, February 13 from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live for ESPN+ subscribers on PPV.
The Fights
Welterweight gold is on the line in tonight’s main event between current former teammates Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. Usman captured the divisional championship in 2019 after a decision over then-king Tyron Woodley. The Ultimate Fighter 21 winner will look for his 17th straight professional victory and a 13th straight inside the octagon. His opponent, Burns, looks to extend upon his six-fight win streak dating back to December of 2018. A dominant run in 2020 with wins over Demian Maia and the aforementioned Woodley have propelled the Brazilian to his first career title shot.
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Flyweights Maycee Barber and Alexa Grasso are set for battle in the co-main event. Colorado’s Barber aims to rebound following her first professional defeat to Roxanne Modafferi in January last year. Guadalajara’s Grasso looks to back up her last win in August over Ji Yeon Kim.
A main card fight between Jim Miller and Bobby Green was cancelled yesterday following medical issues from Green. As a result, only four fights will be counted for our staff picks tonight. See those for UFC 258 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator MMA events. PFL will make its debut beginning in April, along with an additional promotion to-be-determined this weekend.
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 who our staff is picking to win at UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns below.
Staff Records after UFC Fight Night 184:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 11-8
1T. Mitchell Banuelos: 11-8
3T. Jeremy Brand: 10-9
3T. Dan Rose: 10-9
3T. Nate Freeman: 10-9
6. Michael DeSantis: 9-10
7T. Matt Bricker: 8-11
7T. Joshua Yule: 8-11
7T. Kenny Lee: 8-11
10T. Ash Camyab: 7-12
10T. Frazer Krohn: 7-12
12T. Andrew Benjamin: 6-13
12T. Mike Lynch: 6-8
Maki Pitolo (13-7) vs. Julian Marquez (7-2)
Jeremy Brand: Pitolo via UD
Wesley Riddle: Marquez via UD
Michael DeSantis: Marquez via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Pitolo via UD
Matt Bricker: Marquez via UD
Ash Camyab: Pitolo via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Pitolo via UD
Frazer Krohn: Marquez via UD
Dan Rose: Pitolo via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Marquez via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Marquez via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Pitolo via UD
Michael McKenzie: Marquez via UD
Staff picking Pitolo: 6
Staff picking Marquez: 7
Kelvin Gastelum (16-6, 1 NC) vs. Ian Heinisch (14-3)
Jeremy Brand: Gastelum via UD
Wesley Riddle: Gastelum via SD
Michael DeSantis: Gastelum via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Heinisch via UD
Matt Bricker: Heinisch via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Gastelum via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Gastelum via SD
Frazer Krohn: Gastelum via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Gastelum via UD
Mike Lynch: Gastelum via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Gastelum via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Gastelum via Round 2 TKO
Michael McKenzie: Heinisch via UD
Staff picking Gastelum: 10
Staff picking Heinisch: 3
Maycee Barber (8-1) vs. Alexa Grasso (12-3)
Jeremy Brand: Barber via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Grasso via UD
Michael DeSantis: Grasso via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Grasso via UD
Matt Bricker: Barber via UD
Ash Camyab: Grasso via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Barber via UD
Frazer Krohn: Barber via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Barber via UD
Mike Lynch: Grasso via UD
Nate Freeman: Barber via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Barber via UD
Michael McKenzie: Grasso via UD
Staff picking Barber: 7
Staff picking Grasso: 6
Kamaru Usman (17-1) vs. Gilbert Burns (19-3)
Jeremy Brand: Usman via UD
Wesley Riddle: Usman via UD
Michael DeSantis: Usman via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Burns via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Usman via UD
Ash Camyab: Usman via Round 4 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Burns via Round 3 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Usman via SD
Dan Rose: Usman via Round 5 TKO
Mike Lynch: Usman via UD
Nate Freeman: Usman via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Usman via UD
Michael McKenzie: Burns via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Usman: 10
Staff picking Burns: 3
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