An MMASucka staff picks doubleheader weekend is in store for you. The first of two cards sees UFC Fight Night 149 take place this afternoon, April 20, from the Yubileyny Sports Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The main card will begin live on ESPN+ starting at 1:00pm ET (10:00pm PT). What was to be a six-fight main card is now to five, as Ivan Shtyrkov has been forced off the card and out of his fight with Devin Clark due to illness. Make sure to stay tuned later in the day for our RIZIN 15 staff picks, the promotion’s first event of 2019.
THE FIGHTS
A classic “striker versus grappler” matchup is set for the main event between combat veterans Alistair Overeem and Aleksei Oleinik. Former DREAM and Strikeforce champion Overeem made statements early in his career, making a name for himself during Japan’s PRIDE decade. He would later make his UFC debut in December of 2011 stopping Brock Lesnar in the first round. His record under the banner sits at 9-6, lastly stopping Sergey Pavlovich (also on this card) in November. Oleinik has only competed in the UFC eight times having been in mixed martial arts dating back all the way to 1996. Out of his 57 victories, he has submitted 45 of his opponents including eleven by Ezekiel choke and four by armlock from scarf hold. On his resume includes notable victories over the likes of Mark Hunt, Mirko Cro Cop, Adlan Amagov, Karol Bedorf, and a slew of others.
In the co-main event, Sambo phenom Islam Makhachev against debutant wrestler Arman Tsarukyan. Makhachev has won four straight fights in the UFC since dropping his only professional fight to Adriano Martins via knockout in 2015. With two straight first round finishes in his last two outings, he hopes to soon make a case as being one of the top-contending lightweights in the world. Tsarukyan currently rides a 12-fight win streak having scored victories over notables Felipe Olivieri and Junior Assuncao in 2018.
Thee remaining three main card fights are listed further below.
STAFF PICKS
Throughout the year, staff picks will be composed of four different MMA promotions: UFC, Bellator, ONE, and RIZIN. Main cards will make up both UFC and Bellator picks, while the biggest fights to make up ONE and RIZIN 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 2018 winner was awarded to Michael DeSantis, compiling a record of 202-101.
Check out our MMASucka staff picks for UFC Fight Night 149: Overeem vs. Oleinik below.
Staff Records after UFC 236:
1. Ed Gallo: 86-37
2. Michael DeSantis: 85-38
3. Brian Gerson: 82-41
4T. Wesley Riddle: 81-42
4T. Connor Deitrich: 81-42
6. Ryan Wagner: 78-37
7. Mike Skytte: 77-46
8. Omar Villagrana: 74-49
9. Jeremy Brand: 73-50
10. Matt Bricker: 73-50
11. Mitchell Banuelos: 71-37
12. Patrick Auger: 69-47
13. Justin Pierrot: 67-46
14. Ash Camyab: 66-41
15. Suraj Sukumar: 38-14
16. Sasha Moksyakov: 31-16
17. Idrees Crawley: 12-4
18. Ryan Hobbs: 2-9
Krzysztof Jotko (19-4) vs. Alen Amedovski (8-0)
Jeremy Brand: Jotko via UD
Wesley Riddle: Amedovski via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Amedovski via Round 1 TKO
Justin Pierrot: Jotko via UD
Michael DeSantis: Jotko via UD
Ryan Wagner: Jotko via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Jotko via UD
Ed Gallo: Jotko via UD
Omar Villagrana: Jotko via UD
Brian Gerson: Jotko via UD
Matt Bricker: Amedovski via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Jotko via UD
Patrick Auger: Amedovski via Round 1 TKO
Sasha Moksyakov: N/A
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Jotko via UD
Idrees Crawley: N/A
Ryan Hobbs: Jotko via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Jotko: 11
Staf picking Amedovski: 4
Antonina Shevchenko (7-0) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (22-15)
Jeremy Brand: Modafferi via UD
Wesley Riddle: Shevchenko via UD
Mike Skytte: Shevchenko via UD
Justin Pierrot: Modafferi via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Shevchenko via UD
Ryan Wagner: Shevchenko via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Shevchenko via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Omar Villagrana: Shevchenko via UD
Brian Gerson: Modafferi via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Shevchenko via UD
Connor Deitrich: Shevchenko via UD
Patrick Auger: Shevchenko via UD
Sasha Moksyakov: N/A
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Shevchenko via Round 3 TKO
Idrees Crawley: N/A
Ryan Hobbs: Modafferi via UD
Staff picking Shevchenko: 11
Staf picking Modafferi: 4
Sergey Pavlovich (12-1) vs. Marcelo Golm (6-2)
Jeremy Brand: Pavlovich via UD
Wesley Riddle: Pavlovich via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Pavlovich via Round 1 TKO
Justin Pierrot: Golm via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Pavlovich via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Wagner: Pavlovich via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Pavlovich via UD
Ed Gallo: Pavlovich via Round 3 TKO
Omar Villagrana: Pavlovich via UD
Brian Gerson: Pavlovich via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Pavlovich via UD
Connor Deitrich: Pavlovich via UD
Patrick Auger: Pavlovich via UD
Sasha Moksyakov: N/A
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Golm via UD
Idrees Crawley: N/A
Ryan Hobbs: Pavlovich via UD
Staff picking Pavlovich: 13
Staf picking Golm: 2
Islam Makhachev (16-1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (13-1)
Jeremy Brand: Makhachev via UD
Wesley Riddle: Makhachev via Round 3 SUB
Mike Skytte: Makhachev via UD
Justin Pierrot: Makhachev via UD
Michael DeSantis: Makhachev via UD
Ryan Wagner: Makhachev via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Makhachev via UD
Ed Gallo: Makhachev via Round 2 SUB
Omar Villagrana: Makhachev via UD
Brian Gerson: Makhachev via UD
Matt Bricker: Makhachev via UD
Connor Deitrich: Makhachev via Round 2 TKO
Patrick Auger: Makhachev via UD
Sasha Moksyakov: N/A
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Tsarukyan via UD
Idrees Crawley: N/A
Ryan Hobbs: Makhachev via UD
Staff picking Makhachev: 14
Staf picking Tsarukyan: 1
Alistair Overeem (44-17) vs. Alexey Oleinik (57-11-1)
Jeremy Brand: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Oleinik via Round 2 SUB
Justin Pierrot: Overeem via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Wagner: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Omar Villagrana: Overeem via UD
Brian Gerson: Oleinik via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Overeem via Round 3 TKO
Patrick Auger: Overeem via Round 1 TKO
Sasha Moksyakov: N/A
Suraj Sukumar: N/A
Ash Camyab: Overeem via Round 2 TKO
Idrees Crawley: N/A
Ryan Hobbs: Overeem via UD
Staff picking Overeem: 13
Staf picking Oleinik: 2
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