MMASucka staff picks are halfway through for the biggest weekend in our picking history. On this Saturday, October 12th, UFC Fight Night 161 will take place from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Main card action will begin live on ESPN+ at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT). Stay tuned to MMASucka.com for our final two staff picks of the weekend later today. In the meanwhile, feel free to examine our staff picks from both RIZIN 19 and Bellator 230.
The Fights
An exciting main event clash is in store between strawweights Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson. Former divisional queen Jedrzejczyk captured and maintained the 115-pound title from March of 2015 to November of 2017 before losing the title to Rose Namajunas. A rematch would follow, coming up short once more to Namajunas by decision. Jedrzejczyk moved up in weight her last outing to the flyweight division, taking on a longtime foe Valentina Shevchenko. She would come up short again, Shevchenko defending her flyweight belt. This fight comes as Jedrzejczyk’s return to strawweight. Her opponent, Waterson, had massive success back in 2013 and 2014 with her time as the Invicta FC atomweight champion. Back-to-back losses to the aforementioned Namajunas and Tecia Torres stand as her lone defeats with the UFC. Waterson has scored three straight decisions since, lastly taking every round by decision over former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
In the co-main event, 36-fight veteran Cub Swanson will battle one of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s best Kron Gracie in the featherweight division. Swanson is in search of his first win since April of 2017 while looking to snap a current four-fight skid. “Ice Cream Kron” looks to keep his 100% submission finishing rate intact having yet to face defeat in his first five professional MMA outings.
Also on the main card sees a potential “Fight of the Night” between dangerous welterweight finishers Niko Price and James Vick. Two 26-year-old, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts will meet in the strawweight division between the returning Mackenzie Dern and Brazil’s Amanda Ribas. Check out all the main card fights for UFC Fight Night 161 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 161 below.
Staff Records after UFC 243:
1. Michael DeSantis: 228-124
2. Connor Deitrich: 227-125
3. Mitchell Banuelos: 218-122
4. Ed Gallo: 216-132
5. Mike Skytte: 212-140
6. Jeremy Brand: 204-148
7. Matt Bricker: 196-143
8. Ash Camyab: 185-135
9. Frazer Krohn: 108-76
10. Ryan Hobbs: 92-82
11. Andrew Benjamin: 73-53
12. McKenzie Guardiero: 68-52
13. Tanner Russ: 34-16
14. Dan Rose: 20-16
15. Mike Lynch: 2-3
*Staff picks for all five cards this weekend will be added NEXT weekend*
Eryk Anders (12-4) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (29-11)
Jeremy Brand: Anders via UD
Mike Skytte: Anders via UD
Michael DeSantis: Anders via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Anders via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Meerschaert via UD
Matt Bricker: Anders via UD
Connor Deitrich: Anders via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Anders via Round 3 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Anders via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Meerschaert via UD
Frazer Krohn: Meerschaert via SD
McKenzie Guardiero: Anders via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Anders via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Anders via UD
Mike Lynch: Anders via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Anders: 12
Staff picking Meerschaert: 3
Matt Frevola (7-1-1) vs. Luis Pena (7-1)
Jeremy Brand: Pena via UD
Mike Skytte: Pena via SD
Michael DeSantis: Pena via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Pena via UD
Ed Gallo: Frevola via UD
Matt Bricker: Pena via UD
Connor Deitrich: Frevola via UD
Ash Camyab: Pena via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Frevola via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Frevola via UD
Frazer Krohn: Frevola via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Pena via UD
Tanner Russ: Pena via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Pena via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Pena via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Frevola: 5
Staff picking Pena: 10
Mackenzie Dern (7-0) vs. Amanda Ribas (7-1)
Jeremy Brand: Dern via Round 2 SUB
Mike Skytte: Ribas via UD
Michael DeSantis: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Ed Gallo: Dern via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Dern via Round 2 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Dern via Round 3 TKO
Tanner Russ: Dern via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Ribas via UD
Mike Lynch: Dern via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Dern: 13
Staff picking Ribas: 2
Niko Price (13-3, 1 NC) vs. James Vick (13-4)
Jeremy Brand: Vick via UD
Mike Skytte: Price via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Price via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Price via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: Price via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Vick via Round 2 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Price via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Price via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Price via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Price via UD
Frazer Krohn: Price via Round 3 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Vick via Round 2 TKO
Tanner Russ: Price via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Vick via UD
Mike Lynch: Price via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Price: 11
Staff picking Vick: 4
Cub Swanson (25-11) vs. Kron Gracie (5-0)
Jeremy Brand: Gracie via Round 2 SUB
Mike Skytte: Gracie via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Gracie via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Ed Gallo: Swanson via UD
Matt Bricker: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Swanson via SD
Ash Camyab: Swanson via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Gracie via Round 3 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Swanson via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Tanner Russ: Gracie via Round 1 SUB
Dan Rose: Gracie via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Gracie via Round 3 SUB
Staff picking Swanson: 4
Staff picking Gracie: 11
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-3) vs. Michelle Waterson (17-6)
Jeremy Brand: Jedrzejczyk via Round 3 TKO
Mike Skytte: Waterson via UD
Michael DeSantis: Jedrzejczyk via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Waterson via SD
Ed Gallo: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Matt Bricker: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Connor Deitrich: Jedrzejczyk via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Waterson via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Frazer Krohn: Jedrzejczyk via Round 4 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Tanner Russ: Waterson via UD
Dan Rose: Jedrzejczyk via Round 4 TKO
Mike Lynch: Jedrzejczyk via UD
Staff picking Jedrzejczyk: 11
Staff picking Waterson: 4
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