One final card this weekend for our MMASucka staff picks. Later this evening, November 16 will see UFC Fight Night 164 go down from the Ginásio do Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil. Main card action will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
Unfortunately, Bellator 234 staff picks from Thursday were unable to be published due to a miscalculation. However, feel free to see how our staff did with picks this morning at ONE Championship: Age of Dragons.
The Fights
Light heavyweights Jan Blachowicz and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will clash in the main event looking to climb up the ranks for their shot at the 205-pound title. Former KSW light heavyweight champ Blachowicz has seen highs and lows throughout his five-year UFC tenure. He currently sits at 5-1 through his last six dating back to October of 2017, the lone loss coming earlier this year to Thiago Santos. Blachowicz most recently welcomed former middleweight title holder Luke Rockhold to the division with a vicious second round knockout. His opponent, Jacare, is ready to make his divisional debut after a 34-fight career contending at middleweight. The former Strikeforce king has come up short numerous times in the past at receiving a UFC title shot. Now in a new weight class and looking to rebound off a decision loss to Jack Hermansson, soon-to-be 40-year-old Souza hopes to find success in this switch.
Two more light heavyweights make up the co-main event between former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Paul “Bearjew” Craig. Shogun will look for his second win in the last non-calendar year while Craig hopes to secure a twelfth submission victory to his resume.
Also on the main card includes the always-entertaining Charles Oliveira and a fight pairing between two DWTNCS standouts, Antonio Arroyo and Andre Muniz. See the five UFC Fight Night 164 fights counted for staff picks this weekend 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 164 below.
Staff Records after Bellator 234:
1. Michael DeSantis: 280-157 (4-1)
2. Connor Deitrich: 278-159 (3-2)
3. Ed Gallo: 270-163 (5-0)
4. Mike Skytte: 258-179 (3-2)
5. Mitchell Banuelos: 254-154 (4-1)
6. Jeremy Brand: 253-183 (3-2)
7. Matt Bricker: 243-181 (4-1)
8. Ash Camyab: 227-172 (3-2)
9. Frazer Krohn: 155-114 (2-3)
10. Ryan Hobbs: 138-121 (3-2)
11. Andrew Benjamin: 116-84 (N/A)
12. McKenzie Guardiero: 112-88 (3-2)
13. Tanner Russ: 88-47 (3-2)
14. Dan Rose: 75-46 (3-2)
15. Mike Lynch: 40-42 (3-2)
*parenthesis indicates results from Bellator 234 fights*
**ONE Championship: Age of Dragons picks will be included NEXT weekend**
Markus Perez (11-2) vs. Wellington Turman (15-3)
Jeremy Brand: Perez via UD
Mike Skytte: Perez via UD
Michael DeSantis: Perez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Turman via UD
Ed Gallo: Perez via UD
Matt Bricker: Perez via UD
Connor Deitrich: Perez via UD
Ash Camyab: Turman via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Perez via UD
Frazer Krohn: Perez via UD
Tanner Russ: Perez via UD
Dan Rose: Perez via UD
Mike Lynch: Perez via UD
Staff picking Perez: 11
Staff picking Turman: 2
Antonio Arroyo (9-2) vs. Andre Muniz (18-4)
Jeremy Brand: Muniz via UD
Mike Skytte: Arroyo via SD
Michael DeSantis: Muniz via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Arroyo via UD
Ed Gallo: Arroyo via UD
Matt Bricker: Arroyo via UD
Connor Deitrich: Arroyo via UD
Ash Camyab: Arroyo via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Arroyo via UD
Frazer Krohn: Arroyo via UD
Tanner Russ: Arroyo via UD
Dan Rose: Muniz via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Muniz via UD
Staff picking Arroyo: 9
Staff picking Muniz: 4
Charles Oliveira (27-8, 1 NC) vs. Jared Gordon (15-3)
Jeremy Brand: Gordon via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: Oliveira via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Gordon via UD
Ed Gallo: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Oliveira via Round 3 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Oliveira via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Gordon via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Tanner Russ: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Dan Rose: Oliveira via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Gordon via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Oliveira: 9
Staff picking Gordon: 4
Mauricio Rua (26-11) vs. Paul Craig (12-4)
Jeremy Brand: Craig via Round 1 TKO
Mike Skytte: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Ed Gallo: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Craig via Round 3 SUB
Ryan Hobbs: Craig via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Craig via Round 2 SUB
Tanner Russ: Rua via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Rua via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Rua: 9
Staff picking Craig: 4
Jan Blachowicz (24-8) vs. Ronaldo Souza (26-7, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Blachowicz via Round 3 SUB
Mike Skytte: Blachowicz via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Blachowicz via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Souza via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Blachowicz via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Souza via Round 2 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Blachowicz via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Blachowicz via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Blachowicz via Round 4 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Blachowicz via UD
Tanner Russ: Blachowicz via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Blachowicz via Round 5 TKO
Mike Lynch: Blachowicz via Round 4 TKO
Staff picking Blachowicz: 11
Staff picking Souza: 2
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