Our first doubleheader of 2020 for MMASucka staff picks are in. Later this evening, January 25, will see UFC Fight Night 166 take place from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. This event comes as the promotion’s first-ever event in the Carolina capital. The main card will begin at an earlier time of 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) live on ESPN+.
Stay tuned later this afternoon for our Bellator 238 picks, the card also going down tonight.
The Fights
Top heavyweights will collide in the main event between Curtis Blaydes and Junior dos Santos. “Razor” Blaydes has developed into a truly special contender at the top of the division, having only suffered two career defeats to the ever-dangerous Francis Ngannou. His second loss to Ngannou saw a successful and dominant rebound in 2019, 30-25’ing Justin Willis in March and devastating Shamil Abdurakhimov in September with a second-round knockout. Blaydes will look to add to his resume with a potential win over dos Santos, the former UFC heavyweight champion. Brazil’s former divisional king will be making his seventh-straight main event UFC appearance, looking to rebound after a knockout loss to the aforementioned Ngannou. Dos Santos found his finishing ways before this defeat, however, finishing both Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis with strikes in the second-round.
The co-main event looks to steal the show as former 155-pounders Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Chiesa look to continue making sound in the welterweight division. Former lightweight champion dos Anjos looks to kick off 2020 on the right path after six months outside the octagon following a decision loss to top-contender Leon Edwards. TUF 15 winner Chiesa carries momentum into tonight’s bout with two-straight victories over combat veterans Carlos Condit and Diego Sanchez.
See the remainder of the UFC Fight Night 166 main card fights with picks included further below.
UFC 246 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 Fight Night 166 below.
Staff Records after UFC 246:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 8-0
1T. Michael DeSantis: 8-0
3T. Jeremy Brand: 7-1
3T. Ed Gallo: 7-1
3T. Connor Deitrich: 7-1
3T. Andrew Benjamin: 7-1
3T. Frazer Krohn: 7-1
3T. Dan Rose: 7-1
9T. Mitchell Banuelos: 6-2
9T. Matt Bricker: 6-2
9T. Ash Camyab: 6-2
9T. Ashwin Viswanathan: 6-2
13T. Mike Skytte: 5-3
13T. Ryan Hobbs: 5-3
15T. McKenzie Guardiero: 4-4
15T. Mike Lynch: 4-4
17. Jeremy Cook: 3-1, missed one card
18. Nate Freeman: 2-2, missed one card
Jamahal Hill (6-0) vs. Darko Stosic (13-3)
Jeremy Brand: Hill via UD
Wesley Riddle: Hill via UD
Mike Skytte: Stosic via UD
Michael DeSantis: Hill via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Stosic via UD
Ed Gallo: Stosic via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Stosic via UD
Connor Deitrich: Hill via UD
Ash Camyab: Stosic via Round 3 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Stosic via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Stosic via UD
Frazer Krohn: Stosic via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Hill via UD
Dan Rose: Hill via UD
Mike Lynch: Stosic via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Stosic via UD
Nate Freeman: Hill via UD
Staff picking Hill: 7
Staff picking Stosic: 10
Hannah Cifers (10-3) vs. Angela Hill (10-7)
Jeremy Brand: Hill via UD
Wesley Riddle: Hill via UD
Mike Skytte: Cifers via UD
Michael DeSantis: Hill via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Hill via UD
Ed Gallo: Hill via UD
Matt Bricker: Hill via UD
Connor Deitrich: Hill via UD
Ash Camyab: Hill via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Hill via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Hill via UD
Frazer Krohn: Hill via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Hill via UD
Dan Rose: Hill via UD
Mike Lynch: Cifers via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Hill via UD
Nate Freeman: Hill via SD
Staff picking Cifers: 2
Staff picking Hill: 15
Jordan Espinosa (14-6, 1 NC) vs. Alex Perez (22-5)
Jeremy Brand: Perez via UD
Wesley Riddle: Perez via UD
Mike Skytte: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Perez via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Ed Gallo: Perez via Round 3 SUB
Matt Bricker: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Connor Deitrich: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Perez via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Espinosa via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Perez via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Perez via Round 3 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Perez via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Perez via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Perez via UD
Ashwin Viswanathan: Perez via UD
Nate Freeman: Perez via UD
Staff picking Espinosa: 1
Staff picking Perez: 16
Rafael dos Anjos (29-12) vs. Michael Chiesa (16-4)
Jeremy Brand: Chiesa via UD
Wesley Riddle: dos Anjos via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: dos Anjos via UD
Michael DeSantis: dos Anjos via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: dos Anjos via Round 2 TKO
Ed Gallo: dos Anjos via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: dos Anjos via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: dos Anjos via UD
Ash Camyab: dos Anjos via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: dos Anjos via UD
Andrew Benjamin: dos Anjos via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: dos Anjos via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Chiesa via Round 3 TKO
Dan Rose: Chiesa via UD
Mike Lynch: dos Anjos via Round 1 SUB
Ashwin Viswanathan: dos Anjos via UD
Nate Freeman: dos Anjos via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking dos Anjos: 14
Staff picking Chiesa: 3
Curtis Blaydes (12-2, 1 NC) vs. Junior dos Santos (21-6)
Jeremy Brand: Blaydes via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Blaydes via Round 2 TKO
Mike Skytte: dos Santos via Round 3 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Blaydes via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Blaydes via Round 3 TKO
Ed Gallo: Blaydes via UD
Matt Bricker: Blaydes via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Blaydes via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: dos Santos via Round 1 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Blaydes via Round 4 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: dos Santos via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Blaydes via Round 3 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Blaydes via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Blaydes via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Blaydes via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: dos Santos via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Blaydes via Round 4 TKO
Staff picking Blaydes: 13
Staff picking dos Santos: 4
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