MMASucka staff picks are locked in for the weekend. Later this evening, June 27, will see UFC on ESPN 12 go down from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will begin at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) on both ESPN and ESPN+.
The Fights
A thrilling lightweight showdown will cap off the night between top-ranked Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker. Poirier made his rise to the top by winning the divisional interim strap in April last year over Max Holloway. Although falling short for the real belt to Khabib Nurmagomedov in September, “The Diamond” always remains a force to be reckoned with inside the octagon. His opponent, Hooker, made mark in his first main event appearance with a split decision over Paul Felder in February. The win extends his streak to three in-a-row, now set for the biggest matchup of his career. A victory for either man tonight will line one up in talks for a title shot.
Striker Mike Perry will face off against grappler Mickey Gall in the co-main event slot. The ever-entertaining Perry comes in looking to snap a two-fight skid, while Gall makes his return after roughly ten months away following a decision over Salim Touahri.
Due to a late main card addition of Philipe Lins and Tanner Boser, this fight will not be included in our picks. See the staff picks for UFC on ESPN 12 further below.
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 on ESPN 12 below.
Staff Records after UFC on ESPN 11:
1. Connor Deitrich: 84-33
2. Michael DeSantis: 83-34
3. Wesley Riddle: 81-36
4. Jeremy Brand: 76-41
5T. Matt Bricker: 71-46
5T. Dan Rose: 71-46
7. Frazer Krohn: 70-47
8T. McKenzie Guardiero: 68-49
8T. Nate Freeman: 68-45
10. Mike Skytte: 67-45
11. Ash Camyab: 66-51
12. Andrew Benjamin: 65-52
13. Jack Buchanan: 64-30
14. Ashwin Viswanathan: 63-39
15T. Ryan Hobbs: 61-52
15T. Mike Lynch: 61-41
17. Mitchell Banuelos: 55-33
18. Ed Gallo: 54-27
19. Joshua Yule: 23-13
20. Jeremy Cook: 14-6
*Note: not all staff has picked for every event*
Sean Woodson (7-0) vs. Julian Erosa (23-9)
Jeremy Brand: Woodson via UD
Wesley Riddle: Woodson via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Woodson via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Woodson via UD
Matt Bricker: Woodson via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Woodson via UD
Ash Camyab: Woodson via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Woodson via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Woodson via UD
Frazer Krohn: Woodson via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Woodson via UD
Dan Rose: Woodson via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Woodson via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Woodson via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Woodson via UD
Jack Buchanan: Woodson via UD
Joshua Yule: Woodson via UD
Staff picking Woodson: 17
Staff picking Erosa: 0
Brendan Allen (14-3) vs. Kyle Daukaus (9-0)
Jeremy Brand: Allen via UD
Wesley Riddle: Allen via UD
Michael DeSantis: Allen via Round 2 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Allen via UD
Matt Bricker: Allen via UD
Connor Deitrich: Allen via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Allen via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Allen via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Daukaus via UD
Frazer Krohn: Daukaus via Round 2 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Allen via UD
Dan Rose: Allen via UD
Mike Lynch: Allen via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Allen via UD
Nate Freeman: Allen via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Allen via UD
Joshua Yule: Allen via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Allen: 15
Staff picking Daukaus: 2
Gian Villante (17-11) vs. Maurice Greene (8-5)
Jeremy Brand: Greene via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Greene via UD
Michael DeSantis: Greene via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Greene via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Greene via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Greene via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Villante via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Greene via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Greene via UD
Frazer Krohn: Greene via Round 2 TKO
McKenzie Guardiero: Greene via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Greene via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Greene via Round 2 SUB
Ashwin Viswanathan: Greene via UD
Nate Freeman: Greene via Round 1 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Greene via Round 2 TKO
Joshua Yule: Greene via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Villante: 1
Staff picking Greene: 16
Mike Perry (13-6) vs. Mickey Gall (6-2)
Jeremy Brand: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Perry via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Gall via Round 1 SUB
Matt Bricker: Perry via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Gall via UD
Ryan Hobbs: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Gall via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Gall via Round 1 SUB
McKenzie Guardiero: Perry via Round 1 TKO
Dan Rose: Gall via Round 1 SUB
Mike Lynch: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Gall via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Perry via Round 2 TKO
Jack Buchanan: Perry via Round 3 TKO
Joshua Yule: Perry via UD
Staff picking Perry: 11
Staff picking Gall: 6
Dustin Poirier (25-6, 1 NC) vs. Dan Hooker (20-8)
Jeremy Brand: Poirier via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Poirier via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Poirier via Round 3 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Poirier via Round 3 TKO
Matt Bricker: Poirier via Round 4 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Poirier via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Poirier via Round 2 TKO
Ryan Hobbs: Hooker via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Poirier via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Poirier via UD
McKenzie Guardiero: Hooker via UD
Dan Rose: Poirier via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Poirier via Round 1 TKO
Ashwin Viswanathan: Poirier via UD
Nate Freeman: Poirier via UD
Jack Buchanan: Poirier via Round 5 TKO
Joshua Yule: Poirier via Round 4 TKO
Staff picking Poirier: 15
Staff picking Hooker: 2
FEATURED IMAGE:
Embed from Getty Images
