After one quick weekend off, MMASucka staff picks returns with heavy hitters to begin what should be an eventful month of June. UFC Vegas 28, also referred to as UFC Fight Night 189, will take place later this evening from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will start live at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) live for subscribers on ESPN+.
To recap our last staff picks fight card for staff picks, check back to UFC Vegas 27.
The Fights
Top-ranked heavyweights Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Augusto Sakai are set to clash in the main event slot. Rozenstruik looks to come back strong following a five-round decision loss to Ciryl Gane in February. The Surinamese fighter looks for an eleventh victory by knockout through what will be only his twelfth professional bout. Rozensturik’s opponent, Sakai, also aims to rebound after having his six-fight win streak snapped to Alistair Overeem last September. Brazil’s own targets his first win almost a year to the day, lastly defeating former WSOF/PFL champion Blagoy Ivanov.
More heavyweights meet in the co-main event between Walt Harris and Marcin Tybura. Alabama’s Harris hopes to snap a two-fight skid, still holding a 100% knockout rate in his 13 wins. Tybura, after nearly getting cut from the promotion in early 2020, now looks to extend a four-fight win streak, lastly finishing Greg Hardy in December.
See all of our staff picks for UFC Vegas 28 further below.
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Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events and a variety of fights from PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will make its debut in the summer months.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See all of our staff picks for UFC Vegas 28: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai below.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 27:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 73-50
1T. Nate Freeman: 73-50
3. Michael DeSantis: 70-53
4. Frazer Krohn: 69-54
5. Ash Camyab: 68-50
6. Joshua Yule: 67-51
7. Jeremy Brand: 66-58
8T. Mitchell Banuelos: 61-58
8T. Mike Lynch: 61-57
10. Kenny Lee: 55-49
11. Andrew Benjamin: 51-58
12. Tim Wheaton: 50-39
13. Matt Bricker: 46-53
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Tom Breese (12-3) vs. Antonio Arroyo (9-4)
Jeremy Brand: Breese via UD
Wesley Riddle: Breese via UD
Michael DeSantis: Breese via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Breese via UD
Matt Bricker: Breese via UD
Ash Camyab: Breese via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Breese via UD
Frazer Krohn: Breese via UD
Mike Lynch: Breese via UD
Nate Freeman: Breese via UD
Kenny Lee: Breese via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Breese via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Breese: 12
Staff picking Arroyo: 0
Dusko Todorovic (10-1) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (9-3)
Jeremy Brand: Todorovic via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Todorovic via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Todorovic via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Todorovic via Round 1 TKO
Matt Bricker: Todorovic via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Todorovic via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Todorovic via UD
Frazer Krohn: Todorovic via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Todorovic via UD
Nate Freeman: Todorovic via SD
Kenny Lee: Todorovic via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Todorovic via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Todorovic: 12
Staff picking Rodrigues: 0
Santiago Ponzinibbio (28-4) vs. Miguel Baeza (10-0)
Jeremy Brand: Ponzinibbio via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Ponzinibbio via UD
Michael DeSantis: Ponzinibbio via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Ponzinibbio via UD
Matt Bricker: Baeza via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Baeza via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Ponzinibbio via UD
Frazer Krohn: Ponzinibbio via UD
Mike Lynch: Ponzinibbio via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Ponzinibbio via UD
Kenny Lee: Ponzinibbio via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Baeza via UD
Staff picking Ponzinibbio: 9
Staff picking Baeza: 3
Roman Dolidze (8-1) vs. Laureano Staropoli (9-3)
Jeremy Brand: Dolidze via UD
Wesley Riddle: Staropoli via UD
Michael DeSantis: Dolidze via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Staropoli via UD
Matt Bricker: Dolidze via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Dolidze via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Staropoli via UD
Frazer Krohn: Dolidze via UD
Mike Lynch: Dolidze via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Dolidze via SD
Kenny Lee: Dolidze via 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Staropoli via UD
Staff picking Dolidze: 8
Staff picking Staropoli: 4
Walt Harris (13-9, 1 NC) vs. Marcin Tybura (21-6)
Jeremy Brand: Harris via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Tybura via UD
Michael DeSantis: Tybura via Round 3 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Harris via UD
Matt Bricker: Tybura via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Harris via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Harris via UD
Frazer Krohn: Tybura via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Tybura via UD
Nate Freeman: Harris via Round 2 TKO
Kenny Lee: Harris via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Tybura via UD
Staff picking Harris: 6
Staff picking Tybura: 6
Jairzinho Rozenstruik (11-2) vs. Augusto Sakai (15-2-1)
Jeremy Brand: Rozenstruik via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Rozenstruik via Round 5 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Rozenstruik via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Rozenstruik via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Rozenstruik via Round 3 TKO
Ash Camyab: Rozenstruik via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Rozenstruik via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Rozenstruik via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Rozenstruik via Round 4 TKO
Nate Freeman: Rozenstruik via Round 2 TKO
Kenny Lee: Rozenstruik via Round 5 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Sakai via UD
Staff picking Rozenstruik: 11
Staff picking Sakai: 1
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