UFC Vegas 124 Staff Picks: Heavyweights Contenders Rumble In Vegas
At UFC Vegas 124, heavyweight hard-hitters will throw down on their quest toward the belt, as divisional mainstay Waldo Cortes-Acosta meets newly-minted prospect and previous light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker.
In the co-main event, women’s strawweight luminaries Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba are looking to revive their own aspirations to challenge for the title a second time.
UFC Vegas 124 Main Event
Keeping a monumentally busy schedule in 2026, Cortes-Acosta’s appearance at UFC Vegas 124 will stand as his fourth contest in less than a year. Suffering recent setbacks to Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes, “Salsa Boy” is on a mission to prove that he has the skills to become a member of the 265-lb upper most echelon.
Following an 18-fight stint as a 205-lb competitor, which saw him score wins over Anthony Smith, Zhang Mingyang, and Khalil Rountree Jr., Walker walked into the Octagon at UFC 332 last month with a bigger frame and even bigger aspirations. Those aspirations were bulked even further when he logged a sensational first round knockout over English prospect Mick Parkin.
UFC Vegas 124 Co-Main Event
At UFC 312, Suarez tasted loss for the first time as a professional mixed martial artist when she was soundly trashed by then 115-lb incumbent Zhang Weili. In the almost two years since that defeat, however, the California native has put herself back into the conversation with two big victories over Amanda Lemos and Loopy Godínez, notably becoming the first fighter to finish the latter.
Getting back into the winner’s circle in her last fight against Tabatha Ricci, Jandiroba has begun the painstakingly difficult task of getting back on track towards the title. Determined to set up a trilogy scrap with current strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern, the Brazilian will need to make a statement in the penultimate match of UFC Vegas 124.
More Bouts On the UFC Vegas 124 Main Card
Rounding out the main card, Davey Grant battles Elijah Smith. Then, Billy Elekana faces Lucas Fernando. Also, Priscila Cachoeira takes on Nina Nikolija Milošević. Finally, Mitch Raposo locks horns with Marcos Degli.
UFC Vegas 124 Predictions and Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
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UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
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PFL picks from main cards for both pay-per-views and regular events.
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ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
Staff picks in 2025 were won by Hank Strandberg with a record of 216-119.
Find our UFC Vegas 124 picks and fight odds below.
Staff records after UFC Vegas 123:
1. Hank Strandberg: 218-107
2. Drew Zuhosky: 171-156
3. Frazer Krohn: 155-129
4. Andrew Benjamin: 29-27
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Marcos Degli -232
Vs.
Mitch Raposo +194
FLYWEIGHT
Hank Strandberg: Raposo by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Raposo by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Kron: Raposo by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Degli: 0
Staff picking Raposo: 3
Nina Nikolija Milošević -510
Vs.
Priscila Cachoeira +394
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT
Hank Strandberg: Milošević by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Cachoeira by First-Round Knockout
Frazer Kron: Milošević by Second-Round Submission
Staff picking Milošević: 2
Staff picking Cachoeira: 1
Lucas Fernando -345
Vs.
Billy Elekana -280
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Hank Strandberg: Fernando by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Fernando by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Fernando by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Fernando: 3
Staff picking Elekana: 0
Elijah Smith -310
Vs.
Davey Grant +254
BANTAMWEIGHT
Hank Strandberg: Smith by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Grant by Second-Round Knockout
Frazer Kron: Grant by First-Round Submission
Staff picking Smith: 1
Staff picking Grant: 2
Tatiana Suarez -202
Vs.
Virna Jandiroba +171
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT
Hank Strandberg: Suarez by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Suarez by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Kron: Suarez by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Suarez: 3
Staff picking Jandiroba: 0
Waldo Cortes-Acosta -227
Vs.
Johnny Walker +190
HEAVYWEIGHT
Hank Strandberg: Cortes-Acosta by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Cortes-Acosta by Third-Round Knockout
Frazer Krohn: Cortes-Acosta by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Cortes-Acosta: 3
Staff picking Walker: 0
