The first staff picks card for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2024 has arrived.
Later today, January 13th sees UFC Vegas 84 set to take place from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Preliminary fights kick off at 4:00pm ET (1:00pm PT) with the main card at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT). All fights will be available on ESPN+ for subscribers.
UFC Vegas 84: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 results will be available here at MMASucka.
Also, be sure to recap our staff picks from the 2024 season opener with Friday night’s ONE Fight Night 18 in Bangkok, Thailand.
FIGHT ACTION
In the night’s main event, Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker will rematch in a pivotal fight for the light heavyweight division. The two faced off at UFC 294 in October where an illegal knee from Ankalaev saw Walker unable to continue and the fight to be deemed a “No Contest.” Ankalaev, one fight prior, saw a draw for the vacant divisional Championship causing a divide in his nine-fight octagon win streak. Unpredictable talent Walker has won three straight fights since a 1-4 record turning the tides in his career path with the UFC.
Lightweights clash in the co-main slot between Jim Miller and Gabriel Benitez. Multi-category promotional record holder, Miller, makes his 43rd appearance in his 55th mixed martial arts bout as he looks to back up his “Performance of the Night” victory in June of last year over Jesse Butler. American Kickboxing Academy’s Benitez makes return after a 15-month hiatus to the date following his first-round knockout over Charlie Ontiveros in his 155-pound return.
A main card flyweight fight between Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau was intended to take place in the original co-main slot. The fight was also to be a rematch following their March of 2021 fight at UFC Vegas 21 where Nicolau took the win by a tightly-contested split decision. However, Kape missed weight on Friday morning by three and-a-half pounds, and the fight was cancelled. Due to the late shuffle, the main card addition between heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Waldo Cortes-Acosta will not be included.
Who are the MMASucka staff picking to win at UFC Vegas 84: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2?
REMATCH READY 🔥@AnkalaevM & @JohnnyWalker will battle it out in the #UFCVegas84 main event 👊
[ Live TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/S3CLdCfR4k
— UFC (@ufc) January 12, 2024
2024 STAFF PICKS
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL MMA), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will compose main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL MMA picks are to be determined as card structures will likely change following last year’s merger with Bellator MMA.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2024 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 was won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
See our picks and predictions for UFC Vegas 84 Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 below.
2024 RECORDS
1. Ben Jamieson: 300-148
2. Michael DeSantis: 289-155
3. Nate Freeman: 286-162
4. Jeremy Brand: 282-166
5. Wesley Riddle: 278-170
6. Frazer Krohn: 271-170
7. Julio Monteros Jr.: 248-133
8. Andrew Benjamin: 209-179
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Phil Hawes (12-5), +110
vs.
Brunno Ferreira (10-1), -130
Middleweight Division
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Ferreira via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Hawes via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Ferreira via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Ferreira via Round 2 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Ferreira via Round 2 SUB
Casey Cooper: Hawes via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Hawes: 2
Staff picking Ferreira: 6
Ricky Simon (20-4), -180
vs.
Mario Bautista (13-2), +150
Bantamweight Division
– 135 LBS. ~ 61.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Simon via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Simon via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Simon via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Simon via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Bautista via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Simon via Split Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Simon via Unanimous Decision
Casey Cooper: Bautista via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Simon: 6
Staff picking Bautista: 2
Jim Miller (36-17, 1 NC), -148
vs.
Gabriel Benitez (23-11), +124
Lightweight Division
– Co-Main Event –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Miller via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Miller via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Miller via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Miller via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Miller via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Miller via Round 1 SUB
Julio Monteros Jr.: Miller via Round 2 TKO
Casey Cooper: Benitez via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Miller: 7
Staff picking Benitez: 1
Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1), -520
vs.
Johnny Walker (21-7), +390
Light Heavyweight Division
– Main Event –
– 205 LBS. ~ 93.0 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Ankalaev via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Ankalaev via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Ankalaev via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Ankalaev via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Ankalaev via Round 2 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Ankalaev via Unanimous Decision
Casey Cooper: Walker via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Ankalaev: 6
Staff picking Walker: 2
