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USA Today
15-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 254 predictions: Who has edge in Marvin Vettori-Roman Dolidze rematch?
The UFC wraps up a three-week homestand this week with a former middleweight title challenger in the headlining spot. UFC Fight Night 254 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below. Seungwoo Choi vs. Kevin Vallejos Records: Choi (11-7 MMA, 4-6 UFC), Vallejos (14-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Past five: Choi 1-4, Vallejos 4-1 Division: Featherweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 03.14.25): Choi +320, Vallejos -410 Junkie pick results: Vallejos 11, Choi 0 Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Brendson Ribeiro Records: Nurgozhay (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Ribeiro (16-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) Past five: Nurgozhay 5-0, Ribeiro 3-2 Division: Light heavyweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 03.14.25): Nurgozhay -290, Ribeiro +235 Junkie pick results: Nurgozhay 11, Ribeiro 0 Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson Records: Blackshear (15-7-1 MMA, 3-3-1 UFC), Gibson (22-10 MMA, 3-5 UFC) Past five: Blackshear 3-2, Gibson 3-2 Division: Bantamweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 03.14.25): Blackshear -360, Gibson +285 Junkie pick results: Blackshear 9, Gibson 2 Alexander Hernandez vs. Kurt Holobaugh Records: Hernandez (15-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC), Holobaugh (22-8 MMA, 2-5 UFC) Past five: Hernandez 2-3, Holobaugh 4-1 Division: Lightweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 03.14.25): Hernandez -205, Holobaugh +170 Junkie pick results: Hernandez 10, Holobaugh 1 Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Chidi Njokuani Records: Zaleski dos Santos (25-8-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC), Njokuani (24-10 MMA, 4-3 UFC) Past five: Zaleski dos Santos 3-1-1, Njokuani 2-3 Division: Welterweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 03.14.25): Zaleski dos Santos -175, Njokuani +145 Junkie pick results: Zaleski dos Santos 9, Njokuani 2 Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Records: Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC), Dolidze (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) Past five: Vettori 2-3, Dolidze 3-2 Division: Middleweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 03.14.25): Vettori -140, Dolidze +120 Junkie pick results: Dolidze 8, Vettori 3 Preliminary card picks Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Ryan Spann: Cortes-Acosta 8, Spann 3 Cortes-Acosta 8, Spann 3 A.J. Cunningham vs. Su Young You: You 11, Cunningham 0 You 11, Cunningham 0 Josias Musasa vs. Carlos Vera: Musasa 11, Vera 0 Musasa 11, Vera 0 Sam Hughes vs. Stephanie Luciano: Luciano 10, Hughes 1 Luciano 10, Hughes 1 Daniel Barez vs. Andre Lima: Lima 10, Barez 1 Lima 10, Barez 1 Priscila Cachoeira vs. Josiane Nunes: Nunes 7, Cachoeira 4 Nunes 7, Cachoeira 4 Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice: Duben 9, Judice 2 Check out all the main card picks below. (Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.) Vettori vs. Dolidze Njokuani vs. Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez vs. Holobaugh Blackshear vs. Gibson Nurgozhay vs. Ribeiro Choi vs. Vallejos MMA Junkie readers' consensus picks 24-16 Vettori (52%) Zaleski dos Santos (65%) Hernandez (54%) Blackshear (80%) Nurgozhay (77%) Vallejos (80%) Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 29-11 2024 Champion Dolidze Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos Nolan King @mma_kings 27-13 2023 Champion Vettori Zaleski dos Santos Holobaugh Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos Brian Garcia @thegoze 25-15 2017 Champion Vettori Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 23-17 2014 Champion Dolidze Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Gibson Nurgozhay Vallejos Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 23-17 2017, 2022, 2024 Champion Dolidze Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 22-18 Dolidze Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 22-18 Dolidze Njokuani Hernandez Gibson Nurgozhay Vallejos Matt Erickson @MattE 22-18 Dolidze Njokuani Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 21-19 Vettori Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos Simon Samano @SJSamano 21-19 Dolidze Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos Matthew Wells @MrMWells 18-22 Dolidze Zaleski dos Santos Hernandez Blackshear Nurgozhay Vallejos For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.
USA Today
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
UFC 313 'Embedded,' No. 3: Mauricio Ruffy's Ferrari fight week thrills
The UFC stays in Las Vegas for UFC 313, its third pay-per-view of the calendar year, and the popular 'Embedded' fight week video series is here to document what's happening behind the scenes. UFC 313 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the headliner, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) puts his title on the line against challenger Magomed Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC). In the co-feature, Rafael Fiziev (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) steps up on short notice for a rematch with former interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC). The third episode of 'Embedded' follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC's description of the episode from YouTube: Justin Gaethje trains at the UFC PI; Magomed Ankalaev has a striking session; Champ Alex Pereira tests his recovery with his physiotherapist; Maurico Ruffy races cars; Justin Gaethje hits golf balls with Megan Olivi; Rafael Fiziev runs into Chael Sonnen. Previous UFC 313 'Embedded' episodes: For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 313.
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 252 predictions: Is Cejudo or Song the better man in Seattle?
The UFC is back in the Pacific Northwest this week for the first time in a decade with a former two-division champion at the top of the card. UFC Fight Night 252 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below. Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker Records: Menifield (15-5-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC), Walker (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Past five: Menifield 2-2-1, Walker 5-0 Division: Light heavyweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 02.21.25): Menifield -245, Walker +200 Junkie pick results: Menifield 6, Walker 5 Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Jean Silva Records: Baghdasaryan (8-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Silva (16-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) Past five: Baghdasaryan 4-1, Silva 5-0 Division: Featherweight Rankings: None Odds (as of 02.21.25): Baghdasaryan +370, Silva -485 Junkie pick results: Silva 11, Baghdasaryan 0 Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto Records: Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC), Matsumoto (16-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) Past five: Font 2-3, Matsumoto 5-0 Division: 140-pound contract weight Rankings: Font No. 15 Odds (as of 02.21.25): Font +130, Matsumoto -155 Junkie pick results: Font 7, Matsumoto 4 Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Records: Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC), Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) Past five: Allen 4-1, Hernandez 5-0 Division: Middleweight Rankings: Allen No. 11, Hernandez No. 13 Odds (as of 02.21.25): Allen +270, Hernandez -340 Junkie pick results: Hernandez 7, Allen 4 Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong Records: Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), Yadong (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) Past five: Cejudo 3-2, Yadong 3-2 Division: Bantamweight Rankings: Cejudo No. 9, Song No. 10 Odds (as of 02.21.25): Cejudo +215, Song -265 Junkie pick results: Cejudo 6, Song 5 Preliminary card picks Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results: Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba: Aslan 11, Cutelaba 0 Aslan 11, Cutelaba 0 Melquizael Costa vs. Andre Fili: Fili 7, Costa 4 Fili 7, Costa 4 Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein: Abdul-Malik 10, Klein 1 Abdul-Malik 10, Klein 1 Javid Basharat vs. Ricky Simon: Basharat 9, Simon 2 Basharat 9, Simon 2 Austin Vanderford vs. Nikolay Veretennikov: Vanderford 11, Veretennikov 0 Vanderford 11, Veretennikov 0 Eric McConico vs. Nursulton Ruziboev: Ruziboev 10, McConico 1 Ruziboev 10, McConico 1 Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rafael Cerqueira: Bukauskas 9, Cerqueira 2 Check out all the main card picks below. (Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.) Cejudo vs. Song Allen vs. Hernandez Font vs. Matsumoto Baghdasaryan vs. Silva Menifield vs. Walker MMA Junkie readers' consensus picks 15-10 Cejudo (52%) Hernandez (66%) Font (59%) Silva (84%) Menifield (65%) Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 16-9 2024 Champion Song Hernandez Font Silva Menifield Nolan King @mma_kings 16-9 2023 Champion Song Allen Font Silva Menifield Matt Erickson @MattE 16-9 Song Hernandez Matsumoto Silva Walker Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 15-10 2017, 2022, 2024 Champion Cejudo Hernandez Matsumoto Silva Walker Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 14-11 Cejudo Hernandez Font Silva Walker Brian Garcia @thegoze 14-11 2017 Champion Cejudo Hernandez Font Silva Menifield George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 14-11 Cejudo Hernandez Font Silva Walker Simon Samano @SJSamano 13-12 Song Allen Matsumoto Silva Menifield Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 11-14 Cejudo Allen Font Silva Menifield Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 11-14 2014 Champion Cejudo Allen Font Silva Menifield Matthew Wells @MrMWells 11-14 Song Hernandez Matsumoto Silva Walker For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
