Overeem vs. Volkov |
Edgar vs. Sandhagen |
Kape vs. Pantoja |
Askar vs. Stamann |
Dariush vs. Ferreira |
|
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 6-9 |
Overeem (68%) |
Sandhagen (68%) |
Pantoja (61%) |
Stamann (85%) |
Dariush (69%) |
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 10-5 2014 Champion |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Kape |
Stamann |
Ferreira |
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 9-6 |
Volkov |
Sandhagen |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Dariush |
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 9-6 |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Kape |
Stamann |
Dariush |
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 9-6 2018 Champion |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Kape |
Stamann |
Dariush |
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 8-7 2020 Champion |
Overeem |
Edgar |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Dariush |
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 8-7 |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Dariush |
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 8-7 2017 Champion |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Dariush |
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2021: 7-8 |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Dariush |
Simon Head @simonhead 2021: 7-8 2019 Champion* |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Ferreira |
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 7-8 |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Kape |
Askar |
Ferreira |
Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 7-8 |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Kape |
Stamann |
Ferreira |
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 6-9 |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Dariush |
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 6-9 |
Volkov |
Sandhagen |
Pantoja |
Stamann |
Ferreira |
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 6-9 |
Overeem |
Sandhagen |
Kape |
Stamann |
Ferreira |
(Editor’s note: The fight between Clay Guida and Michael Johnson was moved to the main card too late for our picks deadline.)
The UFC is back in “Sin City” after three “Fight Island” events to open up 2021, and heavyweights top the bill.
UFC Fight Night 184 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, former heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem (47-18 MMA, 12-7 UFC) takes on former Bellator champion Alexander Volkov (32-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC). And even though Volkov is a fairly sizable favorite at nearly 2-1 at BetMGM, it’s Overeem who has a big 12-2 lead from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.
In the co-feature, former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar (24-8-1 MMA, 18-8-1 UFC) is the second biggest underdog on the main card against Cory Sandhagen (13-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC). And at -375, not surprisingly, Sandhagen is a heavy 13-1 favorite in our picks.
Also on the main card, the flyweight fight between UFC newcomer Manel Kape (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Alexandre Pantoja (22-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) nearly is a pick’em with Pantoja just a slight favorite at -120. And he has just a slight 8-6 lead in the picks, as well.
It’s a blowout for Cody Stamann (19-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) in his bantamweight fight against short-notice replacement Askar Askar (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Stamann is the card’s biggest favorite at 5-1, and he has a 13-1 lead in the picks.
And to open the main card, Beneil Dariush (19-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) takes on Diego Ferreira (17-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at lightweight. It’s dead even at the betting window, and our pickers have it close, too, with just an 8-6 lead for Dariush.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Overeem (68 percent), Sandhagen (68 percent), Pantoja (61 percent), Stamann (85 percent) and Dariush (69 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.