UFC Picks

Pickswise is the number 1 site for free expert UFC Picks across all of the main event and fight night cards, every weekend. Our dedicated MMA handicapping team includes some of the best in the business with decades of experience handicapping MMA, and a long and successful track record with their picks.

There’s a new sport of kings and the popularity of mixed martial arts is largely being driven by the UFC. In the most straightforward terms, Our UFC picks involve picking who will be the winner of each fight on a certain card. There are dozens of other ways to wager on MMA fighting, and we’re on hand to find the best value MMA picks every week. Check out our handy expert guides below for more on how and where to bet on the UFC.

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Fight Prop Pick
Fight to go the Distance - No(-260)

The first fight on the Main Card at UFC on ESPN 69 will see Alonzo Menifield take on Oumar Sy. This will be a fight in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. Menifield enters this fight with an MMA record of 16-5-1 and 11-5-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.00 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 55%. Menifield absorbs 3.92 strikes and has a striking defense of 49%. His grappling has not been strong, averaging just 0.56 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 31% and a takedown defense of 78%.

Oumar enters this fight with an MMA record of 11-0 and 2-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 59%. Sy absorbs 1.71 strikes and has a striking defense of 73%. His grappling has been elite so far, averaging 3.21 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 40% and a takedown defense of 100%.

Sy is one of the biggest favorites on this fight card; therefore, we will be looking for this fight to end inside the distance. Menifield has seen 3 of his last 5 UFC fights end inside the distance, while Sy has seen 1 of his 2 UFC fights do the same. Regardless, both fighters have incredible one-punch knockout power; therefore, backing this fight to end inside the distance will be our lean.

Round Prop Pick
Fight to Start Round 2(-125)

The second fight on the Main Card at UFC on ESPN 69 will see Mansur Abdul-Malik take on Cody Brundage. This will be a fight in the UFC Middleweight division. Abdul-Malik enters this fight with an MMA record of 8-0 and 3-0 in the UFC. He averages 5.29 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Abdul-Malik absorbs 3.84 strikes and has a striking defense of 49%. He has shown limited grappling ability, averaging 0.75 takedowns every 15 minutes. Abdul-Malik has a takedown accuracy of 33%, and he has a takedown defense of 82%.

Brundage enters this fight with an MMA record of 11-6 and 5-6 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.14 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Brundage is absorbing 2.98 strikes and has a striking defense of 42%. His grappling has been strong, averaging 2.15 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 47% and a takedown defense of 68%.

Abdul-Malik is the overwhelming favorite; therefore, backing this fight to start round 2 will be our focus. Brundage has recently seen several of his UFC fights end in the first round, but Abdul-Malik looks to be a much more formidable opponent, considering he has yet to lose a fight in his career. As for Abdul-Malik, he has already seen 2 of his 3 UFC fights go to at least the second round; therefore, backing the same here will be our best bet.

Fight Prop Pick
Fight to go the Distance - No(-125)

The third fight on the Main Card at UFC on ESPN 69 will see Cody Garbrandt take on Raoni Barcelos. This will be a fight in the UFC Bantamweight division. Garbrandt enters this fight with an MMA record of 14-6 and 9-6 in the UFC. He averages 2.98 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 40%. Garbrandt absorbs 3.76 strikes and has a striking defense of 60%. His grappling has been decent, averaging 1.03 takedowns every 15 minutes. Garbrandt has a takedown accuracy of 34% and a takedown defense of 80%.

Barcelos enters this fight with an MMA record of 19-5 and 8-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.11 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 53%. Barcelos absorbs 4.64 strikes and has a striking defense of 60%. His grappling has been solid as well, averaging 2.46 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 37% and a takedown defense of 82%.

Instead of backing either fighter to win, we are going to be looking at this fight to end inside the distance. Garbrandt has seen 7 of his last 9 UFC fights end inside the distance, while Barcelos has seen 2 of his last 4 UFC fights do the same. Based on this, backing this fight to end inside the distance will be our best bet.

Money Line Pick
Petroski Win(+154)

The fourth fight on the Main Card at UFC on ESPN 69 will see Edmen Shahbazyan take on Andre Petroski. This will be a fight in the UFC Middleweight division. Shahbazyan enters this fight with an MMA record of 14-5 and 8-5 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.78 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 50%. Shahbazyan is absorbing 3.85 strikes and has a striking defense of 47%. His grappling has also been solid, averaging 1.97 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 38%, and his takedown defense is 65%.

Petroski enters this fight with an MMA record of 13-4 and 8-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.89 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 50%. Petroski is absorbing 2.65 strikes and has a striking defense of 50%. He also has elite grappling ability, averaging 3.38 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.5 submission attempts during the same period. Petroski has a takedown accuracy of 54% and a takedown defense of 85%.

Shahbazyan is the heavy favorite in this fight, but he has been wildly inconsistent in the UFC recently. He is just 3-5 over his last 8 UFC fights, while Petroski is 6-2 over his last 8 UFC fights. Shahbazyan still has the advantage in striking, but Petroski has a major advantage in grappling, especially when it comes to forcing submission. Given that Petroski is in much better form, backing him to pull the upset will be our best bet.

Money Line Pick
Maverick Win(+210)

The Co-Main Event at UFC on ESPN 69 will see Rose Namajunas take on Miranda Maverick. This will be a fight in the UFC Women’s Flyweight division. Namajunas enters this fight with an MMA record of 14-7 and 11-6 in the UFC. She averages 3.71 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 42%. Namajunas absorbs 3.48 strikes and has a striking defense of 63%. Her grappling is also formidable, averaging 1.46 takedowns every 15 minutes. She has a takedown accuracy of 50% and a takedown defense of 61%.

Maverick enters this fight with an MMA record of 17-5 and 8-3 in the UFC. She averages 3.39 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 45%. Maverick absorbs 2.31 strikes and has a striking defense of 60%. Her grappling is also solid, averaging 2.39 takedowns every 15 minutes. Maverick has a takedown accuracy of 41% and a takedown defense of 44%.

Namajunas is the significant favorite in this fight, but her lack of form could make Maverick a worthwhile underdog pick. Where Maverick lacks in striking volume, she makes up for it with an advantage in grappling. Further, Maverick is 4-0 in her last 4 UFC fights, while Namajunas is 2-3 in her last 5 UFC fights. Based on this, backing Maverick to pull the upset will be our lean.

Money Line Pick
Buckley Win(-278)

The Main Event at UFC on ESPN 69 will see Kamaru Usman take on Joaquin Buckley. This will be a fight in the UFC Welterweight division. Usman enters this fight with an MMA record of 20-4 and 15-3 in the UFC. He averages 4.36 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 52%. Usman absorbs 2.74 strikes and has a striking defense of 54%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 2.82 takedowns every 15 minutes. Usman has a takedown accuracy of 45% and a takedown defense of 89%.

Buckley enters this fight with an MMA record of 21-6 and 11-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.22 strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 37%. Buckley is absorbing 3.13 strikes and has a striking defense of 59%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 1.78 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 45% and a takedown defense of 73%.

Buckley is the heavy favorite here, but still looks to be a worthwhile betting option. He has been in much better form, going 5-0 in his last 5 UFC fights, while Usman is in the midst of a 3-fight losing streak. Usman has also not fought since October 2023, which would suggest there could be some rust as he looks to get back into the win column. For that reason, backing Buckley to win and continue to improve his resume will be our lean.

UFC Picks Explained

There are many different types of UFC picks, with countless ways to bet on this weekend’s UFC action. As with most sports, the easiest and simplest form of UFC pick is the Moneyline. A UFC Moneyline pick is a pick on who you think will win the fight, the method is irrelevant, be it TKO/KO, submission, or on the judge’s scorecard, whoever has their arm raised is the Moneyline winner. Other popular UFC Picks include the Method Of Victory and an over/under on the number of rounds the fight will last. Aside from these, there are many other props available ranging from Strikes Landed, Number Of Takedowns, or Will The Fight Go The Distance. Here at Pickswise, our expert UFC handicappers are on hand to find the best UFC Picks for all of this week’s action. Check out our latest UFC Picks above. 

UFC Picks Tonight 

The UFC always puts on a great show and a big card each weekend. And come fight night everyone is searching for the best UFC picks tonight. With so many fights on any given card, and odds available on the Early Prelims, the Preliminary Card, and the Main Card, it is hard to research them all and even the avid UFC fan will not know all of the fighters. Here at Pickswise, we have some of the best UFC handicappers around, who live and breathe all things UFC. Our level of expertise is what separates us from the rest. Our handicappers leave no stone unturned and provide an in-depth fight preview with the key stats and information ahead of each fight and all of our UFC Picks. Check out all of tonight’s UFC picks, now. 

Feb 8, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Jon Jones (red gloves) fights Dominick Reyes (not pictured) during UFC 247 at Toyota Center.

UFC Pick Em

A UFC Pick Em can mean one of two things, either the sportsbooks have each fighter with the same odds, a bit like in the NFL, when the spread is 0, or it could mean a contest whereby you have to pick the winner of each fight, in effect the Moneyline winner. Our UFC picks and the insight and analysis in particular that we offer alongside them can be used in both of these circumstances. We offer our experts’ view on the fight including the outcome, including those Moneyline UFC pick-em spots, and also on all of the other top UFC action. With our in-depth previews and picks, you can also use these as the basis for your UFC Pick Em contest too. Whatever you need, Pickswise will have you covered with all things UFC, from the best picks to the latest UFC betting news. We help you to Bet better. 

UFC DFS Picks

Our UFC picks are also great for your UFC DFS picks. Each of our picks, which gives our idea of the winner, comes with key stats and analysis as to why we like a certain fighter in that spot. These stats and strategies can be used to maximize the points your get in your UFC DFS contest. With points scored for strikes, takedowns, finishes, and more, all of this will be found in our previews, along with the fighters’ previous fight stats for all of those categories. Check out this week’s UFC picks today to help you win your UFC DFS contest

When Are Your UFC Picks Posted

Our UFC Picks are typically posted just after the weigh-ins which usually take place the day before the fight. Waiting until this point allows us to maximize the information we can obtain from the Fight Week clues. One of the UFC’s biggest strengths as an organization and a big proponent of its success is the access in which it gives the media surrounding an event. Both fighters will be made available to the media on fight week and as are the weigh-ins. In both of these instances, you can get both physical and verbal clues as to how the fighter’s camp, weight cut, and preparation have gone over the previous 6-8 weeks. Of course, a fighter isn’t going to give his or her game plan away in its entirety, but even slight clues in their answers, or seeing the shape they are in at the weigh-in can be performance indicators for the weekend. All of this is considered right up until the time we post our picks, as we want to ensure we have all of the available information to make the most informed and best free UFC picks out there.

MMA Predictions and MMA Picks

The emergence of the UFC has done wonders for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) with peak UFC fights drawing in audiences in their millions, from around the world.  The UFC is the pinnacle of MMA and our experts follow MMA institutions from around the world and already know a great deal about fighters that secure that big move into the UFC. The UFC is such a large institution, hosting MMA fight cards almost weekly throughout the year, and with a large number of fights, our MMA picks solely focus on these UFC events. Our MMA Picks will largely focus on the main markets of the fights with Moneyline MMA picks and Method of Victory markets which can offer considerably greater odds than a Moneyline wager. We provide a detailed rundown of the fighters, and how we see the fights shaping up, taking the various MMA disciplines into consideration in finding the best MMA picks on the card.  Our MMA picks will be posted in good time before fight night so you can digest our fight-by-fight analysis and best MMA picks this week.

Unsure where to wager on the UFC? Check out our full UFC Betting Guide for our best UFC sportsbooks, along with our Online Sportsbook Reviews, where we detail everything you need to know about all of the top online sportsbooks, including the best bonuses and promo codes for new customers.

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