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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

PFL 2022, Week 1 predictions: Who’s picking Jeremy Stephens in his PFL debut vs. Clay Collard?

Collard
vs.
Stephens
Madge
vs.
Manfio
Junior
vs.
Monte
Aubin-Mercier
vs.
Schulte
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
57-27
collard2022
Collard
(50.1%)
madge2022new
Madge
(54%)
junior2022
Junior
(83%)
schulte2022
Schulte
(52%)
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
57-28
stephens2022
Stephens
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
Nolan King
@mma_kings
56-29
stephens2022
Stephens
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
56-29
collard2022
Collard
madge2022new
Madge
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
56-29
stephens2022
Stephens
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
55-30
trophy copy 2014 Champion
collard2022
Collard
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
54-31
trophy copy 2018 Champion
collard2022
Collard
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
53-32
stephens2022
Stephens
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
51-34
collard2022
Collard
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
50-35
trophy copy 2017 Champion
collard2022
Collard
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
49-36
stephens2022
Stephens
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
38-47
collard2022
Collard
manfio2022new
Manfio
junior2022
Junior
schulte2022
Schulte

The PFL is back for the start of another season, and lightweights and light heavyweights open the 2022 campaign.

PFL 2022, Week 1 takes place Wednesday at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN/ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, longtime UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens (28-19) makes the move to the PFL for a shot at the lightweight title. He takes on Clay Collard (20-9) in the season opener. It’s the most contentious fight in the picks from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, who have Collard with just a 6-5 lead.

In the co-feature, 2021 lightweight winner Raush Manfio (15-3) meets Don Madge (10-3-1) in the first fight in his quest to win another season. Manfio is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

Also on the main card, Antonio Carlos Junior (13-5) opens the light heavyweight season against Delan Monte (8-1). Junior is the only unanimous pick from our staff members at 11-0.

And to open the main card, Olivier Aubin-Mercier (13-5) takes on two-time lightweight winner Natan Schulte (21-4-1). Schulte has a big 9-2 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Collard (50.1 percent), Madge (54 percent), Junior (83 percent) and Schulte (52 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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