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USA Today Sports Media Group
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Matt Erickson

UFC Fight Night 242 predictions: Who’s picking Gilbert Burns to upset Sean Brady?

The UFC is back in its home base this week with welterweights at the top of the lineup, plus a former women’s champion in the co-main event.

UFC Fight Night 242 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Yanal Ashmouz vs. Trevor Peek

Trevor Peek vs. Yanal Ashmouz

Records: Ashmouz (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Peek (9-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Past five: Ashmouz 4-1, Peek 3-2
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 09.07.24): Ashmouz +100, Peek -120
Junkie pick results: Peek 10, Ashmouz 1

Cody Durden vs. Matt Schnell

Matt Schnell vs. Cody Durden

Records: Durden (16-6-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC), Schnell (16-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC)
Past five: Durden 3-2, Schnell 2-3
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 09.07.24): Durden -280, Schnell +225
Junkie pick results: Schnell 6, Durden 5

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson

Records: Garcia (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Nelson (16-5-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC)
Past five: Garcia 4-1, Nelson 3-1-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 09.07.24): Garcia -185, Nelson +165
Junkie pick results: Garcia 10, Nelson 1

Jessica Andrade vs. Natalia Silva

Jessica Andrade vs. Natalia Silva

Records: Andrade (26-12 MMA, 17-10 UFC), Silva (17-5-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Past five: Andrade 2-3, Silva 5-0
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Silva No. 12, Andrade No. 5 women’s strawweight
Odds (as of 09.07.24): Andrade +250, Silva -310
Junkie pick results: Andrade 8, Silva 3

Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady

Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady

Records: Burns (22-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC), Brady (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Past five: Burns 2-3, Brady 4-1
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Burns No. 7, Brady No. 9
Odds (as of 09.07.24): Burns +155, Brady -185
Junkie pick results: Brady 8, Burns 3

Preliminary card picks

Jaqueline Amorim vs. Vanessa Demopoulos

Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:

  • Chris Padilla vs. Rong Zhu: Padilla 7, Zhu 4
  • Isaac Dulgarian vs. Brendon Marotte: Dulgarian 11, Marotte 0
  • Felipe dos Santos vs. Andre Lima: Lima 6, dos Santos 5
  • Gabriel Santos vs. Yi Zha: Santos 7, Zha 4
  • Jaqueline Amorim vs. Vanessa Demopoulos: Demopoulos 6, Amorim 5
  • Dylan Budka vs. Andre Petroski: Petroski 11, Budka 0
  • Nathan Fletcher vs. Zygimantas Ramaska: Fletcher 8, Ramaska 3

Check out all the main card picks below.

UFC Fight Night 242 main card picks

Burns
vs.
Brady
Andrade
vs.
Silva
Garcia
vs.
Nelson
Durden
vs.
Schnell
Ashmouz
vs.
Peek
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
143-83

Brady
(57%)

Silva
(60%)

Garcia
(72%)

Durden
(56%)

Peek
(67%)
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
148-78

Brady

Andrade

Garcia

Schnell

Peek
Ken Hathaway
@1khathaway
148-78

Brady

Andrade

Garcia

Durden

Peek
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
143-83
2014 Champion

Brady

Silva

Garcia

Schnell

Peek
Matt Erickson
@MattE
139-87

Brady

Silva

Garcia

Durden

Peek
Nolan King
@mma_kings
139-87
2023 Champion

Brady

Andrade

Nelson

Durden

Peek
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
137-89

Brady

Silva

Garcia

Durden

Peek
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
136-90

Brady

Andrade

Garcia

Durden

Peek
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
135-91

Burns

Andrade

Garcia

Schnell

Ashmouz
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
135-91

Brady

Andrade

Garcia

Schnell

Peek
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
128-98

Burns

Andrade

Garcia

Schnell

Peek
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
122-104

Burns

Andrade

Garcia

Schnell

Peek

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 3.

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