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USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

UFC Fight Night 245 predictions: We’re split on Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

The UFC stays put on its home turf this week with a pair of ranked middleweights at the top of the bill.

UFC Fight Night 245 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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

Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

Elkins vs Pineda

Records: Elkins (28-11 MMA, 18-10 UFC), Pineda (28-16 MMA, 5-7 UFC)
Past five: Elkins 3-2, Pineda 1-2-2
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Elkins -120, Pineda +100
Junkie pick results: Pineda 6, Elkins 5

Jake Hadley vs. Cameron Smotherman

Hadley vs Smotherman

Records: Hadley (11-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Smotherman (11-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Hadley 3-2, Smotherman 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Hadley -500, Smotherman +380
Junkie pick results: Hadley 10, Smotherman 1

Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji

Johnson vs Sumudaerji

Records: Johnson (16-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Mudaerji (16-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Past five: Johnson 3-2, Mudaerji 3-2
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Johnson honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Johnson -245, Mudaerji +200
Junkie pick results: Johnson 10, Mudaerji 1

Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips

Font vs. Phillips

Records: Font (20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC), Kyler (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Past five: Font 1-4, Phillips 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Phillips honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Font +400, Phillips -535
Junkie pick results: Phillips 7, Font 4

Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

Hernandez vs. Pereira

Records: Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC)
Past five: Hernandez 5-0, Pereira 5-0
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Hernandez honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Hernandez -140, Pereira +120
Junkie pick results: Hernandez 6, Pereira 5

Preliminary card picks

Martinez vs. Ardelean

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

  • Asu Almabayev vs. Matheus Nicolau: Almabayev 7, Nicolau 4
  • Brad Katona vs. Jean Matsumoto: Matsumoto 10, Katona 1
  • Joselyne Edwards vs. Tamires Vidal: Edwards 8, VIdal 3
  • Jessica Penne vs. Elise Reed: Reed 8, Penne 3
  • Alice Ardelean vs. Melissa Martinez: Martinez 11, Ardelean 0
  • Robelis Despaigne vs. Austen Lane: Despaigne 11, Lane 0

Check out all the main card picks below.

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

Hernandez
vs.
Pereira
Font
vs.
Phillips
Johnson
vs.
Mudaerji
Hadley
vs.
Smotherman
Elkins
vs.
Pineda
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
168-94

Pereira
(69%)

Phillips
(73%)

Johnson
(83%)

Hadley
(79%)

Elkins
(66%)
Ken Hathaway
@1khathaway
173-89
2017, 2022 Champion

Pereira

Phillips

Johnson

Hadley

Pineda
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
171-91

Hernandez

Phillips

Johnson

Hadley

Elkins
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
166-96
2014 Champion

Hernandez

Font

Johnson

Hadley

Pineda
Nolan King
@mma_kings
163-99
2023 Champion

Hernandez

Phillips

Johnson

Hadley

Pineda
Matt Erickson
@MattE
161-101

Pereira

Phillips

Mudaerji

Smotherman

Elkins
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
160-102

Pereira

Phillips

Johnson

Hadley

Elkins
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
157-105

Hernandez

Font

Johnson

Hadley

Pineda
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
157-105

Pereira

Font

Johnson

Hadley

Pineda
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
156-106
2017 Champion

Hernandez

Font

Johnson

Hadley

Elkins
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
151-111

Pereira

Phillips

Johnson

Hadley

Pineda
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
143-119

Hernandez

Phillips

Johnson

Hadley

Elkins

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

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