The UFC is back in its home base this week with a heavyweight rematch at the top of the lineup.
UFC on ESPN 61 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid for the main card in a separate window.)
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Charalampos Grigoriou vs. Toshiomi Kazama
Records: Grigoriou (8-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Kazama (10-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Past five: Grigoriou 4-1, Kazama 2-3
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Grigoriou -260, Kazama +210
Junkie pick results: Grigoriou 9, Kazama 2
Chelsea Chandler vs. Yana Santos
Records: Chandler (6-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Santos (14-8 MMA, 4-5 UFC)
Past five: Chandler 4-1, Santos 2-3
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Rankings: Santos No. 14
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Chandler +125, Santos -150
Junkie pick results: Chandler 6, Santos 5
Chris Gutierrez vs. Quang Le
Records: Gutierrez (20-5-2 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), Le (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Gutierrez 3-2, Le 5-0
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Gutierrez -535, Le +400
Junkie pick results: Gutierrez 9, Le 2
Danny Barlow vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Records: Barlow (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Veretennikov (12-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Barlow 5-0, Veretennikov 4-1
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Barlow -375, Veretennikov +295
Junkie pick results: Barlow 9, Veretennikov 2
Damon Jackson vs. Chepe Mariscal
Records: Jackson (23-6-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC), Mariscal (16-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Past five: Jackson 3-2, Mariscal 5-0
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Jackson +170, Mariscal -205
Junkie pick results: Mariscal 11, Jackson 0
Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac
Records: Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC), Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Past five: Tybura 3-2, Spivac 3-2
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Tybura No. 8, Spivac No. 9
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Tybura +140, Spivac -170
Junkie pick results: Tybura 6, Spivac 5
Preliminary card picks
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
- Pannie Kianzad vs. Karol Rosa: Rosa 10, Kianzad 1
- Jhonata Diniz vs. Karl Williams: Williams 9, Diniz 2
- Jarno Errens vs. Youssef Zalal: Zalal 10, Errens 1
- Talita Alencar vs. Stephanie Luciano: Alencar 8, Luciano 3
Check out all the main card picks below.
UFC on ESPN 61 main card picks
Tybura vs. Spivac |
Jackson vs. Mariscal |
Barlow vs. Veretennikov |
Gutierrez vs. Le |
Chandler vs. Santos |
Grigoriou vs. Kazama |
|
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 130-75 |
Spivac (55%) |
Mariscal (73%) |
Barlow (84%) |
Gutierrez (80%) |
Chandler (72%) |
Grigoriou (77%) |
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 136-69 |
Tybura |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Chandler |
Grigoriou |
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 135-70 |
Spivac |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Chandler |
Grigoriou |
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 131-74 2014 Champion |
Tybura |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Santos |
Grigoriou |
Nolan King @mma_kings 129-76 2023 Champion |
Tybura |
Mariscal |
Veretennikov |
Gutierrez |
Santos |
Grigoriou |
Simon Samano @SJSamano 127-78 |
Tybura |
Mariscal |
Veretennikov |
Le |
Santos |
Grigoriou |
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 126-79 |
Spivac |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Le |
Chandler |
Grigoriou |
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 124-81 |
Spivac |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Santos |
Grigoriou |
Matt Erickson @MattE 124-81 |
Spivac |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Chandler |
Kazama |
Brian Garcia @thegoze 123-82 |
Spivac |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Chandler |
Grigoriou |
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 115-90 |
Tybura |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Santos |
Grigoriou |
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 111-94 |
Tybura |
Mariscal |
Barlow |
Gutierrez |
Chandler |
Kazama |
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 61.