UFC on ESPN+ 38 predictions: Is it Brian Ortega or ‘Korean Zombie’ on Fight Island?

Check out our staff members’ predictions for the UFC on ESPN+ 38 main card in Abu Dhabi.

Ortega
vs.
Jung
Andrade
vs.
Chookagian
Bukauskas
vs.
Crute
Almeida
vs.
Martinez
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 121-77
jung2020
Jung
(69%)
andrade2020
Andrade
(64%)
crute2020
Crute
(78%)
almeida2020
Almeida
(80%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 131-67
jung2020
Jung
andrade2020
Andrade
crute2020
Crute
martinez2020
Martinez
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 131-67
jung2020
Jung
andrade2020
Andrade
bukauskas2020
Bukauskas
almeida2020
Almeida
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 130-68
ortega2020
Ortega
andrade2020
Andrade
bukauskas2020
Bukauskas
almeida2020
Almeida
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 129-69
jung2020
Jung
andrade2020
Andrade
crute2020
Crute
almeida2020
Almeida
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 128-70
ortega2020
Ortega
andrade2020
Andrade
bukauskas2020
Bukauskas
almeida2020
Almeida
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 127-71
trophy copy 2014 Champion
jung2020
Jung
chookagian2020
Chookagian
crute2020
Crute
almeida2020
Almeida
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 127-71
trophy copy 2017 Champion
jung2020
Jung
andrade2020
Andrade
crute2020
Crute
martinez2020
Martinez
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 126-72
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
jung2020
Jung
andrade2020
Andrade
bukauskas2020
Bukauskas
almeida2020
Almeida
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 125-73
jung2020
Jung
andrade2020
Andrade
crute2020
Crute
almeida2020
Almeida
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 122-76
ortega2020
Ortega
andrade2020
Andrade
bukauskas2020
Bukauskas
almeida2020
Almeida
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 122-76
trophy copy 2018 Champion
ortega2020
Ortega
chookagian2020
Chookagian
crute2020
Crute
almeida2020
Almeida
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 119-79
ortega2020
Ortega
andrade2020
Andrade
crute2020
Crute
martinez2020
Martinez
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 118-80
jung2020
Jung
andrade2020
Andrade
crute2020
Crute
almeida2020
Almeida
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 80-118
ortega2020
Ortega
chookagian2020
Chookagian
bukauskas2020
Bukauskas
martinez2020
Martinez

(Note: The main card fight between James Krause and Claudio Silva was added too late for our picks deadline.)

The UFC stays at its “Fight Island” home away from home this week with a long-awaited featherweight matchup at the top of the card.

UFC on ESPN+ 38 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The card streams on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag] (14-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) takes on “The Korean Zombie,” [autotag]Chan Sung Jung[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), in a matchup between former featherweight title challengers. Jungn is a 2-1 favorite in the fight, but it’s a close fight in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts. They’re taking Jung, but just at an 8-6 clip.

In the co-feature, former strawweight champion [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] (20-8 MMA, 11-6 UFC) takes on recent women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a bout at 125 pounds. Andrade is the mild favorite, and she’s got a big 11-3 picks lead.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout. Crute is the biggest favorite on the main card, but he’s only got an 8-6 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Thomas Almeida[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) fights [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at bantamweight. Almeida is returning from a lengthy layoff and is a slight favorite at the sports books. He’s also got a 10-4 lead from our pickers.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Jung (69 percent), Andrade (64 percent), Crute (78 percent) and Almeida (80 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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