UFC Fight Night 248 predictions: Tight race with ex-champs Yan, Figueiredo in Macau

The UFC is back in Asia this week with the a pair of former champions atop the lineup.

UFC Fight Night 248 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Macau.

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

Ozzy Diaz vs. Zhang Mingyang

Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Zhang Mingyang celebrates his KO victory against Brendson Ribeiro during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Diaz (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Mingyang (17-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Past five: Diaz 4-1, Mingyang 5-0
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Diaz +270, Mingyang -340
Junkie pick results: Mingyang 10, Diaz 1

Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg

Carlos Ulberg def. Alonzo Menifield, UFC on ESPN 56 (via UFC)

Records: Oezdemir (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC), Ulberg (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Past five: Oezdemir 3-2, Ulberg 5-0
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Oezdemir +200, Ulberg -245
Junkie pick results: Ulberg 8, Oezdemir 3

Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 24: (L-R) Wang Cong of China punches Victoria Leonardo in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Records: Cong (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Fernandes (9-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Past five: Cong 5-0, Fernandes 3-2
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Cong -950, Fernandes +625
Junkie pick results: Cong 11, Fernandes 0

Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov

Feb 22, 2020; Auckland, New Zealand; Song Kenan is declared the winner by TKO against Callan Potter during UFC Fight Night Auckland at Spark Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Kenan (22-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Salikhov (20-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Past five: Kenan 2-3, Salikhov 2-3
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Kenan +160, Salikhov -190
Junkie pick results: Kenan 8, Salikhov 3

Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci

Records: Xiaonan (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Ricci (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Past five: Xiaonan 2-3, Ricci 4-1
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: Xiaonan No. 4, Ricci No. 9
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Xiaonan -175, Ricci +145
Junkie pick results: Xiaonan 10, Ricci 1

Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

Records: Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC), Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Yan 2-3, Figueiredo 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Yan No. 5, Figueiredo No. 12
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Yan -305, Figueiredo +245
Junkie pick results: Figueiredo 6, Yan 5

Check out all the main card picks below.

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

	Yan vs. Figueiredo	Ricci vs. Xiaonan	Kenan vs. Salikhov	Cong vs. Fernandes	Oezdemir vs. Ulberg	Diaz vs. Mingyang
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 190-103	Yan (56%)	Xiaonan (68%)	Salikhov (66%)	Cong (90%)	Ulberg (75%)	Mingyang (85%)
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 193-100	Figueiredo	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Oezdemir	Mingyang
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 192-101 2017, 2022 Champion	Yan	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Ulberg	Mingyang
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 186-107 2014 Champion	Yan	Xiaonan	Salikhov	Cong	Ulberg	Mingyang
Nolan King @mma_kings 185-108 2023 Champion	Yan	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Oezdemir	Mingyang
Matt Erickson @MattE 181-112	Figueiredo	Ricci	Salikhov	Cong	Ulberg	Mingyang
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 181-112	Figueiredo	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Ulberg	Mingyang
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 178-115	Yan	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Ulberg	Mingyang
Simon Samano @SJSamano 176-117	Figueiredo	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Oezdemir	Mingyang
Brian Garcia @thegoze 176-117 2017 Champion	Figueiredo	Xiaonan	Salikhov	Cong	Ulberg	Diaz
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 170-123	Figueiredo	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Ulberg	Mingyang
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 162-131	Yan	Xiaonan	Kenan	Cong	Ulberg	Mingyang

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 248.