UFC 260 medical suspensions: Stipe Miocic potentially out two months following knockout loss

Stipe Miocic is facing two months on the shelf after his knockout at UFC 260.

[mm-video type=video id=01f1xaake0n4qmzmwk playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01f1jxzp2zvfvp7y5v image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f1xaake0n4qmzmwk/01f1xaake0n4qmzmwk-8f3b42b9b96c0876af21eb199a5e769a.jpg]

[autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] has received a two-month suspension as a result of his second-round knockout loss to [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 260.

MMA Junkie obtained the full list of medical suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com for UFC 260, which took place this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Miocic, 38, is among eight fighters to receive a medical suspension of 60 days or greater. Five fighters, [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag], [autotag]Jamie Mullarkey[/autotag], [autotag]Fabio Cherant[/autotag], [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag], and [autotag]Shane Young[/autotag], were handed 180-day suspensions as a result of their respective UFC 260 bouts.

Additionally, former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] faces 45 days away from competition. [autotag]Thomas Almeida[/autotag], who was knocked out by [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] on the pay-per-view main card, received a 60-day medical suspension.

Four fighters, [autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag], [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag], [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] received no suspension. All four fighters won their fights at UFC 260.

The full UFC 260 medical suspensions include:

  • Francis Ngannou: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
  • Stipe Miocic: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.
  • [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days, with no contact for 14 days.
  • Tyron Woodley: Suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days.
  • Sean O’Malley: Suspended 21 days, with no contact for 14 days.
  • Thomas Almeida: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.
  • Miranda Maverick: No suspension.
  • Gillian Robertson: Suspended 180 days or until right hand X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 21 days with no contact.
  • Jamie Mullarkey: Suspended 180 days or until right hand and wrist X-ray is cleared by a doctor.
  • [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days.
  • Alonzo Menifield: No suspension.
  • Fabio Cherant: Suspended 180 days or until right ribs X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact.
  • Abubakar Nurmagomedov: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
  • Michal Oleksiejczuk: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days.
  • Omar Morales: Suspended 180 days or until right tibia and right thumb X-rays are cleared by a doctor; also suspended 14 days with no contact.
  • Shane Young: Suspended 180 days or until left tibia/fibula X-ray is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 28 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days, with no contact for 21 days due to right eyebrow cut.
  • [autotag]Abu Azaitar[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days, with no contact for 45 days.

UFC 260 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

UFC 260 video: Alonzo Menifield crushes Fabio Cherant with Von Flue choke

Watch Alonzo Menifield snap a two-fight skid and put away Fabio Cherant with a Von Flue choke at UFC 260.

[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] has his first official submission win in the UFC.

The light heavyweight submitted Fabio Cherant with a Von Flue choke to close out the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 260 event in Las Vegas. The stoppage came at the 1:11 mark of Round 1.

It was a quick and easy performance by Menifield (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

He closed the distance early and pressed Cherant against the cage. From there, Cherant attempted a guillotine choke that set up the Von Flue choke. Menifield took down Cherant, gained side control, and locked up the choke to finish the fight seconds later.

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With the result, Menifield bounced back from a two-fight skid. Prior to the pair of defeats, the 33-year-old was 9-0 in his professional MMA run.

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William Knight out of UFC 260 due to COVID-19 protocols; Alonzo Menifield meets Fabio Cherant

William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield marks the second fight week cancellation UFC 260 has faced due to COVID-19.

For the second time in as many bookings, [autotag]William Knight[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alonzo Menifield [/autotag] has been canceled.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, Knight (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has been removed from UFC 260 and will be replaced by promotional newcomer and LFA light heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabio Cherant[/autotag], the promotion announced Wednesday.

Knight has been rebooked for UFC on ABC 2 card on April 10. He’ll fight [autotag]Da Un Jung[/autotag] (13-2-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC) in place of [autotag]Shamil Gamzatov[/autotag], who has withdrawn from the event due to visa issues.

UFC 260 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Knight vs. Menifield (9-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) originally was scheduled for UFC Fight Night 186 on Feb. 27. However, Menifield tested positive for COVID-19, and the fight was rebooked for UFC 260.

Massachusetts’ Cherant (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) enters his UFC debut on the heels of a Feb. 12 title-clinching victory at LFA 99. He extended his winning streak to three when he defeated Myron Dennis via unanimous decision to claim the vacant LFA light heavyweight championship.

With the change, the complete UFC 260 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou – for heavyweight title
  • Vicente Luque vs. Tyron Woodley
  • Thomas Almeida vs. Sean O’Malley
  • Miranda Maverick vs. Gillian Robertson
  • Jamie Mullarkey vs. Khama Worthy

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Fabio Cherant vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Jared Gooden vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov
  • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • Omar Morales vs. Shane Young

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Abu Azaitar vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

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UFC 260: Make your predictions for Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2 (Updated)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 260, featuring a heavyweight title rematch between champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.

(Updated at 11:50 a.m. on March 23, 2021, to include Omar Morales vs. Shane Young fight and poll not included on original publication.)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 260 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 260 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 260 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

Alonzo Menifield tests positive for COVID-19; UFC Fight Night 186 bout vs. William Knight postponed

Saturday’s UFC card has lost another fight due to COVID-19.

UFC Fight Night 186 is down another fight due to a positive COVID-19 test.

[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] vs. [autotag]William Knight[/autotag] has been removed from this Saturday’s card after a positive COVID-19 test submitted by Menifield. The fight is expected to be added to an upcoming UFC fight card in the coming weeks.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the cancellation Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an announcement.

Menifield (9-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has been involved with a previous fight week cancellation during the COVID-19 pandemic era, however, not his own fault. Ahead of UFC on ESPN 15 last August, his fight vs. Ovince Saint Preux was scrapped when OSP presented a positive COVID test.

The fight between Menifield and Knight (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is the second UFC Fight Night 186 has lost due to COVID-19. Earlier this week, Raoni Barcelos tested positive for COVID-19, and his fight against Marcelo Rojo was canceled.

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Knight made his UFC debut Sept. 26 when he defeated Aleksa Camur by unanimous decision. Knight currently is riding a three-fight winning streak.

In 2020, Menifield lost to Devin Clark by unanimous decision in June and was knocked out by Ovince Saint Preux on Sept. 5.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 186 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Ciryl Gane
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Nikita Krylov
  • Montana De La Rosa vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Jimmie Rivera
  • Angela Hill vs. Ashley Yoder
  • Alex Caceres vs. Kevin Croom

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Alexander Hernandez vs. Thiago Moises
  • Ramazan Kuramagomedov vs. Alex Oliveira
  • Alexis Davis vs. Sabina Mazo
  • Vince Cachero vs. Ronnie Lawrence
  • Maxim Grishin vs. Dustin Jacoby

William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield added to UFC Fight Night on Feb. 27

More light heavyweights will collide on Feb. 27.

The UFC has added another light heavyweight bout to its Feb. 27 lineup.

Promotional sophomore [autotag]William Knight[/autotag] and Fortis MMA standout [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] will square off at the UFC Fight Night event, which does not yet have a publicly known location or venue.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

After he earned a UFC development deal on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019, Knight (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) punched his ticket to the promotion with a return to DWCS this past summer.

Knight made his UFC debut Sept. 26 when he defeated Aleksa Camur by unanimous decision. Knight currently is riding a three-fight winning streak.

Another alumnus of DWCS, Menifield (9-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) looks to turn his luck around and bounce back into the win column following a difficult 2020. Menifield kicked off his UFC tenure with back-to-back knockout wins over Vinicius Moreira and Paul Craig.

In his two appearances this calendar year, however, Menifield lost to Devin Clark by unanimous decision in June and was knocked out by Ovince Saint Preux on Sept. 5.

With the addition, the Feb. 27 lineup includes:

  • Jiri Prochazka vs. Dominick Reyes
  • William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield

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UFC on ESPN+ 34 predictions: Who’s taking Augusto Sakai over Alistair Overeem in changing of the guard?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN+ 34 main card, featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai at heavyweight.

Overeem
vs.
Sakai
Menifield
vs.
Saint Preux
Imadaev
vs.
Pereira
Kelleher
vs.
Natividad
Moises
vs.
Turner
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 88-58
overeem2020
Overeem
(71%)
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
(55%)
pereira2020
Pereira
(73%)
kelleher2020
Kelleher
(N/A)
moises2020
Moises
(64%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 100-46
sakai2020
Sakai
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
turner2020
Turner
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 100-46
overeem2020
Overeem
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 99-47
overeem2020
Overeem
menifield2020
Menifield
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 97-49
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
overeem2020
Overeem
menifield2020
Menifield
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 96-50
overeem2020
Overeem
menifield2020
Menifield
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 95-51
trophy copy 2017 Champion
sakai2020
Sakai
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 94-52
overeem2020
Overeem
menifield2020
Menifield
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
turner2020
Turner
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 94-52
trophy copy 2014 Champion
overeem2020
Overeem
menifield2020
Menifield
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 93-53
overeem2020
Overeem
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 92-54
trophy copy 2018 Champion
sakai2020
Sakai
menifield2020
Menifield
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 89-57
overeem2020
Overeem
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 88-58
overeem2020
Overeem
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 87-59
overeem2020
Overeem
menifield2020
Menifield
pereira2020
Pereira
kelleher2020
Kelleher
moises2020
Moises
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 61-85
sakai2020
Sakai
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
imadaev2020
Imadaev
natividad2020
Natividad
turner2020
Turner

The UFC is home in Las Vegas again this week with a former heavyweight title challenger atop the card.

UFC on ESPN+ 34 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. 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]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] (46-18 MMA, 11-7 UFC) takes on [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag] (15-1-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. Overeem is a -165 favorite, and our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have him with a big lead at 10-4.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) in a light heavyweight fight that was delayed from a couple weeks back. Menifield is a slight favorite, but our pickers have the bout split down the middle at 7-7.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Zelim Imadaev[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (23-11 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at welterweight. There was bad blood at Friday’s weigh-ins, culminating in a shove from Imadaev. But when it comes to the picks, even though the fight is a pick’em at some sportsbooks, our staff members have Pereira with a massive 13-1 lead.

The other near-unanimous pick on the main card goes to [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC), who is more than a 2-1 favorite against short-notice featherweight opponent [autotag]Kevin Natividad[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Only one of our pickers is taking Natividad to pull the upset.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is a slight favorite against [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) in their lightweight bout. But our pickers have Moises with a big lead at 11-3.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Overeem (71 percent), Saint Preux (55 percent), Pereira (73 percent), Kelleher (N/A percent) and Moises (64 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Ovince Saint Preux tests positive for COVID-19, Alonzo Menifield fight removed from UFC on ESPN 15

Tonight’s UFC on ESPN 15 co-main event is off.

The UFC on ESPN 15 co-main event is off.

Following a positive COVID-19 test, [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] has been removed from his UFC on ESPN 15 co-main event fight against [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag], MMA Junkie confirmed with a person familiar with the situation.

The light heavyweight fight will shift Sept. 5 and Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas will continue with nine fights.

According to his manager Oren Hodak, Saint Preux (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) had previously tested positive for COVID-19 but had since tested negative. Upon arriving in Las Vegas for UFC on ESPN 15, Saint Preux tested both positive and negative this week. Out of precaution, the promotion has decided to remove his fight against Menifield (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) from the event and reschedule it for a later date.

Hodak posted the following statement hours before the UFC on ESPN 15 start time (via Twitter):

With the removal, the current UFC on ESPN 15 lineup includes:

  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar
  • Marcin Prachnio vs. Mike Rodriguez
  • Mariya Agapova vs. Shana Dobson
  • Dwight Grant vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Mizuki Inoue vs. Amanda Lemos
  • Austin Hubbard vs. Joe Solecki
  • Ike Villanueva vs. Jordan Wright
  • Carlton Minus vs. Matthew Semelsberger
  • Trevin Jones vs. Timur Valiev

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UFC on ESPN 15 predictions: Who has Edgar winning his 135 debut over Munhoz?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 15 main card, featuring Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar.

Munhoz
vs.
Edgar
Menifield
vs.
Saint Preux
Prachnio
vs.
Rodriguez
Agapova
vs.
Dobson
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 81-54
munhoz2020
Munhoz
(53%)
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
(62%)
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
(61%)
agapova2020
Agapova
(90%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 93-42
munhoz2020
Munhoz
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 92-43
munhoz2020
Munhoz
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 91-44
munhoz2020
Munhoz
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 90-45
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
edgar2020
Edgar
menifield2020
Menifield
prachnino2020
Prachnio
agapova2020
Agapova
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 89-46
trophy copy 2017 Champion
edgar2020
Edgar
menifield2020
Saint Preux
prachnino2020
Prachnio
agapova2020
Agapova
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 87-48
edgar2020
Edgar
menifield2020
Menifield
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 87-48
munhoz2020
Munhoz
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 87-48
trophy copy 2014 Champion
munhoz2020
Munhoz
menifield2020
Menifield
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 85-50
munhoz2020
Munhoz
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
dobson2020
Dobson
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 83-52
edgar2020
Edgar
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 83-52
trophy copy 2018 Champion
edgar2020
Edgar
menifield2020
Menifield
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
dobson2020
Dobson
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 81-54
munhoz2020
Munhoz
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
mrodriguez2020
Rodriguez
agapova2020
Agapova
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 81-54
edgar2020
Edgar
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
prachnino2020
Prachnio
agapova2020
Agapova
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 56-79
edgar2020
Edgar
saintpreux2020
Saint Preux
prachnino2020
Prachnio
dobson2020
Dobson

(Editor’s note: The new main card opener between Dwight Grant and Daniel Rodriguez was booked too late for our picks.)

The UFC is back with another card in Las Vegas this week, and a former lightweight champion is all the way down to bantamweight atop the card.

UFC on ESPN 15 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, former lightweight champ [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag] (23-8-1 MMA, 17-8-1 UFC), who has fought for years at featherweight, will try his hands at bantamweight against [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC). Munhoz nearly is a 3-1 favorite, but our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts are split down the middle at 7-7.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is a slight favorite against [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) in their light heavyweight bout. But our staff members see it the other way and have made Saint Preux the 10-4 picks winner.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Mike Rodriguez[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who is more than a 2-1 favorite at light heavyweight.

And [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is a massive favorite of more than 16-1 at some sites against [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag] (3-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) at women’s flyweight. But three of our pickers are taking Dobson in what would be a huge upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Munhoz (53 percent), Saint Pruex (62 percent), Rodriguez (61 percent) and Agapovz (90 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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