Tag: Cheyanne Buys

MMA Junkie’s 2021 Gym of the Year: Xtreme Couture

Xtreme Couture took home two UFC titles and a host of other major promotion wins.

Xtreme Couture is MMA Junkie’s 2021 Gym of the Year.

In a year filled with ups and downs for the majority of high-profile MMA gyms, Xtreme Couture quietly built up a strong 2021 resume with two UFC titles and assisting numerous other fighters to go undefeated over the 12-month stretch.

Heavyweight [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] and bantamweight [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] both captured UFC titles in 2021 with lead-up preparation at Xtreme Couture.

[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] emerged as a top middleweight contender with back-to-back wins over Krzysztof Jotko and Uriah Hall, and [autotag]Casey O’Neill[/autotag] skyrocketed up the women’s flyweight rankings with three straight victories. In addition, [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag] won MMA Junkie’s 2021 Comeback Fighter of the Year for his improbable 6-0 run including two wins in the UFC.

In Bellator, top contenders [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] and [autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag] called Xtreme Couture their training home and each went 2-0 in the calendar year with wins against some of the promotion’s finest.

Other notable fighters include [autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag], [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag], [autotag]Brad Tavares[/autotag], [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag], [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag], [autotag]Walt Harris[/autotag], [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag], [autotag]Kai Kamaka III[/autotag], [autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag], [autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag], [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag], [autotag]Roman Dolize[/autotag], [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag], [autotag]Dalcha Lungiambula[/autotag], [autotag]Puna Soriano[/autotag], [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag], and more.

Headed by coach Eric Nicksick, the staff also includes Eddie Barraco, Jimmy Gifford, Jake Shields, Dennis Davis, Roman Isabell, Rich Castro, Chad Lyman, Bryce Harley, Montel Williams, Jamie Huey, Nate Pettit, Tim Lane, Danny Davis, Gil Guardado, Ryan Couture, Clinton Treadway and more, as well as team captains Randy Couture and Ray Sefo (according to the gym’s official website).

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With Montserrat Ruiz out, Cheyanne Buys steps in to face Mallory Martin at UFC on ESPN 31

Just days after having to withdraw from her upcoming bout, Cheyanne Buys already has her next fight booked.

Just days after having to withdraw from her upcoming bout, [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] already has her next fight booked.

[autotag]Montserrat Ruiz[/autotag] has been forced out of UFC on ESPN 31 and Buys (6-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will step in to face [autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on Dec. 4.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting was first to report the news.

UFC on ESPN 31 takes place Dec. 4 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

After dropping her UFC debut to Ruiz, Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Buys picked up a “Performance of the Night” head kick finish of Gloria de Paula at UFC on ESPN 28 in July. The 26-year-old was scheduled to face Loma Lookboonmee at UFC Fight Night 198 on Saturday, but withdrew due to a positive COVID-19 test.

An Invicta FC and LFA veteran, Martin will look to get back to the win column. After picking up a “Performance of the Night” submission over Hannah Cifers in August 2020, Martin was submitted by Polyana Viana at UFC 258 in February.

The latest UFC on ESPN 31 lineup now includes:

  • Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Jamahal Hill
  • Jake Matthews vs. Jeremiah Wells
  • Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Claudio Puelles
  • Rafael Fiziev vs. Brad Riddell
  • Cheyanne Buys vs. Mallory Martin
  • Brendan Allen vs. Brad Tavares
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown
  • Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Manel Kape
  • Vince Morales vs. Louis Smolka
  • Clay Guida vs. Leonardo Santos
  • Mickey Gall vs. Alex Morono
  • Maki Pitolo vs. Dusko Todorovic

UFC 265 video: Dana White on Ngannou, Buys’ finances, Strickland’s comments, UFC NYC and more

UFC president Dana White sat down with MMA Junkie ahead of Saturday’s UFC 265 in Houston.

HOUSTON – One of the biggest heavyweight fights in recent memory goes down Saturday in Houston. Ahead of UFC 265, promotion president Dana White sat down with MMA Junkie.

White weighed in on not just Saturday’s main event between [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) and [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who fight for the interim heavyweight title, but his relationship with champ [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]; [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag]’ financial situation; [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]’s comments about killing someone in the cage; the UFC’s future in Houston; and more.

Check out the video above ahead of UFC 265, which takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

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Spinning Back Clique: A.J. McKee’s featherweight pedigree, fighter pay, Sean Strickland, more

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” in which our panel discusses the hottest topics in the UFC, Bellator and the world of MMA.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” in which the panel discusses the hottest topics in the world of MMA.

Check out the latest edition of “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week, our panel discusses A.J. McKee’s title win at Bellator 263 and if that makes him the best featherweight in the world. Plus, they dive into MMA fighter pay in the aftermath of Cheyanne Buys’ UFC on ESPN 28 win and subsequent viral revelation; Sean Strickland’s post-fight speech; Bellator and UFC breakout performances; and upcoming heavyweight potential fights.

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel this week of Mike Bohn, Nolan King and Brian “Goze” Garcia discusses these topics and more with host John Morgan.

  • [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] made easy work of arguably the greatest fighter in Bellator history when he took out dual lightweight and featherweight champion Patricio Freire in the Bellator 263 main event. McKee won the 145-pound title, as well as the promotion’s featherweight grand prix after blasting through the 16-man tournament with four stoppages – including three in the first-round. Where does that put McKee on the list of current featherweight greats?
  • At UFC on ESPN 28, [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] dominated Uriah Hall to run his winning streak to five fights. In the process, he placed himself into title contention in the division. But did he take his post-fight speech a little too far?
  • The aftermath of [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag]’ win at UFC on ESPN 28 produced a viral moment with her revelation that she had a bank account in negative numbers and had borrowed money to finance a move back to Las Vegas to help her MMA career. Her $50,000 bonus for a first-round knockout likely will change her life. Did it reignite the discussion about fighter pay?
  • Bellator 263 and UFC on ESPN 28 took place on the same night. We delve into the events’ breakout performers.
  • UFC 265 takes place Saturday in Houston, and hometown fan favorite [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] will go after a belt when he meets [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] for the interim heavyweight title. After that bout, what are the big heavyweight fights to make?

We hope you enjoy this week’s show. Watch the full episode of “Spinning Back Clique” above.

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Cheyanne Buys on $50,000 bonus for her negative bank account: ‘It’s life changing’

Take a look inside Cheyanne Buys’ knockout of Gloria de Paula at UFC on ESPN 28 in Las Vegas.

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LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] beat Gloria de Paula with a first-round TKO Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN 28 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Buys, who picked up her first UFC win after a loss in her promotional debut earlier this year.

UFC on ESPN 28 video: Cheyanne Buys’ perfectly timed head kick stops Gloria de Paula

Cheyanne Buys needed just 60 seconds to dispatch Gloria de Paula in highlight-reel fashion in the UFC on ESPN 28 co-main event.

[autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] needed just 60 seconds to dispatch [autotag]Gloria de Paula[/autotag] in highlight reel fashion in the UFC on ESPN 28 co-main event.

After a dominant loss in her UFC debut earlier this year, Buys (6-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was eager to redeem herself against de Paula (5-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) after switching camps and changing her attitude toward the fight game.

It paid off. Buys stopped de Paula in one minute flat courtesy of a perfect head kick that set up a flurry of punches for the TKO.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

Buys was emotional after securing her first UFC win, and even admitted she didn’t foresee herself winning the way she did.

“I didn’t expect that,” Buys said in her post-fight interview with Paul Felder. “She’s a ‘G.’ She has great striking. Honestly, I was going to come in here and wrestle since my last fight I got outwrestled. … It’s been a long road to get here. It’s been a crazy fight camp for me. I left my home in Dallas. I packed up everything and left.”

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UFC on ESPN 28 predictions: Uriah Hall or Sean Strickland in middleweight showdown?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 28 main card, featuring Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland.

Hall
vs.
Strickland		 Kang
vs.
Yahya		 Buys
vs.
De Paula		 Gooden
vs.
Stolze		 Adashev
vs.
Benoit		 Barberena
vs.
Witt
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 111-66		 hall2021
Hall
(61%)		 yahya2021
Yahya
(62%)		 buys2021
Buys
(77%)		 stolze2021
Stolze
(61%)		 benoit2021
Benoit
(74%)		 barberena2021
Barberena
(86%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 112-65
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 depaula2021
De Paula		 gooden2021
Gooden		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 109-68		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 adashev2021
Adashev		 barberena2021
Barberena
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 109-68		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 adashev2021
Adashev		 barberena2021
Barberena
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 108-69
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 hall2021
Hall		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 107-70
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 hall2021
Hall		 yahya2021
Yahya		 depaula2021
De Paula		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 106-71		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 106-71		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 105-72		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 105-72
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 104-73		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 103-74		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 100-77		 strickland2021
Strickland		 kang2021
Kang		 buys2021
Buys		 gooden2021
Gooden		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
2021: 36-25		 strickland2021
Strickland		 yahya2021
Yahya		 buys2021
Buys		 stolze2021
Stolze		 benoit2021
Benoit		 barberena2021
Barberena
BetMGM
Betting Favorites		 strickland2021
Strickland -225		 kang2021
Kang -135		 buys2021
Buys -165		 stolze2021
Stolze -200		 benoit2021
Benoit -140		 barberena2021
Barberena -275

The UFC stays in its Las Vegas home base this week with a fight between a pair of surging middleweights.

UFC on ESPN 28 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] (17-9 MMA, 10-7 UFC) takes on [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) at 185 pounds. Both fighters come in with four-fight winning streaks, but it’s Strickland with a sizable betting advantage at -225 at BetMGM, and he’s got a big 10-3 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Kyung Ho Kang[/autotag] (17-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) meets jiu-jitsu ace [autotag]Rani Yahya[/autotag] (27-10-1 MMA, 12-4-1 UFC) at bantamweight. Kang is the slight favorite at -135, and he’s got just a narrow 7-6 lead in the picks in our most contentious fight.

[autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and [autotag]Gloria de Paula[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) both are looking for their first UFC wins in a women’s strawweight fight. Buys, from South Africa, is a -165 favorite and has a big 11-2 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is stepping up on short notice to take on [autotag]Niklas Stolze[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at welterweight. Stolze is a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and he’s got an 11-2 edge from our pickers.

[autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Ryan Benoit[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) in a flyweight bout. And despite just a -140 nod from the oddsmakers and betting public for Benoit, he’s running away with the picks at 11-2.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) is the biggest favorite at -275 in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Jason Witt[/autotag] (18-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC). He’s also our lone unanimous pick at 13-0.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Hall (61 percent), Yahya (62 percent), Buys (77 percent), Stolze (61 percent), Benoit (74 percent) and Barberena (86 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (May 17-23)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from May 17-23.

UFC on ESPN 21 post-event facts: Derek Brunson climbs all-time wins list

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 21, which saw Derek Brunson beat Kevin Holland in the main event.

The UFC continued its busy March run on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 21, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

[autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag]’s (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) resurgence as a middleweight contender continued in the main event when he largely dominated [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) en route to a unanimous decision, moving him into a tie for the third most wins in 185-pound history.

For more on the numbers behind Brunson’s win, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 30 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 21.

UFC on ESPN 21 predictions: Who’s picking Derek Brunson to upset Kevin Holland?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 21 main card, featuring Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland.

Brunson
vs.
Holland		 Gillespie
vs.
Riddell		 Buys
vs.
Ruiz		 Lopez
vs.
Yanez		 Griffin
vs.
Kenan		 Hunsucker
vs.
Tuivasa
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 23-19		 holland2021
Holland
(72%)		 gillespie2021
Gillespie
(78%)		 buys2021
Buys
(64%)		 yanez2021
Yanez
(78%)		 kenan2021
Kenan
(62%)		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
(88%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 27-15
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 lopez2021
Lopez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 26-16
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 25-17		 brunson2021
Brunson		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 25-17		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 lopez2021
Lopez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 25-17		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 ruiz2021
Ruiz		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 24-18		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 24-18
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 brunson2021
Brunson		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 lopez2021
Lopez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Simon Head
@simonhead
2021: 23-19
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 23-19		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 22-20
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 21-21		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 griffin2021
Griffin		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 21-21		 holland2021
Holland		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 20-22		 brunson2021
Brunson		 gillespie2021
Gillespie		 buys2021
Buys		 yanez2021
Yanez		 kenan2021
Kenan		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa
BetMGM
Betting Favorites
Bet now!		 holland2021
Holland -175		 gillespie2021
Gillespie -250		 buys2021
Buys -350		 yanez2021
Yanez -225		 griffin2021
Griffin -200		 tuivasa2021
Tuivasa -400

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The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week with a middleweight showdown leading at the top of the card.

UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.

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

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In the main event, [autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at middleweight. Holland is a -175 favorite at BetMGM, and he has a 10-3 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Gregor Gillespie[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout. Gillespie is a -250 favorite and one of two unanimous picks from our staff members on the main card.

In a women’s strawweight fight between promotional newcomers, [autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a big favorite at -350 against [autotag]Montserrat Ruiz[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and she’s got a hefty 12-1 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at bantamweight. Yanez is a -225 favorite and has a big 10-3 picks lead.

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC) is a 2-1 favorite against [autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC), but their fight is our closest from a picks perspective with just an 8-5 lead for Griffin.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Harry Hunsucker[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) steps up on less than a week’s notice at heavyweight against 4-1 favorite [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC). Tuivasa is our other unanimous pick on the main card at 13-0.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holland (72 percent), Gillespie (78 percent), Buys (64 percent), Yanez (78 percent), Kenan (62 percent) and Tuivasa (88 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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