Tag: Yana Kunitskaya

Thiago Santos, Yana Kunitskaya plan on relocating together full time to Florida

The UFC fighter couple’s home gym is American Top Team.

Once he’s able to leave Brazil, UFC light heavyweight [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] plans on moving to the U.S full time.

Santos, alongside his girlfriend, UFC bantamweight [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag], are currently in Rio de Janeiro, and the couple plans to make a permanent move to South Florida to train at American Top Team.

Growing up in sunny Rio has Santos already prepared for the Florida lifestyle.

“I want to move to USA with Yana, and we’re gonna stay there for training, for preparing,” Santos said. “Try to live there. I like Florida. I like USA. I feel good. I feel comfortable in Florida, American Top Team. I like the weather. I like that city. I feel if I stay in Rio I have the beach, good weather, sun, so I have some experience. … I invited Yana to go to Florida, and she agreed, so we’re gonna move there.”

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Santos has been in isolation with Kunitskaya in his home, as the two have been trying to get some training in together. Kunitskaya is scheduled to face Ketlen Vieira on Aug. 1, whereas Santos, who challenged Jon Jones for the 205-pound title last time out, hopes to get another shot at gold.

“Everything is so good for us, especially this hard time with coronavirus, with quarantine, so we train together alone,” Santos said. “Just a few days ago, we started training with some more people, some partners, but when we started training, we started training alone, and this helped us a lot because we can still train. She’s big, too. She can train with me.”

UFC adds Ketlen Vieira vs. Yana Kunitskaya to Aug. 1 event

A bantamweight matchup between Ketlen Vieira vs. Yana Kunitskaya is headed to the UFC’s Aug. 1 event.

A bantamweight matchup is headed to the UFC’s Aug. 1 event.

[autotag]Ketlen Vieira[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will face [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag] (12-5-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC). The event does not yet have an official name designation or location.

A person with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

After a 4-0 start to her UFC tenure which included wins over former bantamweight title challengers Sara McMann and Cat Zingano, Vieira suffered her first career loss to Irene Aldana in her last outing at UFC 245.

Former Invicta FC bantamweight champ Kunitskaya challenged then UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg in her promotional debut in March 2018, but was stopped in the first round. She has split her first four UFC appearances and is coming off a third-round stoppage loss to Aspen Ladd last December.

With the addition, the current Aug. 1 lineup includes:

  • Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana
  • Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
  • Markus Perez vs. Eric Spicely
  • Yana Kunitskaya vs. Ketlen Vieira

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Combat Rewind, May 23: Recognize who this famous MMA referee is?

Check out the best highlights from this day in history with MMA Junkie’s “Combat Rewind.”

There’s “Flashback Friday” and “Throwback Thursday” (and Tuesday, too, if you want). But at MMA Junkie, we figured why not expand that to every day?

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year. It’s a look back at history, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives, featuring stellar finishes and classic moments in MMA and beyond on their anniversaries.

So kick back and relive the following bits of greatness in the video above:

  • PRIDE – Bushido 3: [autotag]Takanori Gomi[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ralph Gracie[/autotag] – May 23, 2004
  • K-1 World Grand Prix 2009: [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magdalena Jarecka[/autotag] – May 23, 2009
  • Cage Rage 6: [autotag]Andy Costello[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marc Goddard[/autotag] – May 23, 2004
  • King of the Cage – Future Legends 29: [autotag]Brian McCammon[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jesse Hernandez[/autotag] – May 23, 2015
  • PRIDE – Bushido 3: [autotag]Akira Shoji[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Yukio Kawabe[/autotag] – May 23, 2004

Fight footage courtesy of UFC Fight Pass, the UFC’s official digital subscription service, which is currently offering a seven-day free trial. UFC Fight Pass gives fans access to exclusive live UFC events and fights, exclusive live MMA and combat sports events from around the world, exclusive original and behind the scenes content and unprecedented 24-7 access to the world’s biggest fight library.

Combat Rewind – May 23

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives.

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives.

UFC on ESPN 7 post-event facts: Jairzinho Rozenstruik joins record books with late TKO

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC on ESPN 7, which saw Jairzinho Rozenstruik beat Alistair Overeem in Washington, D.C.

The UFC returned to Washington, D.C., on Saturday for the first time since 2011 with UFC on ESPN 7, which took place at Capital One Arena. The 12-fight lineup aired on ESPN following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+.

A new heavyweight contender emerged in the main event when [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) got his fourth consecutive victory since joining the promotion earlier this year with a come-from-behind TKO of [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] (45-18 MMA, 10-7 UFC) in the fifth round of their matchup.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 40 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN 7.

* * * *

General

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UFC on ESPN 7 marked the third event in UFC history to feature two draws. UFC 22 and UFC 216 were the others.

The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $177,000.

Debuting fighters went 2-2 at the event.

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag], [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] and [autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 7 fight-night bonuses.

UFC on ESPN 7 drew an announced attendance of 10,816 for a live gate of $932,593.20.
1
Betting favorites went 9-1 on the card. Two fights ended in a draw.

Betting favorites improved to 21-17 (one fight had even odds, one ended in a no contest) in UFC headliners this year.

Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 2:21:07.

Main card

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Rozenstruik earned his second UFC victory in a 35-day stretch.

Rozenstruik’s four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Rozenstruik has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.

Rozenstruik’s knockout at the 4:56 mark of Round 5 marked the third latest stoppage in UFC history behind Demetrious Johnson’s win (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC 186 and Yair Rodriguez’s victory (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 139.

Overeem’s 14 knockout losses in MMA competition are the most of any active member on the UFC roster.

Overeem’s 12 knockout losses in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are the most in combined organizational history.

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[autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag] (13-0-2 MMA, 2-0-2 UFC) is the only female fighter in UFC history to fight to multiple draws.

[autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] (8-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) has completed at least one takedown in six of her seven UFC appearances.

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[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] (37-12 MMA, 7-6 UFC) improved to 1-2 since he returned to competition from a nearly three-year layoff in March 2019. He earned his first victory since January 2016.

Rothwell has earned 34 of his 37 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his seven UFC wins.

[autotag]Stefan Struve[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 13-10 UFC) fell to 1-4 in his past five UFC appearances dating back to September 2017.

Struve has suffered all seven of his UFC stoppage losses by knockout.

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[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned seven of her nine career victories by stoppage. That includes three of her four UFC wins.

Ladd’s three knockout victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are tied with Ronda Rousey and Germaine de Randamie for second most in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (six).

[autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) fell to 2-1 since she returned to the UFC women’s bantamweight division in October 2018.

Kunitskaya has suffered four of her five career losses by stoppage. Both of her UFC defeats have come by knockout.

Simon (15-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Preliminary card

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[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (29-11-1 MMA, 11-8 UFC) improved to 9-6 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in May 2014.

Means has earned 24 of his 29 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his 11 UFC wins.

[autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] (23-15 MMA, 15-12 UFC) fell to 2-6 in his past eight fights dating back to May 2015.

[autotag]Jacob Kilburn[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by submission.

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Mitchell (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) earned the second Twister submission victory in UFC history. Chan Sung Jung also accomplished the feat.

Mitchell has earned all of his career stoppage victories by submission.

[autotag]Matt Sayles[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of his career.

[autotag]Matt Wiman[/autotag] (16-9 MMA, 10-7 UFC) fell to 0-2 since he returned from a 4.5-year layoff in June.

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[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned all 12 of her career stoppage victories by submission.

[autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of her career.

Muradov (24-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) improved to 18-1 in his past 19 fights dating back to March 2015. He’s won his past 13 bouts.

[autotag]Trevor Smith[/autotag] (15-10 MMA, 5-7 UFC) fell to 5-8 in his past 13 career fights dating back to January 2012.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

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Aspen Ladd says blast from her corner powered her to victory at UFC DC: ‘My coach lit me up’

Aspen Ladd says her coaches’ pep talk before the final round proved crucial in her third-round TKO win over Yana Kunitskaya.

WASHINGTON – [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] knew things were pretty close when she returned to her corner at the end of the second round of her fight with [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 7.

But if there was any doubt over what she had to do next, her coaches made absolutely clear with a blistering pep talk.

The strong words in the corner clearly had the desired effect. Ladd (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) stormed out for the final round and picked up a TKO finish just 33 seconds after the restart.

“My coach lit me up,” Ladd said after the fight at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. “It was the third round of a very close fight. He’s like, ‘You’d better (expletive) finish.’ Come out hot, basically. Come out and put my foot on the gas. And I listened.

“It was a close fight and she’s a very tough opponent. I was doing all I felt I could at the time. But I could do a lot better. (I) decided to shake it out and listen, and when I did things went very well.”

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Ladd has been considered one of the most talented prospects in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division for the last couple of years. But just as she looked to be breaking into true contender status, she had a rough weight cut and was finished in just 16 seconds by Germaine de Randamie in July.

The defeat, Ladd’s first as a professional, raised question marks about her future as a bantamweight. She faced a barrage of questions about her weight and well-being at 135 pounds ahead of her fight with Kunitskaya (12-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC).

But Ladd made weight successfully without the drama of six months ago, and produced a superb third-round performance to stop the Russian contender and position herself among the division’s best.

Despite coming in off a loss, Ladd said she never felt a lack of confidence heading into the match.

“It’s not a lack of confidence in yourself – at least, that’s not what I felt,” she said. “It’s a disappointment. You learn a lot from it. But it’s still what I do, and it’s what I do at a high level. I know I’m good and capable of doing this. So it’s not really a confidence thing as much as it feels like ‘I’m home’ thing.”

Now back in the win column, and with her weight-cutting worries seemingly behind her, the future looks exciting for Ladd. But she knows that if she isn’t quite fulfilling her potential inside the cage, she will have her coaches to call on for a kick up the backside when she needs it.

“If I was a little bit slow, as I was, and it’s going into the third round of a close fight, you’ll probably hear that every single time,” she said. “I’ve been chewed out pretty good before. That one wasn’t … I mean, it was decent.”

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UFC on ESPN 7 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $30.5 million

UFC on ESPN 7 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

WASHINGTON – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $177,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 7 took place at Capital One Arena in Washington. The card aired on ESPN following early prelims on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 7 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Stefan Struve[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag]: $5,000
vs. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag]: $20,000

[autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Jacob Kilburn[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Matt Sayles[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Joseph Solecki[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Matt Wiman[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Mallory Martin[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Trevor Smith[/autotag]: $15,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2019 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,880,000
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $30,514,000

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Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN 7 with plenty of soundtracks and Kanye West

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 event in Washington, D.C.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 7 went with as their backing tracks in Washington, D.C.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13

UFC on ESPN 7 predictions: Overeem or Rozenstruik in heavyweight clash in D.C.?

Check out our staff’s picks for the UFC on ESPN 7 main card in Washington, D.C., featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Overeem
vs.
Rozenstruik		 Calvillo
vs.
Rodriguez		 Rothwell
vs.
Struve		 Kunitskaya
vs.
Ladd		 Stamann
vs.
Yadong		 Font
vs.
Simon
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2019: 203-123 (62%)		 rozenstruik2019
Rozenstruik
(56%)		 calvillo2019
Calvillo
(66%)		 rothwell2019
Rothwell
(53%)		 ladd2019
Ladd
(80%)		 yadong2019
Yadong
(64%)		 font2019
Font
(51%)
Simon Head
@simonhead
2019: 119-65 (65%)		 rozenstruik2019
Rozenstruik		 rodriguez2019
Rodriguez		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 yadong2019
Yadong		 font2019
Font
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2019: 115-64 (64%)		 overeem2019
Overeem		 rodriguez2019
Rodriguez		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 stamann2019
Stamann		 font2019
Font
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2019: 209-117 (64%)		 overeem2019
Overeem		 calvillo2019
Calvillo		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 yadong2019
Yadong		 font2019
Font
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2019: 207-119 (64%)
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 rozenstruik2019
Rozenstruik		 rodriguez2019
Rodriguez		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 kunitskaya2019
Kunitskaya		 stamann2019
Stamann		 font2019
Font
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2019: 206-120 (63%)
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 rozenstruik2019
Rozenstruik		 calvillo2019
Calvillo		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 yadong2019
Yadong		 font2019
Font
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2019: 204-122 (63%)		 overeem2019
Overeem		 rodriguez2019
Rodriguez		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 stamann2019
Stamann		 font2019
Font
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2019: 203-123 (62%)
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 overeem2019
Overeem		 rodriguez2019
Rodriguez		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 yadong2019
Yadong		 simon2019
Simon
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2019: 203-123 (62%)		 rozenstruik2019
Rozenstruik		 rodriguez2019
Rodriguez		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 yadong2019
Yadong		 font2019
Font
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2019: 200-126 (61%)		 overeem2019
Overeem		 calvillo2019
Calvillo		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 stamann2019
Stamann		 font2019
Font
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2019: 141-69 (60%)		 overeem2019
Overeem		 calvillo2019
Calvillo		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 yadong2019
Yadong		 font2019
Font
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2019: 193-133 (59%)		 rozenstruik2019
Rozenstruik		 rodriguez2019
Rodriguez		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 yadong2019
Yadong		 font2019
Font
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2019: 131-103 (56%)		 overeem2019
Overeem		 calvillo2019
Calvillo		 rothwell2019
Rothwell		 ladd2019
Ladd		 stamann2019
Stamann		 font2019
Font
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2019: 172-154 (53%)		 rozenstruik2019
Rozenstruik		 calvillo2019
Calvillo		 struve2019
Struve		 kunitskaya2019
Kunitskaya		 stamann2019
Stamann		 simon2019
Simon

The UFC is back in the nation’s capital city this week for the first time since 2011, and heavyweights top the bill.

UFC on ESPN 7 takes place Saturday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

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

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In the main event, [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] (45-17 MMA, 10-6 UFC) takes on the unbeaten [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at heavyweight. The fight is a virtual pick’em with the oddsmakers, and it’s close with our 13 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well. Overeem has the slightest possible edge at 7-6 in our picks.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) badly missed weight for her women’s strawweight bout against [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag] (12-0-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC), but the fight will go on. Rodriguez is a slight favorite at the sports books, and she has a slight edge at 7-6 in our picks.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] (36-12 MMA, 6-6 UFC) meets [autotag]Stefan Struve[/autotag] (29-11 MMA, 13-9 UFC) in a battle of heavyweight veterans. Rothwell has a slight betting edge around -150, but he has a massive 12-1 lead in the picks with only one of our staff members taking the 7-foot Struve.

Another picks blowout belongs to [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in her women’s bantamweight fight against [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC). Ladd is a -160 favorite, but has an 11-2 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is more than a 2-1 favorite in his bantamweight fight against [autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), making him the heaviest favorite on the main card. But Yadong has just a 7-6 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is just a slight favorite against [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in their bantamweight fight. But Font pulled off a big 11-2 rout in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Rozenstruik (56%), Calvillo (66 percent), Rothwell (53 percent), Ladd (80 percent), Yadong (64 percent) and Font (51 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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