(This story was updated to add new information, and because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
The UFC is back on its home turf this week with a pair of flyweight contenders at the top of the lineup in “Sin City.”
UFC Fight Night 244 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Alex Morono vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Records: Morono (24-10 MMA, 13-7 UFC), Rodriguez (17-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Past five: Morono 2-3, Rodriguez 2-3
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.11.24): Morono +180, Rodriguez -220
Junkie pick results: Rodriguez 6, Morono 5
Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia
Records: Dawson (12-2-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC), Garcia (16-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC)
Past five: Dawson 4-1, Garcia 4-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: Dawson No. 8
Odds (as of 10.11.24): Dawson -425, Garcia +330
Junkie pick results: Dawson 11, Garcia 0
Jared Gooden vs. Chidi Njokuani
Records: Gooden (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC), Njokuani (23-10 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Past five: Gooden 3-2, Njokuani 2-3
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.11.24): Gooden +140, Njokuani -170
Junkie pick results: Njokuani 10, Gooden 1
JunYong Park vs. Brad Tavares
Records: Park (17-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Tavares (20-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC)
Past five: Park 4-1, Tavares 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.11.24): Park -200, Tavares +165
Junkie pick results: Park 6, Tavares 5
Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira
Records: Royval (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC), Taira (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC)
Past five: Royval 4-1, Taira 5-0
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Royval No. 3, Taira No. 6
Odds (as of 10.11.24): Royval +240, Taira -300
Junkie pick results: Taira 10, Royval 1
Preliminary card picks
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
- Ramazonbek Temirov vs. CJ Vergara: Temirov 10, Vergara 1
- Jonathan Pearce vs. Pat Sabatini: Sabatini 9, Pearce 2
- Themba Gorimbo vs. Niko Price: Gorimbo 11, Price 0
- Sean Sharaf vs. Junior Tafa: Tafa 11, Sharaf 0
- Cory McKenna vs. Julia Polastri: McKenna 9, Polastri 2
- Dan Argueta vs. Cody Haddon: Haddon 10, Argueta
- Clayton Carpenter vs. Lucas Rocha: Carpenter 6, Rocha 5
Check out all the main card picks below.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
| Royval vs. Taira |
Park vs. Tavares |
Gooden vs. Njokuani |
Dawson vs. Garcia |
Morono vs. Rodriguez |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 164-93 |
 Taira (65%) |
 Park (62%) |
 Njokuani (77%) |
 Dawson (87%) |
 Rodriguez (76%) |
| Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 170-87  2017, 2022 Champion |
Taira |
Park |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
 Morono |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 168-89 |
Taira |
Park |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Morono |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 163-94 2014 Champion |
Taira |
 Tavares |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Rodriguez |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 159-98 2023 Champion |
Taira |
Park |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Rodriguez |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 158-99 |
Taira |
Park |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Morono |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 157-100 |
Taira |
Park |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Morono |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 155-102 |
Taira |
Tavares |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Morono |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 153-104 |
Taira |
Park |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Rodriguez |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 153-104 2017 Champion |
Taira |
Tavares |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Rodriguez |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 148-109 |
Taira |
Tavares |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Rodriguez |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 139-118 |
 Royval |
Tavares |
Njokuani |
Dawson |
Rodriguez |
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 244.