UFC on ESPN 18 predictions: Anthony Smith or Devin Clark in new main event?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 18 main card.

Clark
vs.
Smith
Parisian
vs.
Porter
Baeza
vs.
Sato
Algeo
vs.
Carlyle
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 147-89
smith2020
Smith
(67%)
parisian2020
Parisian
(87%)
baeza2020
Baeza
(73%)
carlyle2020
Carlyle
(75%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 162-74
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 157-79
clark2020
Clark
parisian2020
Parisian
sato2020
Sato
carlyle2020
Carlyle
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 157-79
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 156-80
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
sato2020
Sato
algeo2020
Algeo
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 153-83
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 152-84
trophy copy 2014 Champion
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 151-85
clark2020
Clark
parisian2020
Parisian
sato2020
Sato
carlyle2020
Carlyle
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 150-86
trophy copy 2017 Champion
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 149-87
clark2020
Clark
porter2020
Porter
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 148-88
trophy copy 2018 Champion
clark2020
Clark
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 148-88
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
carlyle2020
Carlyle
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 147-89
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 144-92
smith2020
Smith
parisian2020
Parisian
baeza2020
Baeza
algeo2020
Algeo
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 88-148
clark2020
Clark
porter2020
Porter
sato2020
Sato
algeo2020
Algeo

The UFC is back this week with a new main event after the previously scheduled headliner fell apart Friday.

UFC on ESPN 18 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, [autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) meets former light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] (33-16 MMA, 8-6 UFC). Smith is a slight favorite at -139, and he’s got a 9-5 picks lead from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts have it right down the middle at 7-7.

That fight moved up with the previously scheduled main event between [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and former title challenger [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) was scrapped after Blaydes tested positive for COVID-19.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Josh Parisian[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) takes on [autotag]Parker Porter[/autotag] (10-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at heavyweight. Parisian is the favorite at -233, and he’s got a big 12-2 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Miguel Baeza[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is a -182 favorite against [autotag]Takashi Sato[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at welterweight, and he’s got a significant 10-4 lead from our pickers.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is a -176 favorite at featherweight against [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC), but it’s Algeo with a big 11-3 picks lead.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Smith (67 percent), Parisian (87 percent), Baeza (73 percent) and Carlyle (75 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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