August 10, 2024 10: 00 am ET
The UFC is back in its home base this week with a heavyweight rematch at the top of the lineup.
UFC on ESPN 61 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid for the main card in a separate window.)
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Charalampos Grigoriou vs. Toshiomi Kazama
Toshiomi Kazama vs. Charalampos Grigoriou
Records: Grigoriou (8-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Kazama (10-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Past five: Grigoriou 4-1, Kazama 2-3
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Grigoriou -260, Kazama +210
Junkie pick results: Grigoriou 9, Kazama 2
Chelsea Chandler vs. Yana Santos
Yana Santos vs. Chelsea Chandler
Records: Chandler (6-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Santos (14-8 MMA, 4-5 UFC)
Past five: Chandler 4-1, Santos 2-3
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Rankings: Santos No. 14
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Chandler +125, Santos -150
Junkie pick results: Chandler 6, Santos 5
Chris Gutierrez vs. Quang Le
Chris Gutierrez vs. Quang Le
Records: Gutierrez (20-5-2 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), Le (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Gutierrez 3-2, Le 5-0
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Gutierrez -535, Le +400
Junkie pick results: Gutierrez 9, Le 2
Danny Barlow vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Danny Barlow vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Records: Barlow (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Veretennikov (12-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Barlow 5-0, Veretennikov 4-1
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Barlow -375, Veretennikov +295
Junkie pick results: Barlow 9, Veretennikov 2
Damon Jackson vs. Chepe Mariscal
Damon Jackson vs. Chepe Mariscal
Records: Jackson (23-6-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC), Mariscal (16-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Past five: Jackson 3-2, Mariscal 5-0
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Jackson +170, Mariscal -205
Junkie pick results: Mariscal 11, Jackson 0
Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac
Records: Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC), Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Past five: Tybura 3-2, Spivac 3-2
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Tybura No. 8, Spivac No. 9
Odds (as of 08.09.24): Tybura +140, Spivac -170
Junkie pick results: Tybura 6, Spivac 5
Preliminary card picks
Stephanie Luciano vs. Talita Alencar
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
- Pannie Kianzad vs. Karol Rosa: Rosa 10, Kianzad 1
- Jhonata Diniz vs. Karl Williams: Williams 9, Diniz 2
- Jarno Errens vs. Youssef Zalal: Zalal 10, Errens 1
- Talita Alencar vs. Stephanie Luciano: Alencar 8, Luciano 3
Check out all the main card picks below.
UFC on ESPN 61 main card picks
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 61.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.