UFC 281 predictions: Who are we picking in the two title fights in New York?
Adesanya | Esparza | Chandler | Edgar | Hooker | |
MMA Junkie readers’ | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
Ken Hathaway  2018 Champion |
|
|
|
| 
|
Abbey Subhan |
| 
|
|
|
|
Matthew Wells |
|
|
|
|
|
Farah Hannoun |
|
|
| 
|
|
Mike Bohn 2014 Champion |
|
|
|
|
|
Matt Erickson | 
|
| 
|
|
|
Simon Samano |
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Garcia 2017 Champion |
|
|
|
|
|
Nolan King |
|
|
|
|
|
George Garcia |
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Segura |
|
|
|
|
|
The UFC is back in the “Big Apple” with a pair of title fights at the top of the bill.
UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) puts his title on the line against Alex Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), who holds two wins over him in kickboxing. Adesanya is a -220 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Pereira is +170. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers largely are sticking with the champ at a big 9-2 clip.
In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champ Carla Esparza (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) defends the title for the first time in her second stint as champion when she meets former titleholder Zhang Weili (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC). Weili is the biggest favorite on the main card at 4-1 and has a big 8-3 picks lead.
Also on the main card, former Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) meets former UFC interim champ Dustin Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC). Poirier is more than a 2-1 favorite at the betting window and has a 7-4 edge in the picks.
Former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar (24-10-1 MMA, 18-10-1 UFC) will fight for what is likely to be the final time when he takes on Chris Gutierrez (18-3-2 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) at bantamweight. Gutierrez is a -230 favorite and has a 7-4 picks lead.
And to open the main card, Dan Hooker (21-12 MMA, 11-8 UFC) takes on Claudio Puelles (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at lightweight. Hooker is the favorite at -165, but Puelles is bucking the betting trend and has a big 8-3 lead from our staff members.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Adesanya (51 percent), Weili (86 percent), Poirier (6z9 percent), Gutierrez (64 percent) and Hooker (55 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 214.
List
UFC 281 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Joe Rogan returns after two months
