A Jon Jones-led UFC 235 card has gone off without a hitch (believe it or not) and Cageside Press has their picks set.
| Staff Writers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Payne (36-6) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Adam LeBarr (5-1) |  |  |  |  | |
| Drake Riggs (34-8) | | | | | |
| Josh Evanoff (34-8) | | | | | |
| Tony Fagnano (17-4) | | | | | |
| John Franklin (17-4) | | | | | |
| Bryson Hester (26-7) | | | | | |
| Heath Harshman (33-9) | | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (31-11) | | | | | |
| Steve King (31-11) | | | | | |
| Paarth Pande (31-11) | | | | | |
| Jesse Gillette (30-12) | | | | | |
| Joe McDonagh (30-12) | | | | | |
| Mike Straus (30-12) | | | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (29-13) | | | | | |
| Shawn Bitter (29-13) | | | | | |
| Alex Scaffidi (28-14) | | | | |  |
| Eddie Law (28-14) | | | | | |
| Dan Doherty (27-15) | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (17-10) | | | | | |
| Rodney James Edgar (10-9) | | | | | |
The main event of UFC 235 is between Jon Jones and Anthony Smith for the light heavyweight title. Jones has won 11-straight title fights (one being overturned due to performance-enhancing drug usage), most recently defeating Alexander Gustafsson in a highly-anticipated rematch. Smith has won 14 of his last 16 and is 3-0 since moving to light heavyweight, beating Volkan Oezdemir most recently. All but one of the 21 writers picked Jones.
The UFC 235 co-main event will be for the welterweight title between champion Tyron Woodley and challenger Kamaru Usman. Woodley is looking for his fifth title defense, and is 9-2-1 in the UFC. Usman is undefeated since 2013 and is 9-0 in the Octagon, defeating Rafael dos Anjos and Demian Maia most recently. 17 of 21 writers went with Woodley.
Ben Askren will make his long-awaited promotional debut against Robbie Lawler. Askren is 18-0 in his MMA career and has been a champion in Bellator and ONE Championship. Lawler first fought in the Octagon way back in 2002, but made more noise in his second and current stint with the promotion, going 8-1 and defending the welterweight title twice. He has lost two of his last three, however. Cageside Press is nearly split, with 11 picking Lawler and 10 picking Askren.
Weilin Zhang is looking to continue her incredible run as she has won 18-straight fights since losing in her professional debut. She’ll have to get through perennial contender Tecia Torres to keep it going. “The Tiny Tornado” was 6-1 to start her run with the promotion but has since fallen to two of the toughest strawweights around in Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade. 12 of 21 writers went with Torres.
Opening up the UFC 235 main card is former champion Cody Garbrandt taking on submission specialist Pedro Munhoz. Garbrandt has not won since earning the belt against Dominick Cruz, as he was knocked out by TJ Dillashaw twice. Those are the only two losses of his 13-fight career. Munhoz has won six of his last seven, finishing four of those victories, three by his patented guillotine choke. All but three writers sided with Garbrandt.
Bonus: check out Dan Doherty’s picks as part of our picks show below!
