The welterweight title is on the line in the main event of UFC 258 and Cageside Press has its picks set.
| Staff Writer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Doherty (12-7) |  |  |  |  |
| Ryan Fortune (10-9) | |  | | |
| Mike McClory (9-10) |  | |  | |
| Doug Murray (9-10) | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (8-11) | | | | |
| Eddie Law (8-11) | | | |  |
| Heath Harshman (8-11) | | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (8-11) | | | | |
| Dylan Bowker (8-11) | | | | |
| Justin Gibbons (8-11) | | | | |
| Josh Evanoff (8-11) | | | | |
| Jason Payne (7-12) | | | | |
| Joe McDonagh (6-13) | | | | |
| Alex Behunin (0-0) | | | | |
From teammates to headliners. Kamaru Usman defends his title against Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258. Usman is 12-0 in the UFC and is one fight away from breaking Georges St-Pierre’s record for longest welterweight win streak. Burns, who has been with the promotion since 2014, is 4-0 since moving up to welterweight. All but two writers picked Usman.
The co-main event is occupied by two flyweights who have yet to reach their potential in Maycee Barber and Alexa Grasso. After starting her Octagon run with three stoppages, Barber’s rise came to a screeching halt after she lost a decision to Roxanne Modafferi. Grasso has alternated wins and losses since joining the promotion in 2016. She is coming off a win over Ji Yeon Kim. Barber was picked by nine of 14 writers.
Two middleweights looking to regain momentum square off as Kelvin Gastelum faces Ian Heinisch. Gastelum has lost three straight bouts, albeit to two top-five contenders and the champion. Heinisch is coming off a knockut over Gerald Meerschaert that snapped a two-fight losing streak. All but two writers picked Gastelum.
Maki Pitolo and Julien Marquez open up the UFC 258 main card. Pitolo has struggled in the UFC, going 1-3 with a knockout victory. Marquez hasn’t fought since 2018 and is 1-1 in the Octagon. Marquez was picked by 10 of 14 writers.
Due to its late addition to the main card, the bantamweight bout between Ricky Simon and Brian Kelleher (which is likely the best fight on the card) will not be picked.
