UFC 259 is one of the best cards in recent memory with three title fights headlining the event. Cageside Press has its picks set.
| Staff Writer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Behunin (10-4) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Dan Doherty (21-12) |  | | | | |
| Ryan Fortune (18-15) | | |  | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (18-15) | |  | |  |  |
| Heath Harshman (18-15) | | | | | |
| Justin Gibbons (18-15) | | | | | |
| Doug Murray (17-16) | | | | | |
| Dylan Bowker (17-16) | | | | | |
| Josh Evanoff (16-17) | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (14-15) | | | | | |
| Jason Payne (15-18) | | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (15-18) | | | | | |
| Eddie Law (10-13) | | | | | |
| Sergio Pineiro (4-6) | | | | | |
| Joe McDonagh (13-20) | | | | | |
The main event of UFC 259 is a superfight between light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz has won eight of his last nine fights, knocking out Dominick Reyes to win the vacant light heavyweight title last time out. Israel Adesanya has been simply brilliant since transitioning to MMA from kickboxing, going 20-0 and defending the UFC title twice. Adesanya was picked by 12 of 15 writers.
In the co-main event, Amanda Nunes defends her featherweight title against Megan Anderson. Nunes is the greatest female fighter of all time, winning eight consecutive title fights as part of an 11-fight win streak. Anderson has two first-round stoppages in her latest appearances. All but two writers picked Nunes.
The first of three title fights at UFC 259 is perhaps the best one, as Petr Yan defends his bantamweight title against Aljamain Sterling. Yan has been very impressive since coming to the UFC from Russia, going 7-0 with four knockouts and a win over Jose Aldo. Sterling has hit his stride, winning five straight fights with a quick submission against top contender Cory Sandhagen highlighting his run. Sterling was slightly favored with nine of 15 picks.
Rising lightweights clash as Islam Makhachev faces Drew Dober. Makhachev is one of the most promising lightweights in the sport, owning a 7-1 UFC record, but he hasn’t fought since 2019. Dober is on the best run of his career, knocking out his last three opponents and winning six of his last seven. Makhachev was picked by nine of 15 writers.
Opening up the UFC 259 main card will be a light heavyweight scrap between Thiago Santos and Aleksandar Rakic. Santos has lost two straight to Jon Jones and top contender Glover Teixeira, whereas Rakic is 5-1 in the Octagon, winning his last bout against Anthony Smith.
