Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt looks to put an end to Rob Font’s three-fight win streak in the main event of UFC Vegas 27. Cageside Press has its picks set.
| Writer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fortune (57-32) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Justin Gibbons (55-34) |  | | | | |
| Dan Doherty (54-35) | | |  | | |
| Alex Behunin (42-28) | | | |  |  |
| Doug Murray (49-35) | | | | | |
| Josh Evanoff (38-28) | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (38-29) | | | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (48-41) | | | | | |
| Dylan Bowker (39-41) | | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (39-46) | | | | | |
Rob Font will look to add another big name to his resume when he faces Cody Garbrandt in the UFC Vegas 27 main event. His current win streak, which has been at a win-per-year pace since starting in 2018, includes an impressive knockout victory over Marlon Moraes. Garbrandt recently bounced back from his three-fight losing streak (two of which were against top contender and former champion TJ Dillashaw) with a huge knockout against veteran Raphael Assuncao. Garbrandt was slightly favored by Cageside Press, receiving six of 10 picks.
The co-main event features rising strawweight contender Yan Xiaonan facing former champion Carla Esparza. Xiaonan is unbeaten in six UFC appearances, taking down former top contenders Claudia Gadelha and Karolina Kowalkiewicz most recently. Esparza has had a bit of a resurgence, owning a four-fight win streak with wins over recent headliners Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez. Esparza was slightly favored by Cageside Press, receiving six of 10 picks.
From the smallest weight class to the largest, heavyweights Justin Tafa and Jared Vanderaa square off. Tafa is just six fights into his MMA career, with half of those fights coming in the Octagon and going 1-2 in the time. Vanderaa has a bit more experience with an 11-5 record and is looking to bounce back from a debut loss to Sergey Spivak. All but two writers picked Tafa.
Women’s featherweight is on display with Felicia Spencer facing Norma Dumont Viana. Spencer, a former Invicta FC champion, is 2-2 in the UFC with the losses coming against perhaps the two best female fighters ever in Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes. Dumont Viana, who fought at bantamweight in her last appearance, is 1-1 in the Octagon. Spencer was unanimously picked.
Two middleweights needing a win open the main card as Jack Hermansson faces Edmen Shahbazyan. Hermansson is 1-2 in his last three and was dominated by Marvin Vettori last time out. Shahbazyan was handed the first loss in his career most recently, falling to Derek Brunson. All but two writers picked Shahbazyan.
