One of the few non-title fights that could headline a pay-per-view card takes place at UFC 272 as Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington clash. Cageside Press has its picks set.
| Staff Writers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Bowker (22-9) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Alex Behunin (22-9) | | |  |  |  |
| Justin Gibbons (21-10) | | | | | |
| Chris Prawdzik (21-10) |  | | | | |
| Eddie Law (20-11) | | | | | |
| Dan Doherty (18-13) | |  | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (17-14) | | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (16-15) | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (0-0) | | | | | |
| Derek Kibler (0-0) | | | | | |
The two most recent welterweight title challengers meet in the main event of UFC 272 as former teammates Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal throw down. Since 2016, Covington is 8-2, only losing to current champion Kamaru Usman. Masvidal was on a three-fight winning streak before losing in a pair of title shots against Usman as well. All but two writers picked Covington.
The co-main event is a short-notice one as Renato Moicano stepped up to take on former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. The bout will take place at 160lbs due to Moicano replacing Rafael Fiziev this week. Moicano is 3-1 with three submissions since moving up to lightweight. After a 1-4 skid at welterweight, RDA returned to lightweight in his last fight, defeating Paul Felder. Cageside Press is split at five picks apiece.
It’s grappler vs. striker at featherweight as Bryce Mitchell battles Edson Barboza. Barboza recently had a two-fight win streak snapped by top-tier striker Giga Chikadze. Mitchell is 14-0 in his career, winning five of those fights in the UFC. Mitchell was picked by six of 10 writers.
A pair of fighters in need of a win meet on the main card as Kevin Holland takes on Alex Oliveira. Holland is winless in his last three following his five fight win streak, whereas Oliveira has lost six of his last eight, including his last three. All but one writer picked Holland.
Opening up the UFC 272 main card will be Sergey Spivak and Greg Hardy. Spivak was on a three-fight streak before getting knocked out by rising contender Tom Aspinall. Hardy has been struggling, getting knocked out in his last two fights. Spivak was picked by six of 10 writers.
