The final Apex-based event for well over a month, UFC Vegas 70 arrived on Saturday with light heavyweights Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann topping the card.
The winner of Krylov vs. Spann would be well-positioned to make a run at the title, with a bout against the winner of Anthony Smith vs. Johnny Walker, or the returning Aleksandar Rakic, a possibility later this year.
Our picks are in for this Fight Night event, which kicks off with Canadian on Canadian action. Here’s who we see coming out on top.
| Writer | Malott vs. Lainesse | Suarez vs. De La Rosa | Sakai vs. Mayes | Muniz vs. Allen | Krylov vs. Spann |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Val Dewar (16-7) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Chris Prawdzik (15-8) | | | | |  |
| Eddie Law (15-8) |  |  |  |  | |
| Jamie Theodosi (14-9) | | | | | |
| Alex Behunin (13-10) | | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (12-11) | | | | | |
| Dylan Rush (10-13) | | | | | |
The aforementioned Canadian vs. Canadian match-up between Mike Malott and Yohan Lainesse has us split 4-3. Both fighters made their way to the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series, on the very same season in fact. On the plus side, Canada’s going home with a win on Saturday, unless something silly like a draw happens. Hopefully we didn’t jinx it.
The return of Tatiana Suarez, meanwhile, was just shy of a landslide. Although she’s been off for three years and fighting up a weight class, all but a single writer chose the TUF 23 winner to get her hand raised over Montana De La Rosa.
It was 5-2 in favor of Augusto Sakai in his heavyweight match-up with Don’Tale Mayes, despite the Brazilian’s recent struggles. Brendan Allen had the edge over Andre Muniz, 4-3.
In the main event, all but two of our writers responding favor Ryan Spann to get the job done against Nikita Krylov.
