The UFC is back in Denver, home of UFC 1, with a former champion and home-city fan favorite at the top of the card.
UFC on ESPN 59 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid for the main card in a separate window.)
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage
Abdul Razak Alhassan
Records: Alhassan (12-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC), Brundage (10-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC)
Past five: Alhassan 2-3, Brundage 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Alhassan -170, Brundage +140
Junkie pick results: Alhassan 7, Brundage 4
Julian Erosa vs. Christian Rodriguez
Records: Erosa (29-12 MMA, 7-7 UFC), Rodriguez (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Past five: Erosa 3-2, Rodriguez 4-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Erosa +195, Rodriguez -230
Junkie pick results: Rodriguez 9, Erosa 2
Gabriel Bonfim vs. Ange Loosa
Nov 4, 2023; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Gabriel Bonfim (red gloves) prepares to fight Nicolas Dalby (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Ibirapuera Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports
Records: Bonfim (15-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Loosa (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Past five: Bonfim 4-1, Loosa 3-2
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Bonfim -340, Loosa +270
Junkie pick results: Bonfim 10, Loosa 1
Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva
Drew Dober
Records: Dober (27-13 MMA, 13-9 UFC), Silva (13-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Past five: Dober 3-2, Silva 5-0
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Dober -105, Silva -115
Junkie pick results: Dober 7, Silva 4
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Muslim Salikhov of Russia punches Randy Brown of Jamaica in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Records: Ponzinibbio (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC), Salikhov (19-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Past five: Ponzinibbio 2-3, Salikhov 2-3
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Ponzinibbio -185, Salikhov +155
Junkie pick results: Salikhov 6, Ponzinibbio 5
Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez
Rose Namajunas
Records: Namajunas (13-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC), Cortez (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Past five: Namajunas 3-2, Cortez 5-0
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Cortez No. 8; Namajunas No. 13, No. 13 pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 07.12.24): Namajunas -225, Cortez +185
Junkie pick results: Namajunas 9, Cortez 2
Check out all the main card picks below.
UFC on ESPN 59 main card picks
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