UFC on ESPN 7 predictions: Overeem or Rozenstruik in heavyweight clash in D.C.?

	Overeem vs. Rozenstruik	Calvillo vs. Rodriguez	Rothwell vs. Struve	Kunitskaya vs. Ladd	Stamann vs. Yadong	Font vs. Simon
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2019: 203-123 (62%)	Rozenstruik (56%)	Calvillo (66%)	Rothwell (53%)	Ladd (80%)	Yadong (64%)	Font (51%)
Simon Head @simonhead 2019: 119-65 (65%)	Rozenstruik	Rodriguez	Rothwell	Ladd	Yadong	Font
Nolan King @mma_kings 2019: 115-64 (64%)	Overeem	Rodriguez	Rothwell	Ladd	Stamann	Font
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2019: 209-117 (64%)	Overeem	Calvillo	Rothwell	Ladd	Yadong	Font
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2019: 207-119 (64%) 2017 Champion	Rozenstruik	Rodriguez	Rothwell	Kunitskaya	Stamann	Font
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2019: 206-120 (63%) 2018 Champion	Rozenstruik	Calvillo	Rothwell	Ladd	Yadong	Font
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2019: 204-122 (63%)	Overeem	Rodriguez	Rothwell	Ladd	Stamann	Font
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2019: 203-123 (62%) 2014 Champion	Overeem	Rodriguez	Rothwell	Ladd	Yadong	Simon
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2019: 203-123 (62%)	Rozenstruik	Rodriguez	Rothwell	Ladd	Yadong	Font
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2019: 200-126 (61%)	Overeem	Calvillo	Rothwell	Ladd	Stamann	Font
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2019: 141-69 (60%)	Overeem	Calvillo	Rothwell	Ladd	Yadong	Font
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2019: 193-133 (59%)	Rozenstruik	Rodriguez	Rothwell	Ladd	Yadong	Font
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2019: 131-103 (56%)	Overeem	Calvillo	Rothwell	Ladd	Stamann	Font
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2019: 172-154 (53%)	Rozenstruik	Calvillo	Struve	Kunitskaya	Stamann	Simon

The UFC is back in the nation’s capital city this week for the first time since 2011, and heavyweights top the bill.

UFC on ESPN 7 takes place Saturday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, Alistair Overeem (45-17 MMA, 10-6 UFC) takes on the unbeaten Jairzinho Rozenstruik (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at heavyweight. The fight is a virtual pick’em with the oddsmakers, and it’s close with our 13 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well. Overeem has the slightest possible edge at 7-6 in our picks.

In the co-main event, Cynthia Calvillo (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) badly missed weight for her women’s strawweight bout against Marina Rodriguez (12-0-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC), but the fight will go on. Rodriguez is a slight favorite at the sports books, and she has a slight edge at 7-6 in our picks.

Also on the main card, Ben Rothwell (36-12 MMA, 6-6 UFC) meets Stefan Struve (29-11 MMA, 13-9 UFC) in a battle of heavyweight veterans. Rothwell has a slight betting edge around -150, but he has a massive 12-1 lead in the picks with only one of our staff members taking the 7-foot Struve.

Another picks blowout belongs to Aspen Ladd (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in her women’s bantamweight fight against Yana Kunitskaya (12-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC). Ladd is a -160 favorite, but has an 11-2 lead in the picks.

Song Yadong (15-4 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is more than a 2-1 favorite in his bantamweight fight against Cody Stamann (18-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), making him the heaviest favorite on the main card. But Yadong has just a 7-6 lead in the picks.

And to open the main card, Rob Font (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is just a slight favorite against Ricky Simon (15-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in their bantamweight fight. But Font pulled off a big 11-2 rout in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Rozenstruik (56%), Calvillo (66 percent), Rothwell (53 percent), Ladd (80 percent), Yadong (64 percent) and Font (51 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.