| Brunson vs. Holland |
Gillespie vs. Riddell |
Buys vs. Ruiz |
Lopez vs. Yanez |
Griffin vs. Kenan |
Hunsucker vs. Tuivasa |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 23-19 |
Holland (72%) |
 Gillespie (78%) |
 Buys (64%) |
 Yanez (78%) |
 Kenan (62%) |
 Tuivasa (88%) |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 27-15  2020 Champion |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
 Lopez |
Kenan |
Tuivasa |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 26-16 2018 Champion |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
 Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 25-17 |
 Brunson |
Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 25-17 |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Lopez |
Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 25-17 |
Holland | Gillespie |
 Ruiz |
Yanez |
Kenan |
Tuivasa |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 24-18 |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 24-18 2017 Champion |
Brunson |
Gillespie |
Buys |
Lopez |
Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2021: 23-19 2019 Champion* |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 23-19 |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 22-20 2014 Champion |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Kenan |
Tuivasa |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 21-21 |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Griffin |
Tuivasa |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 21-21 |
Holland | Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Kenan |
Tuivasa |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 20-22 |
Brunson |
Gillespie |
Buys |
Yanez |
Kenan |
Tuivasa |
| BetMGM Betting Favorites Bet now! |
Holland -175 | Gillespie -250 |
Buys -350 |
Yanez -225 |
Griffin -200 |
Tuivasa -400 |
The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week with a middleweight showdown leading at the top of the card.
UFC on ESPN 21 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, Derek Brunson (21-7 MMA, 12-5 UFC) takes on Kevin Holland (21-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at middleweight. Holland is a -175 favorite at BetMGM, and he has a 10-3 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.
In the co-feature, Gregor Gillespie (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) meets Brad Riddell (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout. Gillespie is a -250 favorite and one of two unanimous picks from our staff members on the main card.
In a women’s strawweight fight between promotional newcomers, Cheyanne Buys (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a big favorite at -350 against Montserrat Ruiz (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and she’s got a hefty 12-1 lead in the picks.
Gustavo Lopez (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on Adrian Yanez (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at bantamweight. Yanez is a -225 favorite and has a big 10-3 picks lead.
Max Griffin (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC) is a 2-1 favorite against Song Kenan (16-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC), but their fight is our closest from a picks perspective with just an 8-5 lead for Griffin.
And to open the main card, Harry Hunsucker (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) steps up on less than a week’s notice at heavyweight against 4-1 favorite Tai Tuivasa (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC). Tuivasa is our other unanimous pick on the main card at 13-0.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Holland (72 percent), Gillespie (78 percent), Buys (64 percent), Yanez (78 percent), Kenan (62 percent) and Tuivasa (88 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
UFC on ESPN 21 predictions: Who’s picking Derek Brunson to upset Kevin Holland?