| Rodriguez vs. Waterson |
Cerrone vs. Morono |
Magny vs. Neal |
Ferreira vs. Gillespie |
Greene vs. De Lima |
Hill vs. Ribas |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 57-36 |
Rodriguez (51%) |
 Cerrone (68%) |
 Neal (58%) |
 Gillespie (74%) |
 Greene (54%) |
 Ribas (69%) |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 61-32 |
Rodriguez | Cerrone |
Neal |
 Ferreira |
 De Lima |
Ribas |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 59-34  2018 Champion |
Rodriguez | Cerrone |
Neal |
Gillespie |
Greene |
Ribas |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 58-35 |
Rodriguez | Cerrone |
Neal |
Gillespie |
De Lima |
 Hill |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 56-37 |
 Waterson |
 Morono |
 Magny |
Gillespie |
De Lima |
Ribas |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 56-37 |
Rodriguez | Morono |
Neal |
Ferreira |
De Lima |
Ribas |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 55-38 2017 Champion |
Rodriguez | Cerrone |
Neal |
Ferreira |
De Lima |
Hill |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 55-38 |
Rodriguez | Cerrone |
Magny |
Gillespie |
Greene |
Ribas |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 54-39 |
Waterson |
Cerrone |
Magny |
Gillespie |
Greene |
Ribas |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 54-39 2020 Champion |
Rodriguez | Cerrone |
Neal |
Gillespie |
De Lima |
Ribas |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 53-40 2014 Champion |
Rodriguez | Morono |
Neal |
Gillespie |
De Lima |
Ribas |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 51-42 |
Rodriguez | Cerrone |
Neal |
Gillespie |
De Lima |
Ribas |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 50-43 |
Waterson |
Cerrone |
Magny |
Gillespie |
Greene |
Ribas |
| BetMGM Betting Favorites |
Rodriguez -225 | Cerrone -190 |
Neal -190 |
Gillespie -185 |
De Lima -200 |
Ribas -185 |
The UFC is back this week with an overhauled top of the card from what was planned for weeks.
UFC on ESPN 24 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, Marina Rodriguez (13-1-2 MMA, 3-1-2 UFC) takes on Michelle Waterson (18-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in a women’s flyweight fight that was hastily assembled when the original main event fell apart. Rodriguez is the favorite at -225 at BetMGM, and she’s got a big 9-3 lead from our 12 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.
In the co-feature, Donald Cerrone (36-15-1 MMA, 29-15-1 UFC) takes on short-notice replacement opponent Alex Morono (18-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at welterweight. Cerrone is a -190 favorite and has a 9-3 picks advantage.
Also on the main card, Neil Magny (24-8 MMA, 17-7 UFC) meets Geoff Neal (13-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at welterweight. Neal is a -190 favorite and has doubled up on Magny in the picks at 8-4.
Diego Ferreira (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) fights Gregor Gillespie (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in a lightweight bout that has Gillespie a -185 favorite. He’s got a big lead in the picks at 9-3.
At heavyweight between Maurice Greene (9-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and Marcos Rogerio de Lima (17-7-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC), de Lima is a 2-1 favorite. He’s also got an 8-4 lead in the picks.
And to open the main card, Angela Hill (13-9 MMA, 8-9 UFC) is the underdog to Amanda Ribas (10-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who is a -185 favorite. Ribas has a big 10-2 edge in the picks.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Rodriguez (51 percent), Cerrone (68 percent), Neal (58 percent), Gillespie (74 percent), Greene (54 percent) and Ribas (69 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
UFC on ESPN 24 predictions: Who’s picking Michelle Waterson to upset Marina Rodriguez?
