With three title fights to go along with a stacked undercard, UFC 259 may very well go down as card of the year by the end of 2021. The predictions from the MMA Empire team, along with our guest picker, can be found below for the five-fight main card.
Our guest picker for this event is MMA media staple James Lynch. If you’ve been following the UFC and MMA for awhile, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Lynch’s work. If not, subscribe to his YouTube channel HERE. You won’t regret it!
2021 standings thru UFC Fight Night 186
T1. Cooper Riehl (22-14-1) 13-7-1 in 2020
T1. Cody Rempel (22-14-1) 11-9-1 in 2020
T3. Joel Griffith (19-17-1) 12-8-1 in 2020
T3. Cole Shelton (19-17-1) N/A in 2020
T3. Cody Davis (19-17-1) 11-9-1 in 2020
T6. Dylan Bowker (18-18-1) N/A in 2020
T6. Guest picker (18-18-1) 10-10-1 in 2020
8. Kylan Knowler (16-20-1) N/A in 2020
9. Joe McDonagh (13-23-1) N/A in 2020
Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya
Cooper Riehl: Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision.
Cody Rempel: Israel Adesanya via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision.
Cole Shelton: Israel Adesanya via TKO.
Cody Davis: Jan Blachowicz via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Israel Adesanya via TKO.
James Lynch: Israel Adesanya via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision.
Joe McDonagh: Israel Adesanya via TKO.
Picks – Jan Blachowicz: 1, Israel Adesanya: 8
Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson
Cooper Riehl: Amanda Nunes via TKO.
Cody Rempel: Amanda Nunes via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Amanda Nunes via submission.
Cole Shelton: Amanda Nunes via submission.
Cody Davis: Amanda Nunes via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Megan Anderson via unanimous decision.
James Lynch: Amanda Nunes via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Amanda Nunes via submission.
Joe McDonagh: Amanda Nunes via knockout.
Picks – Amanda Nunes: 8, Megan Anderson: 1
Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling
Cooper Riehl: Aljamain Sterling via submission.
Cody Rempel: Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision.
Joel Griffith: Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision.
Cole Shelton: Petr Yan via TKO.
Cody Davis: Aljamain Sterling via submission.
Dylan Bowker: Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision.
James Lynch: Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision.
Kylan Knowler: Aljamain Sterling via submission.
Joe McDonagh: Aljamain Sterling via submission.
Picks – Petr Yan: 1, Aljamain Sterling: 8
Islam Makhachev vs. Drew Dober
Cooper Riehl: Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision.
Cody Rempel: Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision.
Joel Griffith: Islam Makhachev via submission.
Cole Shelton: Islam Makhachev via submission.
Cody Davis: Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision.
Dylan Bowker: Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision.
James Lynch: Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision.
Kylan Knowler: Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision.
Joe McDonagh: Drew Dober via unanimous decision.
Picks – Islam Makhachev: 8, Drew Dober: 1
Thiago Santos vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Cooper Riehl: Thiago Santos via TKO.
Cody Rempel: Aleksandar Rakic via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Thiago Santos via knockout.
Cole Shelton: Thiago Santos via unanimous decision.
Cody Davis: Aleksandar Rakic via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Thiago Santos via TKO.
James Lynch: Thiago Santos via unanimous decision.
Kylan Knowler: Aleksandar Rakic via split decision.
Joe McDonagh: Thiago Santos via unanimous decision.
