Get ready for an absolutely stacked evening of action! UFC 261 features three championship bouts, highlighted by the highly anticipated Usman-Masvidal rematch. Don't forget to catch Tristan Connelly making his presence felt against Pat Sabatini on the preliminary card either. The full staff forecast from the MMA Empire team alongside our special guest tipster is laid out below covering all five main card matchups.
For this card, our guest selector hails from Canada — amateur middleweight James Cardinal Lauzon (3-2), who calls the legendary Tristar Gym in Montreal home. Most recently, Cardinal Lauzon stepped through the ropes at MFL 18 this past summer.
2021 standings thru UFC on ESPN 22
1. Leo Anderson (39-25-1) 11-9-1 in 2020
2. Sofia Bennett (37-27-1) 13-7-1 in 2020
T3. Maya Turner (36-28-1) 12-8-1 in 2020
T3. Olivia Davis (36-28-1) N/A in 2020
T5. Kylan Knowler (33-31-1) N/A in 2020
T5. Ethan Clarke (33-31-1) N/A in 2020
7. Isabella Harris (32-32-1) 11-9-1 in 2020
8. Guest picker (31-33-1) 10-10-1 in 2020
9. Ava Foster (25-39-1) N/A in 2020
Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal
Leo Anderson: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Sofia Bennett: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Maya Turner: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Olivia Davis: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Kylan Knowler: Jorge Masvidal via knockout.
Ethan Clarke: Kamaru Usman via TKO.
Isabella Harris: Jorge Masvidal via knockout.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Ava Foster: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Picks – Kamaru Usman: 7, Jorge Masvidal: 2
Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas
Leo Anderson: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
Sofia Bennett: Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision.
Maya Turner: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
Olivia Davis: Zhang Weili via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Zhang Weili via split decision.
Ethan Clarke: Rose Namajunas via submission.
Isabella Harris: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Zhang Weili via TKO.
Ava Foster: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
Picks – Zhang Weili: 7, Rose Namajunas: 2
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade
Leo Anderson: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Sofia Bennett: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Maya Turner: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Olivia Davis: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Ethan Clarke: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Isabella Harris: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Ava Foster: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Picks – Valentina Shevchenko: 9, Jessica Andrade: 0
Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman
Leo Anderson: Uriah Hall via knockout.
Sofia Bennett: Chris Weidman via submission.
Maya Turner: Chris Weidman via submission.
Olivia Davis: Uriah Hall via knockout.
Kylan Knowler: Uriah Hall via TKO.
Ethan Clarke: Chris Weidman via unanimous decision.
Isabella Harris: Uriah Hall via knockout.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Chris Weidman via submission.
Ava Foster: Uriah Hall via TKO.
Picks – Uriah Hall: 5, Chris Weidman: 4
Anthony Smith vs. Jimmy Crute
Leo Anderson: Jimmy Crute via TKO.
Sofia Bennett: Anthony Smith via unanimous decision.
Maya Turner: Jimmy Crute via submission.
Olivia Davis: Jimmy Crute via unanimous decision.
Kylan Knowler: Jimmy Crute via TKO.
Ethan Clarke: Anthony Smith via TKO.
Isabella Harris: Jimmy Crute via TKO.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Anthony Smith via submission.
Ava Foster: Jimmy Crute via unanimous decision.
