What a night this is going to be! Three title fights going down at UFC 261, including the rematch between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal. Additionally, be sure not to miss Canada’s own Tristan Connelly taking on Pat Sabatini on the prelims. 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 Canadian amateur middleweight James Cardinal Lauzon (3-2), who trains out of the esteemed Tristar Gym in Montreal. Cardinal Lauzon was last in action this past summer at MFL 18.
2021 standings thru UFC on ESPN 22
1. Cody Rempel (39-25-1) 11-9-1 in 2020
2. Cooper Riehl (37-27-1) 13-7-1 in 2020
T3. Joel Griffith (36-28-1) 12-8-1 in 2020
T3. Cole Shelton (36-28-1) N/A in 2020
T5. Kylan Knowler (33-31-1) N/A in 2020
T5. Dylan Bowker (33-31-1) N/A in 2020
7. Cody Davis (32-32-1) 11-9-1 in 2020
8. Guest picker (31-33-1) 10-10-1 in 2020
9. Joe McDonagh (25-39-1) N/A in 2020
Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal
Cody Rempel: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Cooper Riehl: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Joel Griffith: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Cole Shelton: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Kylan Knowler: Jorge Masvidal via knockout.
Dylan Bowker: Kamaru Usman via TKO.
Cody Davis: Jorge Masvidal via knockout.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Joe McDonagh: Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision.
Picks – Kamaru Usman: 7, Jorge Masvidal: 2
Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas
Cody Rempel: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
Cooper Riehl: Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision.
Joel Griffith: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
Cole Shelton: Zhang Weili via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Zhang Weili via split decision.
Dylan Bowker: Rose Namajunas via submission.
Cody Davis: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Zhang Weili via TKO.
Joe McDonagh: Zhang Weili via unanimous decision.
Picks – Zhang Weili: 7, Rose Namajunas: 2
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade
Cody Rempel: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Cooper Riehl: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Cole Shelton: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Dylan Bowker: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Cody Davis: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Joe McDonagh: Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision.
Picks – Valentina Shevchenko: 9, Jessica Andrade: 0
Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman
Cody Rempel: Uriah Hall via knockout.
Cooper Riehl: Chris Weidman via submission.
Joel Griffith: Chris Weidman via submission.
Cole Shelton: Uriah Hall via knockout.
Kylan Knowler: Uriah Hall via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Chris Weidman via unanimous decision.
Cody Davis: Uriah Hall via knockout.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Chris Weidman via submission.
Joe McDonagh: Uriah Hall via TKO.
Picks – Uriah Hall: 5, Chris Weidman: 4
Anthony Smith vs. Jimmy Crute
Cody Rempel: Jimmy Crute via TKO.
Cooper Riehl: Anthony Smith via unanimous decision.
Joel Griffith: Jimmy Crute via submission.
Cole Shelton: Jimmy Crute via unanimous decision.
Kylan Knowler: Jimmy Crute via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Anthony Smith via TKO.
Cody Davis: Jimmy Crute via TKO.
James Cardinal Lauzon: Anthony Smith via submission.
Joe McDonagh: Jimmy Crute via unanimous decision.
