Share this article
August 2, 2024 2:40 pm ET
The UFC is in Abu Dhabi, and an upcoming bantamweight title challenger is expected to emerge from the main event.
UFC on ABC 7 (ABC/ESPN2/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener
Records: Alvarez (20-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Brener (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Past five: Alvarez 4-1, Brener 4-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Alvarez -165, Brener +140
Junkie pick results: Brener 6, Alvarez 5
Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez
Records: Dern (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC), Godinez (12-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Past five: Dern 2-3, Godinez 4-1
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: Dern No. 10, Godinez No. 12
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Dern -120, Godinez +100
Junkie pick results: Dern 10, Godinez 1
Michael Chiesa vs. Tony Ferguson
Records: Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC), Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC)
Past five: Chiesa 2-3, Ferguson 0-5
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Chiesa -600, Ferguson +440
Junkie pick results: Chiesa 11, Ferguson 0
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Marlon Vera
Records: Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC), Vera (23-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC)
Past five: Figueiredo 3-2, Vera 3-2
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Vera No. 10, Figueiredo No. 14
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Figueiredo -140, Vera +120
Junkie pick results: Figueiredo 8, Vera 3
Shara Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Records: Magomedov (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Oleksiejczuk (19-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC)
Past five: Magomedov 5-0, Oleksiejczuk 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Magomedov -240, Oleksiejczuk +195
Junkie pick results: Magomedov 10, Oleksiejczuk 1
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Records: Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC), Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Past five: Sandhagen 3-2, Nurmagomedov 5-0
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Sandhagen No. 6, Nurmagomedov No. 13
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Sandhagen +270, Nurmagomedov -340
Junkie pick results: Nurmagomedov 6, Sandhagen 5
Check out all the main card picks below.
Preliminary card picks
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov: Murzakanov 11, Menifield 0
- Kaue Fernandes vs. Mohammad Yahya: Fernandes 8, Yahya 3
- Shamil Gaziev vs. Don’Tale Mayes: Gaziev 11, Mayes 0
- Guram Kutateladze vs. Jordan Vucenic: Vucenic 7, Kutateladze 4
- Viktoriia Dudakova vs. Sam Hughes: Dudakova 11, Hughes 0
- Rolando Bedoya vs. Jai Herbert: Herbert 8, Bedoya 3
- Sedriques Dumas vs. Denis Tiuliulin: Dumas 10, Tiuliulin 1
UFC on ABC 7 main card picks
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.