The UFC is back within the Pacific Northwest this week for the primary time in a decade with a former two-division champion at the highest of the cardboard.
UFC Fight Night 252 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, in addition to additional evaluation, below.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker
Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker
Records: Menifield (15-5-1 MMA, 8-5-1 UFC), Walker (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Menifield 2-2-1, Walker 5-0
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.21.25): Menifield -245, Walker +200
Junkie pick results: Menifield 6, Walker 5
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Jean Silva
Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
Records: Baghdasaryan (8-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Silva (16-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Past five: Baghdasaryan 4-1, Silva 5-0
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.21.25): Baghdasaryan +370, Silva -485
Junkie pick results: Silva 11, Baghdasaryan 0
Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto
Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto
Records: Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC), Matsumoto (16-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Past five: Font 2-3, Matsumoto 5-0
Division: 140-pound contract weight
Rankings: Font No. 15
Odds (as of 02.21.25): Font +130, Matsumoto -155
Junkie pick results: Font 7, Matsumoto 4
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
Records: Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC), Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC)
Past five: Allen 4-1, Hernandez 5-0
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Allen No. 11, Hernandez No. 13
Odds (as of 02.21.25): Allen +270, Hernandez -340
Junkie pick results: Hernandez 7, Allen 4
Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong
Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong
Records: Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), Yadong (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Cejudo 3-2, Yadong 3-2
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Cejudo No. 9, Song No. 10
Odds (as of 02.21.25): Cejudo +215, Song -265
Junkie pick results: Cejudo 6, Song 5
Preliminary card picks
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Listed here are the outcomes:
Andre Fili vs. Melquizael Costa
- Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba: Aslan 11, Cutelaba 0
- Melquizael Costa vs. Andre Fili: Fili 7, Costa 4
- Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein: Abdul-Malik 10, Klein 1
- Javid Basharat vs. Ricky Simon: Basharat 9, Simon 2
- Austin Vanderford vs. Nikolay Veretennikov: Vanderford 11, Veretennikov 0
- Eric McConico vs. Nursulton Ruziboev: Ruziboev 10, McConico 1
- Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rafael Cerqueira: Bukauskas 9, Cerqueira 2
Try all of the essential card picks below.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
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