UFC Fight Night 245 predictions: We're split on Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

The UFC stays put on its home turf this week with a pair of ranked middleweights at the top of the bill.

UFC Fight Night 245 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

Records: Elkins (28-11 MMA, 18-10 UFC), Pineda (28-16 MMA, 5-7 UFC)
Past five: Elkins 3-2, Pineda 1-2-2
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Elkins -120, Pineda +100
Junkie pick results: Pineda 6, Elkins 5

Jake Hadley vs. Cameron Smotherman

Records: Hadley (11-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Smotherman (11-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Hadley 3-2, Smotherman 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Hadley -500, Smotherman +380
Junkie pick results: Hadley 10, Smotherman 1

Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji

Records: Johnson (16-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Mudaerji (16-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Past five: Johnson 3-2, Mudaerji 3-2
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Johnson honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Johnson -245, Mudaerji +200
Junkie pick results: Johnson 10, Mudaerji 1

Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips

Records: Font (20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC), Kyler (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Past five: Font 1-4, Phillips 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Phillips honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Font +400, Phillips -535
Junkie pick results: Phillips 7, Font 4

Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

Records: Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC)
Past five: Hernandez 5-0, Pereira 5-0
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Hernandez honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Hernandez -140, Pereira +120
Junkie pick results: Hernandez 6, Pereira 5

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:

• Asu Almabayev vs. Matheus Nicolau: Almabayev 7, Nicolau 4
• Brad Katona vs. Jean Matsumoto: Matsumoto 10, Katona 1
• Joselyne Edwards vs. Tamires Vidal: Edwards 8, VIdal 3
• Jessica Penne vs. Elise Reed: Reed 8, Penne 3
• Alice Ardelean vs. Melissa Martinez: Martinez 11, Ardelean 0
• Robelis Despaigne vs. Austen Lane: Despaigne 11, Lane 0

Check out all the main card picks below.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

	Hernandez vs. Pereira	Font vs. Phillips	Johnson vs. Mudaerji	Hadley vs. Smotherman	Elkins vs. Pineda
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 173-89 2017, 2022 Champion	Pereira	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 166-96 2014 Champion	Hernandez	Font	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Matt Erickson @MattE 161-101	Pereira	Phillips	Mudaerji	Smotherman	Elkins
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 157-105	Hernandez	Font	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Brian Garcia @thegoze 156-106 2017 Champion	Hernandez	Font	Johnson	Hadley	Elkins
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 143-119	Hernandez	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Elkins

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.