UFC Fight Night 248 predictions: Tight race with ex-champs Yan, Figueiredo in Macau
The UFC is back in Asia this week with the a pair of former champions atop the lineup.
UFC Fight Night 248 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Macau.
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Ozzy Diaz vs. Zhang Mingyang
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Zhang Mingyang celebrates his KO victory against Brendson Ribeiro during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Records: Diaz (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Mingyang (17-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Past five: Diaz 4-1, Mingyang 5-0
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Diaz +270, Mingyang -340
Junkie pick results: Mingyang 10, Diaz 1
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg
Carlos Ulberg def. Alonzo Menifield, UFC on ESPN 56 (via UFC)
Records: Oezdemir (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC), Ulberg (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Past five: Oezdemir 3-2, Ulberg 5-0
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Oezdemir +200, Ulberg -245
Junkie pick results: Ulberg 8, Oezdemir 3
Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 24: (L-R) Wang Cong of China punches Victoria Leonardo in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Records: Cong (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Fernandes (9-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Past five: Cong 5-0, Fernandes 3-2
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Cong -950, Fernandes +625
Junkie pick results: Cong 11, Fernandes 0
Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov
Feb 22, 2020; Auckland, New Zealand; Song Kenan is declared the winner by TKO against Callan Potter during UFC Fight Night Auckland at Spark Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
Records: Kenan (22-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Salikhov (20-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Past five: Kenan 2-3, Salikhov 2-3
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Kenan +160, Salikhov -190
Junkie pick results: Kenan 8, Salikhov 3
Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci
Yan Xioanan
Records: Xiaonan (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Ricci (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Past five: Xiaonan 2-3, Ricci 4-1
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: Xiaonan No. 4, Ricci No. 9
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Xiaonan -175, Ricci +145
Junkie pick results: Xiaonan 10, Ricci 1
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Records: Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC), Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Yan 2-3, Figueiredo 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Yan No. 5, Figueiredo No. 12
Odds (as of 11.22.24): Yan -305, Figueiredo +245
Junkie pick results: Figueiredo 6, Yan 5
Check out all the main card picks below.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
| Yan vs. Figueiredo |
Ricci vs. Xiaonan |
Kenan vs. Salikhov |
Cong vs. Fernandes |
Oezdemir vs. Ulberg |
Diaz vs. Mingyang |
|
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 193-100 |
Figueiredo |
Xiaonan |
Kenan |
Cong |
Oezdemir |
Mingyang |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 186-107 2014 Champion |
Yan |
Xiaonan |
Salikhov |
Cong |
Ulberg |
Mingyang |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 181-112 |
Figueiredo |
Ricci |
Salikhov |
Cong |
Ulberg |
Mingyang |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 178-115 |
Yan |
Xiaonan |
Kenan |
Cong |
Ulberg |
Mingyang |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 176-117 2017 Champion |
Figueiredo |
Xiaonan |
Salikhov |
Cong |
Ulberg |
Diaz |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 162-131 |
Yan |
Xiaonan |
Kenan |
Cong |
Ulberg |
Mingyang |
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 248.