UFC on ESPN 69 predictions: Are upsets looming in long-awaited return to Atlanta?
The UFC makes its return to Atlanta this week with two former champions in the main and co-main events.
UFC on ESPN 69 (ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy
Records: Menifield (16-5-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC), Sy (11-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Menifield (16-5-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC), Sy (11-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) Past five: Menifield 3-2, Sy 5-0
Menifield 3-2, Sy 5-0 Division: Light heavyweight
Light heavyweight Rankings: Menifield honorable mention
Menifield honorable mention Odds (as of 06.13.25): Menifield +500, Sy -700
Menifield +500, Sy -700 Junkie pick results: Sy 10, Menifield 1
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage
Records: Abdul-Malik (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Brundage (11-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC)
Abdul-Malik (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Brundage (11-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC) Past five: Abdul-Malik 5-0, Brundage 3-2
Abdul-Malik 5-0, Brundage 3-2 Division: Middleweight
Middleweight Rankings: None
None Odds (as of 06.13.25): Abdul-Malik -800, Brundage +550
Abdul-Malik -800, Brundage +550 Junkie pick results: Abdul-Malik 11, Brundage 0
Raoni Barcelos vs. Cody Garbrandt
Records: Barcelos (19-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC), Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC)
Barcelos (19-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC), Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) Past five: Barcelos 3-2, Garbrandt 2-3
Barcelos 3-2, Garbrandt 2-3 Division: Bantamweight
Bantamweight Rankings: None
None Odds (as of 06.13.25): Barcelos -205, Garbrandt +170
Barcelos -205, Garbrandt +170 Junkie pick results: Barcelos 7, Garbrandt 4
Andre Petroski vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
Records: Petroski (13-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC), Shahbazyan (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC)
Petroski (13-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC), Shahbazyan (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) Past five: Petroski 4-1, Shahbazyan 3-2
Petroski 4-1, Shahbazyan 3-2 Division: Middleweight
Middleweight Rankings: None
None Odds (as of 06.13.25): Petroski +140, Shahbazyan -170
Petroski +140, Shahbazyan -170 Junkie pick results: Petroski 9, Shahbazyan 2
Miranda Maverick vs. Rose Namajunas
Records: Maverick (15-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Namajunas (13-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC)
Maverick (15-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Namajunas (13-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) Past five: Maverick 4-1, Namajunas 2-3
Maverick 4-1, Namajunas 2-3 Division: Women's flyweight
Women's flyweight Rankings: Namajunas No. 11, Maverick No. 13
Namajunas No. 11, Maverick No. 13 Odds (as of 06.13.25): Maverick +190, Namajunas -230
Maverick +190, Namajunas -230 Junkie pick results: Namajunas 6, Maverick 5
Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley
Records: Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC), Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC)
Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC), Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) Past five: Usman 2-3, Buckley 5-0
Usman 2-3, Buckley 5-0 Division: Welterweight
Welterweight Rankings: Buckley No. 6, Usman No. 8
Buckley No. 6, Usman No. 8 Odds (as of 06.13.25): Usman +225, Buckley -280
Usman +225, Buckley -280 Junkie pick results: Buckley 10, Usman 1
Individual staff member picks, main card
Readers 72-48: Buckley (70%), Namajunas (74%), Shahbazyan (54%), Garbrandt (55%), Abdul-Malik (80%), Sy (72%)
Farah Hannoun 78-42: Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy Mike Bohn 77-43: Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Garbrandt, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Garbrandt, Abdul-Malik, Sy Nolan King 77-43: Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy Kenny Hathaway 75-45: Buckley, Maverick, Shahbazyan, Garbrandt, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Maverick, Shahbazyan, Garbrandt, Abdul-Malik, Sy Abbey Subhan 75-45: Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy Matt Erickson 73-47: Buckley, Maverick, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Maverick, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy Simon Samano 71-49: Buckley, Maverick, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Menifield
Buckley, Maverick, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Menifield Brian Garcia 70-50: Usman, Maverick, Petroski, Garbrandt, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Usman, Maverick, Petroski, Garbrandt, Abdul-Malik, Sy Danny Segura 69-51: Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Namajunas, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy Matthew Wells 67-53: Buckley, Maverick, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy
Buckley, Maverick, Petroski, Barcelos, Abdul-Malik, Sy George Garcia 66-54: Buckley, Namajunas, Shahbazyan, Garbrandt, Abdul-Malik, Sy
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:
Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig: Bellator 8, Craig 3
Bellator 8, Craig 3 Michael Chiesa vs. Court McGee: Chiesa 11, McGee 0
Chiesa 11, McGee 0 Kris Moutinho vs. Malcolm Wellmaker: Wellmaker 10, Moutinho 1
Wellmaker 10, Moutinho 1 Cody Durden vs. Jose Ochoa: Durden 8, Ochoa 3
Durden 8, Ochoa 3 Ricky Simon vs. Cameron Smotherman: Simon 11, Smotherman 0
Simon 11, Smotherman 0 Ange Loosa vs. Phil Rowe: Rose 9, Loose 2
Rose 9, Loose 2 Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth: Demopoulos 7, Horth 4
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