Yahoo Movies UFC 278 predictions: Who are our three unanimous picks in Salt Lake City?
Usman | Costa | Aldo | Pudilova | Hunsucker | |
MMA Junkie readers’ | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
Ken Hathaway  2018 Champion |
|
|
|
|
|
Abbey Subhan |
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Bohn 2014 Champion |
|
| 
|
|
|
Matthew Wells |
|
|
|
|
|
Farah Hannoun |
|
|
|
|
|
Simon Samano |
|
|
|
|
|
Matt Erickson |
| 
|
|
|
|
Nolan King |
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Garcia 2017 Champion |
|
|
|
|
|
George Garcia |
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Segura |
|
|
|
|
|
The UFC has touched down in Utah this week and the welterweight title is on the line at the top of the bill.
UFC 278 takes place Saturday at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
The main event features a highly anticipated rematch between welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC) and Leon Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC). The two first fought in December 2015 in Usman’s first fight after winning Season 21 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Usman won a unanimous decision. Usman is a big -370 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Edwards is +265. All of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking Usman to defend his title yet again. He’s one of three unanimous picks on the main card.
The co-main event features the return of former middleweight champ Luke Rockhold (16-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC), who will be fighting for the first time in more than three years when he meets Paulo Costa (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC). Costa is a -380 favorite at the betting window, but he’s not a unanimous pick. Still, he has a big 8-3 lead in our picks.
Also on the main card, former featherweight champ Jose Aldo (31-7 MMA, 13-6 UFC) takes on Merab Dvalishvili (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) at bantamweight. Although Dvalishvili is a -140 favorite, it’s Aldo who has a 7-4 picks lead.
Lucie Pudilova (13-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC) is just a slight -125 favorite in her women’s bantamweight bout against Wu Yanan (13-5 MMA, 1-4 UFC), but she’s one of our three unanimous picks despite the closest odds on the entire 12-fight event.
And to open the main card, Tyson Pedro (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is the event’s biggest betting favorite at 8-1. Not surprisingly, he is a unanimous pick from our staff members in his light heavyweight bout against Harry Hunsucker (7-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC).
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Usman (71 percent), Costa (73 percent), Aldo (63 percent), Pudilova (67 percent) and Pedro (92 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 278.
List
UFC 278 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Joe Rogan highlights cageside trio
List
UFC 278 breakdown: Can Leon Edwards end Kamaru Usman's title reign in their rematch?
