UFC

UFC on ESPN 63 predictions: Will Joaquin Buckley steal Covington's home thunder?

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The UFC wraps up its calendar for 2024 this week with welterweight contenders at the top of the lineup.

UFC on ESPN 63 (ESPN2/ESPNews/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

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

Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos

Records: Stirling (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Tokkos (10-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Past five: Stirling 5-0, Tokkos 3-2
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.14.24): Stirling -700, Tokkos +500
Junkie pick results: Stirling 11, Tokkos 0

Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yanez

Records: Marcos (16-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Yanez (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Past five: Marcos 5-0, Yanez 3-2
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.14.24): Marcos -205, Yanez +170
Junkie pick results: Marcos 6, Yanez 5

Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino

Records: Jacoby (19-9-1 MMA, 7-6-1 UFC), Petrino (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Past five: Jacoby 1-4, Petrino 4-1
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.14.24): Jacoby +250, Petrino -310
Junkie pick results: Jacoby 6, Petrino 5

Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva

Records: Kape (19-7 MMA, 4-3 UFC), Silva (14-5-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC)
Past five: Kape 4-1, Silva 4-1
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Kape No. 8, Silva No. 13
Odds (as of 12.14.24): Kape -375, Silva +295
Junkie pick results: Kape 11, Silva 0

Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo

Records: Swanson (29-14 MMA, 14-10 UFC), Quarantillo (18-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Past five: Swanson 2-3, Quarantillo 2-3
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.14.24): Swanson +135, Quarantillo -160
Junkie pick results: Swanson 10, Quarantillo 1

Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley

Records: Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC), Buckley (20-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC)
Past five: Covington 2-3, Buckley 5-0
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Covington No. 5, Buckley No. 10
Odds (as of 12.14.24): Covington +230, Buckley -285
Junkie pick results: Buckley 10, Covington 1

Check out all the main card picks below.

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

Covington
vs.
Buckley
Swanton
vs.
Quarantillo
Kape
vs.
Silva
Jacoby
vs.
Petrino
Marcos
vs.
Yanez
Stirling
vs.
Tokkos
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
204-106
buckley2024
Buckley
(52%)
swanson2024
Swanson
(54%)
kape2024
Kape
(77%)
petrino2024
Petrino
(80%)
yanez2024
Yanez
(51%)
stirling2024
Stirling
(86%)
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
204-106
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
jacoby2024
Jacoby
yanez2024
Yanez
stirling2024
Stirling
Ken Hathaway
@1khathaway
204-106
trophy copy 2017, 2022 Champion
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
petrino2024
Petrino
marcos2024
Marcos
stirling2024
Stirling
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
198-112
trophy copy 2014 Champion
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
jacoby2024
Jacoby
marcos2024
Marcos
stirling2024
Stirling
Nolan King
@mma_kings
197-113
trophy copy 2023 Champion
buckley2024
Buckley
quarantillo2024
Quarantillo
kape2024
Kape
jacoby2024
Jacoby
marcos2024
Marcos
stirling2024
Stirling
Matt Erickson
@MattE
193-117
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
jacoby2024
Jacoby
yanez2024
Yanez
stirling2024
Stirling
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
192-118
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
petrino2024
Petrino
yanez2024
Yanez
stirling2024
Stirling
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
189-121
covington2024
Covington
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
petrino2024
Petrino
marcos2024
Marcos
stirling2024
Stirling
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
184-126
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
petrino2024
Petrino
marcos2024
Marcos
stirling2024
Stirling
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
184-126
trophy copy 2017 Champion
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
jacoby2024
Jacoby
yanez2024
Yanez
stirling2024
Stirling
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
181-129
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
jacoby2024
Jacoby
marcos2024
Marcos
stirling2024
Stirling
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
173-137
buckley2024
Buckley
swanson2024
Swanson
kape2024
Kape
petrino2024
Petrino
yanez2024
Yanez
stirling2024
Stirling

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.

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