Picking & Grinning: UFC Fight Night ‘Swanson vs. Ortega’

If Cub Swanson ever wants to challenge for an Ultimate Fighting Championship title, he likely needs to avoid any more potholes.

Swanson, 34, will throw down with the undefeated Brian Ortega in the UFC Fight Night 123 main event on Saturday at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, with the winner keeping his head above water in a featherweight division ruled by the incomparable Max Holloway. Meanwhile, Jason Knight, aka “Hick Diaz,” tackles Gabriel Benitez in the three-round co-headliner at 145 pounds.

Ahead of UFC Fight Night “Swanson vs. Ortega,” Sherdog.com staff members and contributors swallowed their pride and put their reputations on the line with bold predictions:

THE LINEUP

145: Cub Swanson vs. Brian Ortega
145: Jason Knight vs. Gabriel Benitez
135: Marlon Moraes vs. Aljamain Sterling
155: Scott Holtzman vs. Darrell Horcher
185: Eryk Anders vs. Markus Perez Echeimberg
135: Albert Morales vs. Benito Lopez
125: Alexis Davis vs. Liz Carmouche
135: Luke Sanders vs. Andre Soukhamthath
135: Carls John de Tomas vs. Alex Perez
135: Frankie Saenz vs. Merab Dvalishvili
135: Alejandro Perez vs. Iuri Alcantara
155: Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Davi Ramos
185: Antonio Braga Neto vs. Trevin Giles

THE STANDINGS

Jordan Breen: 279-128
Brian Knapp: 271-136
Tristen Critchfield: 270-137
Todd Martin: 265-142
Eric Stinton: 256-151
Mike Fridley: 253-154

THE PICKS

Jordan Breen: Swanson, Knight, Moraes, Holtzman, Anders, Lopez, Carmouche, Sanders, Perez, Saenz, Alcantara, Ramos, Neto

Brian Knapp: Ortega, Knight, Moraes, Holtzman, Anders, Lopez, Carmouche, Sanders, Perez, Dvalishvili, Alcantara, Ramos, Giles

Tristen Critchfield: Swanson, Knight, Sterling, Holtzman, Anders, Lopez, Carmouche, Sanders, Perez, Dvalishvili, Alcantara, Ramos, Giles

Todd Martin: Ortega, Knight, Sterling, Horcher, Anders, Lopez, Carmouche, Sanders, Perez, Dvalishvili, Alcantara, Ramos, Giles

Eric Stinton: Ortega, Knight, Moraes, Holtzman, Anders, Lopez, Carmouche, Sanders, Perez, Dvalishvili, Alcantara, Ramos, Giles

Mike Fridley: Swanson, Knight, Sterling, Holtzman, Anders, Morales, Carmouche, Sanders, de Tomas, Dvalishvili, Alcantara, Ramos, Giles