UFC on ABC 7 predictions: Is anyone picking Cory Sandhagen to hand Umar Nurmagomedov his first loss?

The UFC is in Abu Dhabi, and an upcoming bantamweight title challenger is expected to emerge from the main event.

UFC on ABC 7 (ABC/ESPN2/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

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

Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener

Records: Alvarez (20-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Brener (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC)

Past five: Alvarez 4-1, Brener 4-1

Division: Lightweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of 08.02.24): Alvarez -165, Brener +140

Junkie pick results: Brener 6, Alvarez 5

Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez

Records: Dern (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC), Godinez (12-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC)

Past five: Dern 2-3, Godinez 4-1

Division: Women’s strawweight

Rankings: Dern No. 10, Godinez No. 12

Odds (as of 08.02.24): Dern -120, Godinez +100

Junkie pick results: Dern 10, Godinez 1

Michael Chiesa vs. Tony Ferguson

Records: Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC), Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC)

Past five: Chiesa 2-3, Ferguson 0-5

Division: Welterweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of 08.02.24): Chiesa -600, Ferguson +440

Junkie pick results: Chiesa 11, Ferguson 0

Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Marlon Vera

Records: Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC), Vera (23-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC)

Past five: Figueiredo 3-2, Vera 3-2

Division: Bantamweight

Rankings: Vera No. 10, Figueiredo No. 14

Odds (as of 08.02.24): Figueiredo -140, Vera +120

Junkie pick results: Figueiredo 8, Vera 3

Shara Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Records: Magomedov (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Oleksiejczuk (19-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC)

Past five: Magomedov 5-0, Oleksiejczuk 2-3

Division: Middleweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of 08.02.24): Magomedov -240, Oleksiejczuk +195

Junkie pick results: Magomedov 10, Oleksiejczuk 1

Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

Records: Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC), Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC)

Past five: Sandhagen 3-2, Nurmagomedov 5-0

Division: Bantamweight

Rankings: Sandhagen No. 6, Nurmagomedov No. 13

Odds (as of 08.02.24): Sandhagen +270, Nurmagomedov -340

Junkie pick results: Nurmagomedov 6, Sandhagen 5

Check out all the main card picks below.

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:

• Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov: Murzakanov 11, Menifield 0
• Kaue Fernandes vs. Mohammad Yahya: Fernandes 8, Yahya 3
• Shamil Gaziev vs. Don’Tale Mayes: Gaziev 11, Mayes 0
• Guram Kutateladze vs. Jordan Vucenic: Vucenic 7, Kutateladze 4
• Viktoriia Dudakova vs. Sam Hughes: Dudakova 11, Hughes 0
• Rolando Bedoya vs. Jai Herbert: Herbert 8, Bedoya 3
• Sedriques Dumas vs. Denis Tiuliulin: Dumas 10, Tiuliulin 1

UFC on ABC 7 main card picks

Sandhagen

vs.

Nurmagomedov

Magomedov

vs.

Oleksiejczuk

Figueiredo

vs.

Vera

Chiesa

vs.

Ferguson

Dern

vs.

Godinez

Alvarez

vs.

Brener

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.