UFC Fight Night 59 staff picks: Three unanimous nods, but Cerrone-Henderson split

The UFC’s second event of the new year brought three unanimous picks out of four fights from our nine-member panel.

But there is dissension in the ranks in the UFC Fight Night 59 co-main event between Donald Cerrone (25-6 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and Benson Henderson (21-4 MMA 9-2 UFC).

Six of our nine MMAjunkie staff writers and radio hosts think Cerrone will finally get a win over Henderson, a former UFC and WEC lightweight champ who twice beat “Cowboy” when they were in the WEC. Three gave the nod to Henderson, who’s a slight favorite over Cerrone (who returns just 15 days after a win over Myles Jury at UFC 182 as a replacement for the injured Eddie Alvarez).

The other three fights on the main card are unanimous picks. All nine believe heavy favorite Conor McGregor (16-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will top Dennis Siver (22-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) in the featherweight main event. McGregor is likely to get a title shot with a win.

In addition, all nine of our pickers like Uriah Hall (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) to top short-notice middleweight replacement Ron Stallings (12-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC), and veteran lightweight Gleison Tibau (32-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) is a unanimous choice to get past Norman Parke (20-2-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC), who has yet to taste defeat in the UFC.

UFC Fight Night 59 takes place Sunday at TD Garden in Boston. The main card airs on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Check out all the picks above. Additionally, leave your main-card picks below. As usual, MMAjunkie reader “IAMMA” is organizing the MMAjunkie Member Picks. Like the MMAjunkie staff picks, the readers’ records reset with the new year, so now’s the time to get involved.

For more on UFC Fight Night 59, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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