TUF 24 Finale staff picks: Is anyone picking massive underdog Elliott to upset champ Johnson?

The UFC is ready for another “Ultimate Fighter” finale, and this one has a unique twist.

On Wednesday’s final regular-season episode of Season 24 of the show, Tim Elliott captured the crown in the flyweight tournament – and advanced to a Saturday title shot against longstanding champion Demetrious Johnson.

The TUF 24 Finale takes place Saturday at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The card airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

In the main event, Johnson (24-2-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) is a massive underdog against Elliott (13-6-1 MMA, 2-4 UFC), who will be in his second stint in the UFC after his successful run through the “TUF 24” house. Not surprisingly, all 10 of our MMAjunkie editors, writers and radio hosts are backing the champ, a more than 12-1 favorite.

The co-main event also takes place in the flyweight division and might determine the next in line for the winner of Johnson-Elliott. Joseph Benavidez (24-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) and Henry Cejudo (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) each have lost title fights to “Mighty Mouse.” They coached opposite each other on “TUF 24,” and now will fight after developing a fairly heated new flyweight rivalry. Benavidez is the favorite, and all 10 of our pickers are taking him to win.

Also on the main card, Jake Ellenberger (31-11 MMA, 10-7 UFC) takes on the favored Jorge Masvidal (30-11 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in a welterweight bout. Despite Ellenberger’s big rebound in July to knock out Matt Brown quickly into the first round at UFC 201, only two of our 10 staff members are taking him in the upset. In a light heavyweight bout, Jared Cannonier (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meets Ion Cutelaba (12-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC). Cannonier is the mild underdog, but has a 6-4 edge in the picks.

Former women’s bantamweight title challengers Alexis Davis (17-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Sara McMann (9-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) will meet, and the picks are tight – McMann has only a 6-4 nod in the fight. And to open the main card, Ryan Benoit (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) meets Brandon Moreno (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at flyweight. The Vegas odds are close with Moreno just a slight favorite – but nine of our 10 staff members are picking him to win.

In the MMAjunkie reader consensus picks, Johnson, Benavidez, Masvidal, Cutelaba, McMann and Moreno are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.