Matt Erickson, MMA Junkie
Sat, July 18, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC
The UFC is back in Oklahoma City for the first time in nine years, and a pair of former champions are at the top of the lineup.
UFC Fight Night 281 (Paramount+) takes place Saturday at Paycom Center.
Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes
Records: McMillen (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Montes (11-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Odds (as of 07.18.26): McMillen -110, Montes -110
Junkie pick results: McMillen 6, Montes 5
Fatima Kline vs. Tabatha Ricci
Records: Kline (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Ricci (12-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Rankings: Ricci No. 10, Kline honorable mention
Odds (as of 07.18.26): Kline -350, Ricci +280
Junkie pick results: Kline 10, Ricci 1
Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez
Records: Hooper (16-5-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC), Ramirez (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Odds (as of 07.18.26): Hooper -340, Ramirez +280
Junkie pick results: Hooper 11, Ramirez 0
Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
Records: Cannonier (18-9 MMA, 11-9 UFC), Duncan (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC)
Rankings: Cannonier No. 14, Duncan honorable mention
Odds (as of 07.18.26): Cannonier +260, Duncan -330
Junkie pick results: Duncan 11, Cannonier 0
Records: Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC), Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC)
Rankings: Du Plessis No. 3 (middleweight), No. 10 pound-for-pound; Usman No. 10 (welterweight)
Odds (as of 07.18.26): Du Plessis -260, Usman +210
Junkie pick results: Du Plessis 7, Usman 4
Individual staff member picks, main card
Readers 107-53: Du Plessis (67%), Duncan (67%), Hooper (85%), Kline (66%), McMillen (62%)
Danny Segura 115-48: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
Mike Bohn 107-56: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
Matthew Wells 107-56: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
Nolan King 107-56: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
Farah Hannoun 106-57: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
Simon Samano 104-59: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
George Garcia 102-61: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
Matt Erickson 102-61: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Ricci, McMillen
Brian Garcia 101-62: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, Montes
Ken Hathaway 101-62: Du Plessis, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
Jero Guerra 19-8: Usman, Duncan, Hooper, Kline, McMillen
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:
Austin Bashi vs. Jose Delgado: Bashi 10, Delgado 1
Seokhyeon Ko vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani: Ko 9, Lebosnoyani 2
Felipe Franco vs. Levi Rodrigues: Rodrigues 10, Franco 1
Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll: Coria 10, Nicoll 1
R.J. Harris vs. Alvin Hines: Harris 9, Hines 2
Dione Barbosa vs. Alice Melisano: Barbosa 9, Melisano 2
Damien Anderson vs. Ezra Elliott: N/A
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Oklahoma City predictions: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman