The first UFC event of the year is upon us and so is this year’s first edition of BE staff picks. Last season, Zane Simon won our staff picking contest. This year more competitors are entering the fray looking to prevent him going back-to-back.
Our first chance to put some wins on the board is a pretty lacklustre UFC Apex card that will do little to distract from the main controversy swirling around the promotion (Dana White slapping his wife).
For this curtain opener to 2023 in MMA, we’ve got Sean Strickland stepping in on short notice — and moving up in weight — to fill in for Kelvin Gastelum opposite Nassourdine Imavov.