UFC 299 predictions: Will bantamweight title change hands in Miami?

The UFC is back in Miami this week, and the bantamweight title is on the line at the top of the bill.

UFC 299 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami.

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

Records: Song (21-7-1 MMA, 10-2-1 UFC), Yan (16-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC)
Past five: Song 4-1, Yan 1-4
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Yan No. 7, Song No. 8
Odds (as of 03.08.24): Song +105, Yan -125
Junkie pick results: Song 8, Yan 3

Records: Burns (22-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC), Della Maddalena (16-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC)
Past five: Burns 3-2, Della Maddalena 5-0
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Burns No. 7, Della Maddalena No. 14
Odds (as of 03.08.24): Della Maddalena -165, Burns +140
Junkie pick results: Burns 8, Della Maddalena 3

Records: Holland (25-10 MMA, 12-7 UFC), Page (21-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Holland 2-3, Page 4-1
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Holland honorable mention
Odds (as of 03.08.24): Holland -135, Page +115
Junkie pick results: Page 6, Holland 5

Records: Poirier (29-8 MMA, 21-7 UFC), Saint Denis (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC)
Past five: Poirier 3-2, Saint Denis 5-0
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: Poirier No. 4, Saint Denis No. 13
Odds (as of 03.08.24): Poirier +180, Saint Denis -220
Junkie pick results: Poirier 6, Saint Denis 5

Records: O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC), Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC)
Past five: O’Malley 5-0, Vera 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: O’Malley No. 1, No. 12 pound-for-pound; Vera No. 6
Odds (as of 03.08.24): O’Malley -265, Vera +215
Junkie pick results: O’Malley 8, Vera 3

Although fights on the prelims don’t count toward the standings in the MMA Junkie staff picks, we still pick each fight. Here are some key results:

Their fight is a pick’em at the betting window, but Jailton Almeida (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) has a big 8-3 picks lead over Curtis Blaydes (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) to close out the prelims at heavyweight.

The event’s biggest favorite by far is Mateusz Gamrot (23-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at lightweight against former champion Rafael dos Anjos (32-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC). Gamrot is as much as a 5-1 favorite, but he’s got just a 7-4 picks lead from our staff members.

Considering Robelis Despaigne (4-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has three straight finishes in a combined 19 seconds, it’s stunning he’s not a unanimous pick. But one brave picker took Josh Parisian (15-7 MMA, 2-4 UFC) in a heavyweight upset. Check out all the main card picks below.