UFC Fight Night 237 predictions: Who do we like in Moreno-Royval, Rodriguez-Ortega rematches in Mexico City?

matt erickson

Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 1:50 p.m.·3 min read

The UFC is back in Mexico for the first time since 2019, and a former flyweight champion and recent title challenger are at the top of the bill.

UFC Fight Night 237 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Mexico City Arena.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

Get pick results from our 10 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Chris Duncan vs. Manuel Torres

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 17: (R-L) Manuel Torres of Mexico punches Nikolas Motta of Brazil in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 17, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Records: Duncan (11-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Torres (14-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Past five: Duncan 4-1, Torres 5-0
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Torres -120, Duncan +100
Junkie pick results: Ducan 5, Torres 5

Sam Hughes vs. Yazmin Jauregui

Records: Hughes (8-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC), Jauregui (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Past five: Hughes 3-2, Jauregui 4-1
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Jauregui -475, Hughes +350
Junkie pick results: Jauregui 10, Hughes 0

Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Ricky Turcios

Sep 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Raul Rosas Jr. (red gloves) reacts after defeating Terrence Mitchell (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Rosas (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Turcios (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Past five: Rosas 4-1, Turcios 3-2
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Rosas -225, Turcios +185
Junkie pick results: Rosas 7, Turcios 3

Francisco Prado vs. Daniel Zellhuber

Records: Prado (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Zellhuber (14-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Past five: Prado 4-1, Zellhuber 4-1
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Zellhuber -270, Prado +220
Junkie pick results: Zellhuber 6, Prado 4

Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez

Feb 12, 2023; Perth, WA, AUSTRALIA; Yair Rodriguez (red gloves) fights Josh Emmett (blue gloves) during UFC 284 at RAC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Ortega (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Rodriguez (18-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC)
Past five: Ortega 2-3, Rodriguez 3-2
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Rodriguez No. 5, Ortega No. 12
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Rodriguez -150, Ortega +125
Junkie pick results: Rodriguez 10, Ortega 0

Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval

Jan 21, 2023; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brandon Moreno (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Deiveson Figueiredo (red gloves) during UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Records: Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC), Royval (15-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC)
Past five: Moreno 3-2, Royval 3-2
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Moreno No. 3, honorable mention pound-for-pound; Royval No. 8
Odds (as of 02.23.24): Moreno -300, Royval +240
Junkie pick results: Moreno 10, Royval 0

UFC Fight Night 237 main card picks

	Moreno vs. Royval	Ortega vs. Rodriguez	Prado vs. Zellhuber	Rosas Jr. vs. Turcios	Hughes vs. Jauregui	Duncan vs. Torres
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 14-12	moreno2024 Moreno (87%)	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez (70%)	zellhuber2024 Zellhuber (76%)	rosas2024 Rosas (80%)	jauregui2024 Jauregui (90%)	torres2024 Torres (65%)
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 18-8 trophy copy 2014 Champion	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	zellhuber2024 Zellhuber	rosas2024 Rosas	jauregui2024 Jauregui	torres2024 Torres
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 17-9	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	prado2024 Prado	rosas2024 Rosas	jauregui2024 Jauregui	duncan2024 Duncan
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 17-9	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	zellhuber2024 Zellhuber	rosas2024 Rosas	jauregui2024 Jauregui	duncan2024 Duncan
Simon Samano @SJSamano 16-10	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	prado2024 Prado	turcios2024 Turcios	jauregui2024 Jauregui	duncan2024 Duncan
Nolan King @mma_kings 16-10 trophy copy 2023 Champion	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	prado2024 Prado	turcios2024 Turcios	jauregui2024 Jauregui	torres2024 Torres
Brian Garcia @thegoze 15-11 trophy copy 2017 Champion	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	prado2024 Prado	turcios2024 Turcios	jauregui2024 Jauregui	torres2024 Torres
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 15-11	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	zellhuber2024 Zellhuber	rosas2024 Rosas	jauregui2024 Jauregui	duncan2024 Duncan
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 15-11 trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	zellhuber2024 Zellhuber	rosas2024 Rosas	jauregui2024 Jauregui	torres2024 Torres
Matt Erickson @MattE 13-13	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	zellhuber2024 Zellhuber	rosas2024 Rosas	jauregui2024 Jauregui	torres2024 Torres
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 10-16	moreno2024 Moreno	rodriguez2024 Rodriguez	zellhuber2024 Zellhuber	rosas2024 Rosas	jauregui2024 Jauregui	duncan2024 Duncan