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

Johnson
vs.
Elliott
Benavidez
vs.
Cejudo
Ellenberger
vs.
Masvidal
Cannonier
vs.
Cutelaba
Davis
vs.
McMann
Benoit
vs.
Moreno
MMAjunkie readers’
consensus picks
2016: 118-74 (61%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
(87%)
benavidez2016
Benavidez
(73%)
masvidal2016
Masvidal
(58%)
cutelaba2016
Cutelaba
(54%)
mcmann2016
McMann
(56%)
moreno2016
Moreno
(71%)
Ben Fowlkes @BenFowlkesMMA 2016: 121-71 (63%) djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cutelaba2016
Cutelaba
mcmann2016
McMann
moreno2016
Moreno
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt
2016: 120-72 (63%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
ellenberger2016
Ellenberger
cannonier2016
Cannonier
adavis2016
Davis
moreno2016
Moreno
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn
2016: 119-73 (62%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cutelaba2016
Cutelaba
adavis2016
Davis
moreno2016
Moreno
Dann Stupp
@DannStupp
2016: 117-75 (61%)
trophy copy 2015 Champion
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cannonier2016
Cannonier
adavis2016
Davis
moreno2016
Moreno
Brent Brookhouse @BrentBrookhouse
2016: 116-76 (60%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cannonier2016
Cannonier
adavis2016
Davis
moreno2016
Moreno
Steven Marrocco @MMAjunkieSteven
2016: 116-76 (60%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cutelaba2016
Cutelaba
mcmann2016
McMann
benoit2016
Benoit
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA
2016: 115-77 (60%)
trophy copy 2014 Champion
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cannonier2016
Cannonier
mcmann2016
McMann
moreno2016
Moreno
Brian Garcia @thegoze
2016: 113-79 (59%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
ellenberger2016
Ellenberger
cannonier2016
Cannonier
mcmann2016
McMann
moreno2016
Moreno
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge
2016: 109-83 (57%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cannonier2016
Cannonier
mcmann2016
McMann
moreno2016
Moreno
Fernanda Prates @nandaprates_
2016: 71-55 (56%)
djohnson2016
Johnson
benavidez2016
Benavidez
masvidal2016
Masvidal
cutelaba2016
Cutelaba
mcmann2016
McMann
moreno2016
Moreno

(This story was originally published on Dec. 2.)

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 tonight’s 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 favorite over 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.

[sigallery id=”HSgqUp7KnQeW95DPbA4KcP” title=”Demetrious Johnson” type=”sigallery”]

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