The MMA Daily

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Best Plays

9k Range

Amanda Lemos ($9,400) – The highest priced fighter on the slate, I could very well see Lemos in the optimal lineup. The reason being for that, is that the Brazilian is taking on an opponent in Michelle Waterson who realistically should be fighting at Atomweight. Given Lemos’ physical strength and the fact that she is the all-time leader in knockdown average, shortest fight time average and most knockdowns at five, eludes confidence in paying up for her at this price tag.

Punahele Soriano ($9,200) – Having lost two straight fights, I could see Soriano being a fade. However, given his power, durability and improved cardio, there is an inkling in my head that believes he can put Dalcha Lungiambula down later in the fight. Averaging a card high in both average points in victory at 125.55 and lowest points in victory at 123.5, Soriano has proven when he wins, he puts up points.

Shane Burgos ($9,000) – Initially not part of my list, Burgos is a risk, but a worthy one. Always looking for a stoppage victory, Burgos has an uncanny ability to rack up the strikes regardless if a finish comes to fruition. In fact, in Burgos’ last five fights, he has eclipsed 100 significant strikes four times. Sitting at fourth in career average points at 82,6 and sixth in average points in victory at 100.39, Burgos is worthy play. Especially when you consider that he is 6-0 when fighting in New York.

8k Range

Jack Shore ($8,400) – Undefeated, but fighting against a wrestling juggernaut in Simon, Shore is in for his toughest fight to date. However, with solid takedown defense and a clear advantage on the feet, I could Shore rack up some high strike totals on Simon. Given the Welshman is number one on the card in career points with an average of 99.3 and his lowest point total in victory was 87.2, which is the fourth highest total on the card, Shore’s ceiling is pretty safe.

Emily Ducote ($8,200) – Perhaps my favorite play in the 8k range is Ducote. A finisher to the core, Ducote has won seven of her eleven victories inside the distance. Against a tough, but older and vulnerable fighter on the feet in Penne, I could see Ducote getting a stoppage victory. She just needs to stay upright and avoid grappling.

7k and Under Range

Da-Un Jung ($7,900) – With the exception of the Sam Alvey fight, Jung has largely proved himself to be a finisher inside the octagon. Averaging 99.75 points in victory, with a high 111.9 points, Jung falling in the 7k range seems like a gift. Obviously Dustin Jacoby is solid, but given Jung is unbeaten in his last fifteen fights and has the edge in power and wrestling, I see value here.

Ricky Simon ($7,800) – Statistically one of the highest rated fighters on the card, Simon is a workhorse who will stop at nothing to secure a takedown. Ranking number one on the card in most points scored at 131, as well as second in career points with an average of 89.5 and fourth in average points in victory at 104.1, Simon is a DraftKing players delight.

Yair Rodriguez ($7,700) – One half of the main event, the dynamic striker Rodriguez, is my favorite play in the 7k range. The reason being, is mainly due to the fact that Brian Ortega often elects to wrestle instead of utilize his world class grappling and ground game. Not that his striking isn’t to snuff, but it’s an area where he has been vulnerability to getting beat. Hell, in Ortega’s two losses to Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and former champion Max Holloway, Ortega ate a combined 504 significant strikes. An absurd amount, that could see another 200 to that total given Rodriguez’s activity level.

Charles Jourdain ($7,200) – Going against the all-action Shane Burgos, Jourdain is going to have plenty of opportunities to land an impactful blow. Having never been stopped due to strikes in eighteen professional fights, and with excellent output, Jourdain has hardly failed to put up meaningful points. Putting up the second most points in victory at an average of 104.93 and ranking third on the card in lowest points scored in victory at 91.8, you could do worse than save some salary on picking Jourdain.

Fades

Dwight Grant ($8,900) – A loser of two straight and three of the last four, Grant is overpriced. I get his knockout power and that Dustin Stoltzfus has lost three straight, but Grant is last on the card in average points scored in victory at 70 and lowest points scored in victory at 45.4. To fork up 8.9k for those stats is a hard pass.

Miesha Tate ($8,800) – Yet to see how the former Bantamweight Champion in Tate looks at flyweight, it’s hard to have a sense how she is going to look. If there is one thing certain though, Tate has never been one to rack up points. Among the bottom-five in average points in victory at 78.57 and against a notable tough out in Murphy, where does Tate meet her 8.8k price tag?