The MMA Daily

*I rate the fighters based on career points, average points in victory, most points scored in victory and lowest points scored in victory. To qualify as well, you need at least two UFC wins (A new wrinkle that will go up to three soon).*

Best Plays

9k Range

Tyson Pedro ($9,500) – The highest priced fighter on the slate, Pedro checks in as my seventh rated fighter. However, he offers an immense ceiling in this matchup. Having been paired up with Harry Hunsucker, who has yet to make it to the four minute mark in all twelve professional fights, you get the gist that this fight will end inside round one. Given Hunsucker has been the nail in five of those twelve fights, with two losses in the UFC coming in at a combined two minutes and forty three seconds, I’d say it’s likely that Pedro is in store for some big points.

Kamaru Usman ($9,100) – The King of MMA and DraftKings, Usman is my number one rated fighter. Currently on a nineteen fight win streak, with fifteen coming inside the octagon, Usman has given his backers comfort. Points too! Not only number one in average career points at 121.6 and most points scored in victory at 194.6, Usman is second in average points in victory at 121.6. In other words, the Welterweight Kingpin is a must play.

Alexandr Romanov ($9,000) – My third rated fighter on the card, I’m tepid to play Romanov in this spot. Having been slowly built up in the Heavyweight division, Romanov has defeated five opponents inside the octagon that are a combined 15-24 in the UFC. Even worse, the last two fighters he defeated combined for a 5-14 UFC record. Obviously talented and very much a future in this Heavyweight division, Marcin Tybura will be by far his toughest fight to date. A ranked fighter, who previous to his last fight, had rattled off five straight wins. Statistically Romanov is excellent, but I’d exercise caution.

8k Range

Jared Gordon ($8,900) – My fourth rated fighter, Gordon is a workhorse, who in the right matchup, is capable of putting up solid numbers. While durability concerns are to be noted, the same could be said about Leonardo Santos. At 42 years old, the Brazilian has some of the poorest conditioning in the UFC. Should this fight even enter a round two, Gordon will likely takeover.

Paulo Costa ($8,700) – While I’m wary of Costa cutting down to 185 pounds, and how much it takes out of him, he looked really good on the scales. Rated eighth in my rankings, Costa isn’t overly crushing it with an average points in victory at 99.14. However, given his knockout prowess and opponent Luke Rockhold’s layoff and durability concerns, the Brazilian could be a good pivot.

Merab Dvalishvili ($8,200) – My second rated fighter, Dvalishvili has been an exceptional play in victory and defeat. Scoring 99.2 and 73.5 points in his lone two UFC losses, Dvalishvili is averaging an absurd 86.35 points. In fact, Dvalishvili averages more in defeat than six other qualified fighters do in victory, including opponent Jose Aldo. First in average points in victory at 126.21, as well as second in both career average points and highest points in victory, Dvalishvili may be the biggest bargain ever at 8.2k.

Jose Aldo ($8,000) – Obviously, Dvalishvili has proven to be one of the best fighters to pick in DraftKings. However, one could make the point that the Georgian has never faced anyone nearly as good as Jose Aldo. A former Featherweight Champion, Aldo is currently on a three-fight win streak. Checking in at twelfth among the seventeen qualified fighters on the card, Aldo’s numbers don’t jump off the page. Yet, at $200 bucks less, the legend certainly has the takedown defense and striking that could take out Dvalishvili.

7k and Under Range

Ange Loosa ($7,800) – With a 2-3 record over the last five fights, Loosa doesn’t scream must play. However, with several big ticket fighters at the top of the bill, you’ll need to save somewhere. Known for his knockout abilities, which has been the result of five of his eight victories, Loosa is a fine play at 7.8k.

Jay Perrin ($7,700) – His record of 10-5 may turn away backers, but Perrin’s woes came early in his career. 7-2 in the last nine fights, and with a well rounded game backed by cardio and wrestling, Perrin has the tools to pull off this upset. One that I could very well see happening, given opponent Aoriqileng has had issues with wrestlers.

Luke Rockhold ($7,500) – My fifth rated fighter, the former Middleweight Champion has the best value in the 7k range. While there are several red flags surrounding him, regarding the three-year layoff and his durability issues, Rockhold is still a dangerous fighter. Top seven in both average career points and points in victory, as well as top ten in most points scored in victory, Rockhold is well worth the risk.

Luis Saldana ($7,400) – The seventh rated fighter, which is the worst among qualified fighters, you might be asking why I listed Saldana as a best play. Well, known to throw an abundance of kicks, I believe his style could be extremely effective against the towering, yet lanky Sean Woodson. Given the talent pool at the top of the bill, I’d give Saldana a look to save some salary.

Marcin Tybura ($7,200) – My tenth rated fighter, I’m willing to take a flier on Tybura. Not only is he Alexandr Romanov’s toughest fight to date, but before a recent defeat to Alexander Volkov, Tybura had rattled off five straight wins. At 7.2k, Tybura looks to be a bargain.

Fades

Sean Woodson ($8,800) – Rated eleventh in my rankings, Woodson is priced a tad to high for my liking. Averaging a meager 88.47 in victory, Woodson has only once eclipsed 100 points in three victories. The two times he didn’t, he scored a meager 60.7 and 82.2 points.

Lucie Pudilova ($8,300) – Rated sixteenth out of seventeen qualified fighters, Pudilova is not worth the 8.3k price tag. Averaging 72.3 points in victory, which is the second lowest on the card, there is little upside to picking the Czech. Even if she is facing Wu Yanan, who is 1-4 in the last five fights.

Optimal Lineup: (Based on my 17 qualified fighters)

1. Kamaru Usman $9,100 – Averages 121.6 points in victory
2. Alexandr Romanov $9,000 – Averages 110.2 points in victory
3. Jared Gordon $8,900 – Averages 106.63 points in victory
4. Merab Dvalishvili $8,200 – Averages 126.21 points in victory
5. Luke Rockhold $7,500 – Averages 101.95 points in victory
6. Francisco Figueiredo $7,000 – Averages 84.2 points in victory

Salary: $49,700

Total Average Points in Victory: 650.79