RADIO
Fight Island rolls on as the Ultimate Fighting Championship presents another event from Yas (Fight) Island. The card features Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez battling for the second time in an attempt to crown a new flyweight champion.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy MMA lineup picks for FanDuel for UFC Fight Night on 7/18/2020. You can check out our DraftKings MMA DFS picks as well. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced fighters and value picks on FanDuel.
Give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Good luck.
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!
FanDuel MMA Flyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Deiveson Figueiredo, $22 - vs. Joseph Benavidez
The vacant UFC flyweight will be up for grabs as No. 1 ranked Deiveson Figueiredo, and No. 2 ranked Joseph Benavidez square off for the second time. These two battled for the title back in February, with Figueiredo coming away with the victory via TKO in Round 2. However, since the Brazilian missed weight, he wasn't eligible to claim the top prize in the 125-pound division. Thankfully, both men made weight on Friday (and Figueiredo passed his COVID-19 test), so this fight will happen as intended.
Figueiredo is the -225 (Bovada) favorite heading into Saturday night. Throughout his tenure as a professional, he has compiled an 18-1 record, with his only loss on record coming at the hands of Jussier Formiga at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis in March of 2019. Since that defeat, the 32-year-old has won three straight bouts. This will be his fourth time entering the octagon in less than a year.
Interestingly enough, Benavidez dispatched Formiga in June of last year, defeating the veteran with a slew of kicks and punches in the second round. Before his loss to Figueiredo, he was riding a winning streak of his own, holding victories of Alex Perez, Dustin Ortiz, and the aforementioned Formiga, in that order. He currently holds a professional record of 28 wins and six losses.
Both fighters match up fairly evenly, but the God of War holds the height and reach advantage. Though he lands less significant strikes per minute than Benavidez (2.43 to 3.45), he has a clear edge in the grappling department. He averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes and also attempts more submissions.
While this bout could go the distance, it is hard to imagine that it will. Based on Figueiredo's track record of ending fights, it is possible that the result will be similar to the one that was witnessed during their first encounter.
FanDuel MMA Lightweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Joel Alvarez, $11 - vs. Joseph Duffy ($11)
Based on his experience inside the octagon, Duffy is entering this one as the predicted victor. He hasn't been as active over the years and is coming off of his most recent loss to Marc Diakiese by unanimous decision in March of 2019. With a loss here, which would be his third in a row, Saturday could be his last appearance with the promotion, at least for a while.
On the other hand, Alvarez has made quite the name for himself. Sporting a 16-2 professional record and a 1-1 UFC record, his last fight took place in June of 2019 when the Spaniard defeated Danilo Belluardo by ground and pound. He is well versed in the submission game and has won 10 of his fights via submission.
Though both men are well versed on the mat, Duffy's inactivity throughout the years may be the deciding factor. While Alvarez isn't as experienced, it is possible that he could pull off the upset. For only $11, acquiring his DFS services on Saturday night is well worth the risk, especially for those trying to fit in some of the higher-priced fighters.
Also Consider: Grant Dawson ($19), Montel Jackson ($19), Alexandre Pantoja ($18), Roman Dolidze ($17), Marc Diakiese ($18), Ariane Lipski ($15), Askar Askarov ($13)
