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The Ultimate Fighting Championship will produce another stacked card on Saturday night. With the organization putting on another show from Yas (Fight) Island, the main event will feature Robert Whittaker going up against Darren Till. Some legends will also be making their presences known as Mauricio Rua will battle "Lil Nog" for the third time in what will likely be Nogueira's final fight of his career. Fabricio Werdum will also look to get on the right side of the win column against the returning Alexander Gustafsson.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy MMA lineup picks for FanDuel for UFC Fight Night on 7/25/2020. 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.
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FanDuel MMA Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Alexander Gustafsson, $19 - vs. Fabricio Werdum
After announcing his retirement following the loss to Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night in June of 2019, Gustafsson confirmed his return to the octagon this past spring. Making the jump to the heavyweight division, he will have a tough task ahead against the legendary Fabricio Werdum, a former heavyweight champion and an accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner.
Werdum's career hasn't been memorable over the last few years, nonetheless. His last defeat came in a few months ago at the hands of Alexey "The Boa Constrictor" Oleinik, losing to the grappler via split decision. With that bout being his first since March of 2018, "Vai Cavalo" could be in better shape this time around. A fall here could be the end of his career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Gustaffson stated that he is "feeling strong" at his new weight. He has been looking noticeably beefier as of late and has a good chance to get back on track after losing his two as well. A win on Saturday night may catapult him toward a title fight somewhere down the line, especially considering the lack of depth across the board in the 265-pound class.
While Werdum's standing ability is adequate, his best chance of winning will be on the mat and utilizing his word-class Jiu Jitsu skills. His path to victory may be difficult, however, if he isn't in shape and displays the lack of conditioning that likely led to his demise during his previous bouts. Despite moving up a class, "The Mauler" should be primed and ready to rock in his return. Werdum will likely attempt to take him down on Saturday night, but with Gustaffson's 85 percent takedown defense, that will be easier said than done. Expect both men to likely remain vertical and slugging it out, with the potential victory going to the 33-year-old from Sweden by TKO due to a referee stoppage.
FanDuel MMA Welterweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Nicolas Dalby, $19 - vs. Jesse Ronson
Dalby had a brief tenure in the UFC beginning in 2015 that lasted less than a year by failing to record a win in three straight fights. After getting his bearings back in Europe, he finally got a win inside the octagon back in September of 2019, defeating Alex Oliveira by unanimous decision. His career has seen its ups and downs, and his battle with alcohol was well documented. Nonetheless, his career appears to be back on track, with the 35-year-old looking for his second straight within the confines of the UFC cage against Jesse Ronson.
Ronson is no stranger to the promotion, albeit his career was just as unsuccessful as Dalby's. He is a journeyman and has fought in many promotions throughout his career in mixed martial arts. He will be replacing Danny Roberts, who was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Both fighters match up fairly evenly as it relates to their size. While both men are well-versed throwing punches, Dalby, who is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, has the edge if this one goes south. This fight may end in one of two ways. "Lokomotivo" could somehow manage to score a stoppage victory. If that isn't the case, it isn't unreasonable to believe that this fight could go all three rounds, with Dalby having a good shot at winning via the judge's scorecards.
FanDuel MMA Light Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Mauricio Rua, $18 - vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been a mixed martial arts mainstay for nearly two decades. Having a career that includes bouts in Price FC along with the UFC, he will likely be fighting for the last time on Saturday night. The 44-year-old, who is the twin brother of the UFC Hall of Famer, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, has been plagued by a back injury and has had it rough health-wise over the last few years. In order to spend more time with his family, he will be squaring off with the iconic Mauricio Rua for the third and final time, with "Shogun" winning the first two by decision. "Lil Nog" will be fighting for the first time in a little over a year, with his most recent defeat coming due to the heavy hands of Ryan Spann.
Rua's career has been just as extraordinary as Nogueira's, possibly even better. He is a former UFC light heavyweight champion, and just like "Minotauro," he also spent time in Japan. He holds victories over greats like Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, Mark Coleman, and Quinton Jackson, with his last bout ending in a draw with Paul Craig in November of last year.
Undoubtedly, Rua has the probable edge in this battle. With Nogueira likely being limited due to his back injury, this fight could end very fast. Look for Rua to take it to him with some vicious strikes, resulting in a quick end to Nog's historic career.
Also Consider: Khamzat Chimaev ($20), Nathaniel Wood ($19), Movsar Evloev ($18), Tanner Boser ($18), Tom Aspinall ($17), Marina Rodriguez ($16), Pannie Kianzad ($15), Bethe Correia ($14), Carla Esparza ($13), Peter Sobotta ($13)
