2 years agoIt was looking as if Su Mudaerji was on his way toward a first-round knockout over Matt Schnell with his big elbows on Saturday, but the tide turned quickly and Mudaerji suffered a first-round submission loss. In 4:24 of total action, Mudaerji did out-strike his opponent by landing 58 significant strikes (67 total strikes), but he was taken down twice on Schnell's three takedown tries. When Schnell was in dire trouble from the strikes, he was able to score a big takedown on Mudaerji, which led to the submission win.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoIn an absolute huge performance on Saturday night, Matt Schnell turned things around from eating huge knockout-capable elbows from Su Mudaerji to earning a triangle-choke submission in the first round. In 4:24 of action, Schnell tallied 47 significant strikes (79 total strikes) and landed two of his three takedown tries. Just when it looked like Mudaerji had Schnell on the ropes for a knockout, Schnell turned the tide, landing a takedown and delivering his own elbows from the mount. The Louisiana native has shown yet again he can earn big points with a finish.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoThough the striking numbers were on point and much higher than his opponent's, Charles Jourdain still walked out of the Octagon on Saturday with a loss in a majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28). In 15 minutes of action, Jourdain tallied 113 significant strikes, greatly out-striking Shane Burgos, who only collected 42 significant strikes. Jourdain's problem came with Burgos securing over six minutes of control time on top of his three official submission attempts. The ground game was the deciding factor in this fight, even though we all expected it to be an all-out firefight in the standup game.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoIn a controversial decision in the eyes of many, the home-crowd favorite Shane Burgos pulled out a majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28) over Charles Jourdain on Saturday. Statistically, the matchup was not even close in Burgos' favor, as he only landed 42 significant strikes compared to that of Jourdain's 113 significant strikes. Burgos' victory came with his six-plus minutes of control time from the end of the first round and for the majority of the second round while he was attempting submissions. Burgos showed a new facet of his game with his grappling. If Burgos can continue to grow this avenue of his game, he could prove to become a lot more valuable for fantasy managers.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoThe move down to flyweight did not go as expected for Miesha Tate on Saturday, when she suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Lauren Murphy (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) to open up the main card of action. In 15 minutes of action, Tate tallied 85 significant strikes (121 total strikes) but missed on all seven of her takedown tries on the night. There is still some success that can be had for Tate in the flyweight division. Murphy has proven to be an absolute top-tier staple of the division, however. Tate may even have a few submission finishes left in her.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoLauren Murphy handled business on Saturday as she welcomed former bantamweight champion Miesha Tate to the flyweight division by earning a unanimous-decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). In 15 minutes of action, Murphy tallied 102 significant strikes (128 total strikes) and stuffed all seven of Tate's takedown tries. With the win, Murphy rebounds from a loss and has now won six of her last seven contests in the Octagon. With her lone loss coming to the champion, it's likely we see Murphy back in the title picture if she can earn another victory or two.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoWith only one fight since 2019, Yair Rodriguez (13-3) could find himself in the thick of the featherweight title talks should he earn a main-event victory over Brian Ortega on Saturday. Known for his dangerous striking and highlight-reel knockout ability, six of his 13 career wins have come by knockout, including a knockout of the year over the Korean Zombie. Due to a lack of activity, Rodriguez has not won a contest since 2019. DraftKings sees Rodriguez as the underdog with a salary of $7,700. Throughout his UFC career, Rodriguez averages 70.4 fantasy points per contest. Rodriguez needs to air on the side of caution, as it would not be a surprise to see Ortega catch the over-aggressive Rodriguez in his return after a long layoff.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoThough he has lost two of his last three contests, Brian Ortega (15-2) finds himself in prime position to potentially earn a featherweight title shot should he be victorious in his main event Saturday against Yair Rodriguez. His losses have come to the current champion, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway, the two men who just recently met for the championship. Ortega almost submitted Volkanovski in their title matchup in September of last year, which was Ortega's last Octagon appearance. Ortega has racked up finishes in his career, with 10 of his 15 career wins coming by knockout/TKO or submission. DraftKings sees T-City as the favorite with a salary of $8,500. Throughout his UFC career, Ortega averages 72.3 fantasy points per contest. It would not be a surprise to see Ortega catch Rodriguez coming in too aggressive and locking in a submission.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoThough she is coming off of a loss, Amanda Lemos (11-2-1) can turn things around quickly with a co-main-event win over a seasoned veteran in Michelle Waterson on Saturday. Prior to her loss to Jessica Andrade in April, Lemos was riding a five-fight winning streak, with three of the wins coming by a finish in the Octagon. A finisher in most of her victories, nine of her 11 wins have via that method, and nine have come by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Lemos as the night's biggest favorite with a salary of $9,400. Throughout her UFC career, Lemos averages 78.7 fantasy points per contest. Waterson has not been finished since 2017, so the price tag might be a bit too much to justify for Lemos if you go with some of the other favorites on the main card.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoThough she has lost three of her last four contests, Michelle Waterson (18-9) finds herself in Saturday night's co-main event against Amanda Lemos. The 36-year-old Waterson has earned nine submission wins in her career out of 18 wins, but she has not had a finish since December of 2016. DraftKings sees the Karate Hottie as the night's biggest underdog with a salary of $6,800. Throughout her UFC career, Waterson averages 67.1 fantasy points per contest. Lemos is coming off of a loss but has looked much more impressive over her last handful of fights, winning five straight prior to her recent loss.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoReady to make noise on a big stage, Muslim Salikhov (18-2) will try to earn his sixth straight UFC victory when he enters the Octagon against Li Jingliang on Saturday. A member of the UFC since 2017, his only Octagon loss came in his debut. Proven to be a dangerous finisher in his career, 11 of his 18 wins have come by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the King of Kung Fu as the big favorite with a salary of $8,600. Throughout his UFC career, Salikhov averages 66.1 fantasy points per contest. With an aggressive fighter like Jingliang in front of Salikhov, this might be a matchup where Salikhov earns a big finish.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLi Jingliang (18-7) ended 2021 on a rough note in a submission loss to one of the sport's biggest stars in Khamzat Chimaev. Prior to that loss, the Leech actually scored an impressive knockout win over Santiago Ponzinibbio in the first round of their matchup in January of last year. Typically a finisher, 13 of his 18 career wins have come by the finish, with eight of them coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Jingliang as the underdog with a salary of $7,600 on Saturday. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 72.8 fantasy points per contest. Jingliang's opponent, Muslim Salikhov, enters the contest on a five-fight winning streak with 11 career KOs/TKOs.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLooking for his fourth straight win after back-to-back losses, Su Mudaerji (16-4) takes to the main card on Saturday to challenge Louisiana native Matt Schnell. After losing his debut by an armbar to Louis Smolka in November of 2018, Mudaerji has won his last three contests, one via a first-round knockout. A dangerous striker, 13 of his 16 career wins have come by knockout/TKO. Schnell is more of a mat finisher. DraftKings sees Mudaerji as the big favorite with a salary of $9,100. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 68.2 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoIt has been rough going of late for ranked flyweight Matt Schnell (15-7) heading into Saturday's main-card showdown against Su Mudaerji. Three of his last four matchups have ended with a loss, and his lone win was a split decision. Very dangerous on the mat, eight of his 15 career wins have come by submission. DraftKings sees Danger as the big underdog with a salary of $7,100. Throughout his UFC career, Schnell averages 44.8 fantasy points per contest. Madaerji is on a three-fight winning streak and might be a tough task for Schnell on Saturday, so fantasy managers should be wary of rostering him.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWith a third straight win just in sight, Charles Jourdain (13-4-1) will take to Saturday's main card to battle Shane Burgos. Jourdain has four wins since joining the UFC, and three of his wins have come by finishes. Overall in his career, 12 of his  13 career wins have come via the finish -- eight of them via knockout/TKO. Don't look for any takedowns in this one, though, as both fighters are strike-heavy. Jourdain will have to pick up his striking rate a bit to match Burgos, who tallies about 1.65 significant strikes per minute. DraftKings sees Air as the underdog heading into Saturday's contest with a salary of $7,200. Throughout his UFC career, Jourdain averages 69.1 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC