2 years agoIn a close back-and-forth lightweight battle, former M-1 champion Damir Ismagulov continued his run in the UFC and is now a perfect 5-0. Taking a split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27), Ismagulov barely out-struck Guram Kutateladze with 79 significant strikes (83 total strikes) compared to Kutateladze's 78 significant strikes (80 total strikes). Ismagulov was also unsuccessful in his takedown game, missing on all five of his takedown tries. With all of his UFC wins coming by decision, we will have to see if Ismagulov can earn a finish against top-15 competition.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoUnable to secure a three-fight winning streak, Julian Marquez had his night ended via first-round TKO against Gregory Rodrigues on Saturday. In 3:18 of action, Marquez only tallied 13 strikes compared to the 49 significant strikes he absorbed. Though Marquez was able to score a flash knockdown, Rodrigues returned to his feet almost immediately and dropped Marquez with his own series of strikes.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoFormer LFA champion Gregory Rodrigues took care of business Saturday night, earning a first-round knockout against a very tough opponent in Julian Marquez. The knockout came from a flurry of punches at the 3:18 mark of the contest. Rodrigues tallied 49 significant strikes (50 total strikes) compared to only 13 strikes absorbed. Earning a Performance of the Night bonus, Rodrigues rebounded from a split-decision loss in February with his win on Saturday night.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoWith only two bouts under his belt since mid-2019, Josh Emmett (17-2) finds himself in Saturday's main event against a tough opponent in Calvin Kattar. The heavy-handed striker does enter the contest on a four-fight winning streak, with two of those wins coming via knockouts. DraftKings sees Emmett as the underdog with a salary of $7,400. Throughout his UFC career, Emmett averages 77.2 fantasy points per contest. Facing a better boxer and taller fighter in Kattar might prove to be a bit of a tall task for Emmett to get the victory on Saturday night.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoSet for his fourth straight main event on Saturday, Calvin Kattar (23-5) has gone 2-1 over that span, including a unanimous decision in his last outing in January. 7-3 in the UFC, four of his seven wins have come by the finish. Thirteen of his 23 career wins have come via the finish, with 10 of those coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Boston Finisher as the favorite with a salary of $8,800. Throughout his UFC career, Kattar averages 79.5 fantasy points per contest. Facing Josh Emmett, who is currently on a four-fight winning streak, could pose a problem. Kattar is the better boxer and longer fighter, so that may work in his advantage to pull out a decision win.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoTied for sixth all-time on the UFC's finish list, Joe Lauzon (28-15) will look for back-to-back wins when he faces the man tied for first in all-time wins, Donald Cerrone, on Saturday night. Lauzon has earned 26 finishes in his 28 professional wins, with 18 of those via submission. DraftKings sees J-Lau as the slight underdog with a salary of $7,900 for the night's co-main event. Throughout his lengthy UFC career, Lauzon averages 66.0 fantasy points per contest. With Cerrone winless in his last six contests, this one could really go either way.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoTied for first on the UFC's all-time wins list, Donald Cerrone (36-16) can take sole possession of first place with a win over fellow veteran Joe Lauzon in Saturday night's co-main event. A veteran of the UFC since 2011, Cerrone has remained a staple in the organization for 10-plus years. Winless in his last six contests, Cerrone would love nothing more than to get a win and grab sole possession of the UFC's most coveted record. DraftKings sees Cowboy as the slight favorite with a salary of $8,300. Throughout his UFC career, Cerrone averages 68.2 fantasy points per contest. With one win in his last four contests, Lauzon may just be the opponent that Cerrone needs to get one more victory.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoA veteran of the UFC since 2012, Tim Means (32-12-1) is set for another main-card appearance, this time battling the very dangerous Kevin Holland on Saturday. Tied for ninth on the UFC's all-time appearance list for welterweights, Means typically finishes his bouts, with 24 of his 32 career wins coming by finish -- 19 of those by knockout/TKO. Currently, the 38-year-old is on a three-fight winning streak, with all three wins coming by unanimous decision. DraftKings sees the Dirty Bird as the big underdog with a salary of $7,300. Throughout his lengthy UFC career, Means averages 65.1 fantasy points per contest. Holland is coming off of a knockout win and has fought most of the very best in the division lately.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAfter last year saw Kevin Holland (22-7) go winless, he won his lone fight so far this year, a second-round knockout in March. Prior to his back-to-back losses last year, Holland was riding a five-fight winning streak, including four finishes. Similar to his opponent in terms of finishing bouts, Holland has scored finishes in 18 of his 22 career wins -- 12 of those via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Trailblazer as a big favorite with a salary of $8,900. Throughout his UFC career, Holland averages 76.2 fantasy points per contest. Look for Holland to come out strong early on in this contest and look for the finish.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAlbert Duraev (15-3) can improve his current win streak to 11 in a row on the heels of a unanimous decision in his UFC debut in October of last year. A former ACB middleweight champion, Duraev is a dangerous finisher, with 12 of his 15 career wins coming via the finish -- nine by submission. DraftKings sees Machete as the big favorite against Joaquin Buckley with a salary of $8,600. In his UFC debut, Duraev tallied 89.6 fantasy points. Facing a dangerous striker like Buckley, it's possible that we'll see Buckley get over-aggressive and get caught by the dangerous Duraev.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWith a couple of highlight-reel finishes in his time in the UFC, Joaquin Buckley (14-4) will face a very tough opponent in Albert Duraev on Saturday. An obvious dangerous striker, 10 of Buckley's 14 career wins have come by knockout/TKO, including his potential knockout of the year against Impa Kasanganay in October of 2020. DraftKings sees New Mansa as the underdog with a salary of $7,600. Throughout his UFC career, Buckley averages 65.0 fantasy points per contest. Duraev is on a 10-fight winning streak, mostly with finishes. This looks to be a very dangerous matchup for Buckley.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoIt's been nearly two years since we have seen Guram Kutateladze (12-2) in action, but in his last contest, he earned a split-decision win over hot star Mateusz Gamrot in October of 2020. On a nine-fight winning streak, five of his nine wins have come via knockout/TKO. Out of his 12 career wins, eight of them have come by a finish, with seven coming by way of KO/TKO. DraftKings has the Georgian Viking as the underdog with a salary of $7,800. In his one UFC bout, Kutateladze put up 56 fantasy points. His opponent, Damir Ismagulov, is 23-1 and is currently undefeated in the UFC.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoFormer M-1 lightweight champion Damir Ismagulov (23-1) has not disappointed since joining the UFC, amassing a perfect record of 4-0. However, six of his last seven matchups have ended with Ismagulov earning a unanimous decision. He did have a stretch in M-1 consisting of five straight knockout/TKO victories. A pace-setting, hard-hitting fighter, 10 of Ismagulov's career wins have come by decision, while an additional 12 have come via KO/TKO. DraftKings sees Ismagulov as the favorite with a salary of $8,400. Throughout his UFC career, he's averaging 80.0 fantasy points per contest. It has been nearly two years since we have seen his opponent, Guram Kutaeladze, in action, which could aid Ismagulov in his quest for victory.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoComing off a split-decision loss in February, Gregory Rodrigues (11-4) will open up Saturday's main card of action against Julian Marquez. Since joining the UFC, Rodrigues has gone 2-1, with one of those wins coming by knockout/TKO. A finisher prior to entering the UFC, nine of his 11 victories have come by the finish, with five of those via KO/TKO. Both of these competitors have either finished or been finished in their careers, which makes it unlikely that this one will come down to the judges. DraftKings sees Rodrigues as the favorite with a salary of $8,500. Throughout his UFC career, Rodrigues averages 77.7 fantasy points per contest. This looks to be a tricky contest for Rodrigues, who has quite a high salary.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWith only a split-decision loss since joining the UFC, Julian Marquez (9-2) enters the Octagon on Saturday to open up the main card. 3-1 since joining the UFC, all three of his wins have come by submission. He also scored a second-round knockout against Phil Hawes on the Contender Series in 2017. He knows how to get the finish, as all nine of Marquez's career victories have come by the finish, with five of those coming via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Cuban Missile Crisis as the underdog with a salary of $7,700. Throughout his UFC career, Marquez averages 70.9 fantasy points per contest. His opponent, Gregory Rodrigues, is actually looking to rebound from a loss.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC