2 years agoGlover Teixeira's 41st professional bout and first title defense of the UFC light-heavyweight championship did not go to plan as he lost his championship via fifth-round submission in Saturday's main event of UFC 275. In 24:28 of total action, Teixeira tallied 159 significant strikes (two more than Jiri Prochazka) while only landing five of his 17 takedown tries. Teixeira is always a dangerous matchup for any opponent. As long as he still has the desire to keep moving forward, it's likely we see him back in action and producing.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoThough the co-main event saw the champion remain the same, the main event had a different outcome with Jiri Prochazka capturing the UFC's light-heavyweight title via fifth-round submission. In 24:28 of action, Prochazka tallied 120 significant strikes (157 total strikes) while stuffing 12 of Glover Teixeira's 17 takedown tries on the night. The end came with Teixeira in full mount. Prochazka was able to escape yet again and locked in a rear-naked choke to earn the championship. With the win, he finds himself ready to face a new herd of hungry competitors with a target squarely on his back now.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoTaila Santos came to fight Saturday in UFC 275's co-main event, narrowly being defeated by the women's flyweight champion. In 25 minutes of battle, Santos tallied 55 significant strikes (128 total strikes), but it was her ground work that really put her opponent, Valentia Shevchenko, in danger on several occasions. Sustaining a broken orbital from a headbutt in the contest, Santos may be out for a while. But when she returns, look for her to go on another run toward the title.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoIt has been a while since we have seen Valentina Shevchenko dominate, but she was able to pull out a unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 275 against a very game Taila Santos on Saturday. Statistically, Shevchenko scored well by tallying 77 significant strikes (234 total strikes), good for 9.36 total strikes per minute landed. She also landed three of her five takedown tries on the night. The contest was extremely close heading into the final rounds, but Shevchenko was able to pull out in front ever so slightly.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoSuffering a second-round knockout loss and her third loss in four matchups, Joanna Jedrzejeczyk, a former strawweight champion, laid down her gloves in the Octagon after UFC 275's matchup on Saturday and retired from the sport. She ate a spinning back fist from Weili Zhang at the 2:28 mark of the second round that instantly ended the contest. In 7:28 of action, Jedrzejeczyk tallied 43 significant strikes (44 total strikes) compared to Zhang's 94 total strikes. MMA retirements have a way of being recanted, but it looks like this will truly be the last time we see her in competition.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoWeili Zhang fought as we expected, earning a huge knockout win on the main card of UFC 275 on Saturday night. In the second round of action against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Zhang landed a huge spinning back fist 2:28 into the round, instantly ending the contest. In 7:28 of action, Zhang tallied 69 significant strikes (94 total strikes) while landing three of her six takedown tries. According to Dana White, the winner of this contest was next up for a title shot against Thug Rose. It looks like we will get a third matchup between Rose and Zhang, with Rose winning both of the previous contests.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoWith all the momentum on his side after back-to-back first-round knockout wins, Andre Fialho was unable to continue that hot run into UFC 275 on Saturday, suffering a second-round knockout loss to Jake Matthews in a matchup that was moved at the last minute to the main card. In 7:24 of action, Fialho was only able to land 18 significant strikes compared to the 47 of Matthews. The 28-year-old is still a dangerous striker, so let's keep an eye on his salary heading into his next matchup after a loss.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoAs a late replacement to the main-card portion of UFC 275, Jake Matthews made the best of the situation and earned a second-round knockout over Andre Fialho on Saturday. In 7:24 of total action, Matthews tallied 47 significant strikes compared to the 18 of Fialho. The two were engaged in a very close back-and-forth striking affair until Matthews landed a big shot halfway through the second round that led to the beginning of the end for Fialho. With seven of his career wins coming by submission, Matthews is showing his striking game can be just as deadly for him moving forward.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoWith his first-round knockout loss Saturday at UFC 275, Ramazan Emeev has now lost back-to-back bouts in the UFC. In 2:32 of action, Emeev tallied only seven significant strikes. Early in the round, Emeev almost caught Jack Della Maddalena in a choke. After taking a body shot, Emeev was floored, and it eventually led to a stoppage in the action. Now with back-to-back losses after back-to-back victories, Emeev needs to come out with a sense of urgency in his next outing.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoJack Della Maddalena continues to be as advertised, scoring a first-round knockout in Saturday's main-card opener of UFC 275 against Ramazan Emeev. In 2:32 of action, Maddalena tallied 18 significant strikes. After a solid left hook to the body, Emeev fell to the mat and Maddalena followed up quickly with strikes that led to the end of the contest. Maddalena is absolutely a welterweight worth keeping an eye on, with 10 of his 11 career wins coming by knockout/TKO.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoThe 42-year-old Brazilian legend Glover Teixeira (33-7) is set to defend his UFC light-heavyweight title for the first time in the main event at UFC 275 on Saturday against a very dangerous striker in Jiri Prochazka. Teixeira would no doubt prefer this matchup to stay on the ground, as 11 of his career wins have come by submission. He also has 17 knockout/TKO wins as well. Something can always be said for cage IQ, and Teixeira has been able to utilize that in his last handful of bouts against younger, stronger competition. DraftKings has him as a big underdog with a salary of $7,300. Throughout his UFC career, Teixeira averages 87.7 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoFormer RIZIN FF light-heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka (28-3-1) will get his chance to capture UFC gold when he battles Glover Teixeira in the main event of UFC 275 on Saturday night. Currently on a 12-fight winning streak, Prochazka is 2-0 in the UFC with two second-round TKO finishes. Always a dangerous striker, a staggering 25 of his 28 career wins have come by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the challenger actually as the favorite with a salary of $8,900. Throughout his two UFC bouts, he is averaging 106.1 fantasy points per contest. Facing the aging Teixeira, this might just be the time for Prochazka to capitalize and capture UFC gold.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoSince losing her UFC debut in February of 2019, Taila Santos (19-1) has won four fights in a row, finding herself in the co-main event of UFC 275 on Saturday contending for the women's flyweight championship against Valentina Shevchenko. With three of those four wins coming by decision, her last victory was a first-round submission win over Joanne Wood in November of lat year. A dangerous striker, 10 of her 19 career wins have come by knockout/TKO. If she wants the win over Shevchenko, she'll need to bank on that power in a big way. DraftKings sees Santos as the night's biggest underdog with a salary of $6,600. Throughout her UFC career, Santos averages 88.3 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoThe women's pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the UFC, Valentina Shevchenko (22-3), will defend her crown yet again in the women's flyweight division in the co-main event of UFC 275 on Saturday. Looking for her ninth straight victory, Shevchenko will defend her title against Taila Santos. With finishing ability even at a smaller weight class, 15 of her 22 career wins have come by the finish, with eight of those via knockout/TKO. Obviously, DraftKings sees Shevchenko as the night's biggest favorite with a salary of $9,600. Throughout her UFC career, Shevchenko averages 96.1 fantasy points per contest. You will get what you pay for in this selection. If you have the salary, go for it.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoFormer strawweight title contender Weili Zhang (21-3) will look for her first win since the first time she battled Joanna Jedrzejczyk back in March of 2020. Back-to-back losses have been obtained by the Chinese star against champion Rose Namajunas. With a controversial split-decision loss in her last outing, Zhang will look to avenge her recent outings and earn a big victory. A dangerous finisher, 17 of her 21 career wins have come via the finish, with 10 of those coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Zhang as the favorite with a salary of $8,800. Throughout her UFC career, Zhang averages 86.5 fantasy points per contest. Jedrzejczyk has been out of action for over two years, while Zhang will be on the hunt for a victory after some tough calls in her last two bouts.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC