3 years agoAleksandar Rakic (14-2) is set for a main-event showdown with former champion Jan Blachowicz in Saturday's main event. A victory here could put Rakic at the forefront of title contenders to face off for the light-heavyweight championship at some point this year. A dangerous finisher and striker, nine of Rakic's 14 career wins have come by knockout/TKO, with an additional win by submission. DraftKings sees the striker as the favorite with a salary of $8,700. Throughout his UFC career, Rakic averages 91.2 fantasy points per contest. If you are looking for that one fighter on the higher end of the fantasy scale, this might be your guy. Rakic is on a run against tough competition, and this just might be his time to shine in the division.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoLooking to rebound in his first outing since dropping the UFC light heavyweight championship, Jan Blachowicz (28-9) will enter Saturday night's event as a piece of the main event and will face off against another dangerous foe in Aleksandar Rakic. Prior to losing his title in his last outing in October of last year, Blachowicz was on a five-fight winning streak, including a win over middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. DraftKings sees Blachowicz as the underdog with a salary of $7,500. Throughout his UFC career, the former champion averages 69.2 fantasy points per contest. With wins over some of the top light heavyweights, Rakic will be an extremely dangerous rebound opponent for the former champion.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years ago1-2-1 since 2020, Ion Cutelaba (16-6-1) will enter Saturday's showdown with Ryan Spann in the night's co-main-event spotlight. After back-to-back first-round knockout losses to Magomed Ankalaev, Cutelaba went to a draw with Dustin Jacoby. In his last outing in September of last year, Cutelaba earned a decision win over Devin Clark. DraftKings sees the Hulk as the big favorite with a salary of $8,900. Throughout his UFC career, Cutelaba averages 67.7 fantasy points per contest. Ryan Spann will prove to be a difficult task. With such a hefty price tag, it might be best to steer clear of Cutelaba in this fight.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoWith losses in two of his last three contests, Ryan Spann (19-7) will enter the Octagon in Saturday night's co-main-event spotlight. Spann enters the Octagon looking to rebound from a first-round submission in September of last year at the hands of Anthony Smith. Though he is a heavy-handed striker, 11 of Spann's 19 career wins have come by submission, along with another five knockout/TKO wins. DraftKings sees Spann as the big underdog with a salary of $7,300. Throughout his UFC career, Spann averages 66.8 fantasy points per contest. Though he's facing a tough opponent in Ion Cutelaba, it's worth the gamble to start Spann. When he wins, he pays off his fantasy managers.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoSince rejoining the UFC for his second stint, Louis Smolka (17-8) has flip-flopped wins and losses, going 3-3 in his return. Most recently, Smolka is coming off of a first-round knockout in December of last year. Spanning his 10-year professional career, 15 of his 17 wins have come by the finish, with eight of those via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Da Last Samurai as the big underdog with a salary of $7,100. Throughout his UFC career, Smolka averages 64.7 fantasy points per contest. His opponent, Davey Grant, is looking to rebound after losses in his last two contests, both by decision.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoHoping to avoid a three-fight losing streak, Davey Grant (11-6) will enter the Octagon with veteran Louis Smolka on Saturday's main card of action. 4-5 in his nine UFC bouts, prior to his two losses recently, Grant was on a three-fight winning streak, with two of those coming via knockout/TKO. Spanning his career, nine of his 11 wins have come by the finish, with six via submission. DraftKings sees Dangerous as Saturday night's second-biggest favorite with a salary of $9,100. Throughout his UFC career, Grant averages 56.0 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoRebounding from a loss to start 2021, Amanda Ribas (11-2) earned a decision to close out her 2021 campaign in October of last year. The opposite of her opponent, Ribas has finished seven of her 11 career bouts, with four of those via submission. Ribas has been solid in the UFC, earning a 5-1 record. DraftKings sees her as the underdog on Saturday, though, with a salary of $7,600. Throughout her UFC career, Ribas averages 80.8 fantasy points per contest. This will be Ribas' toughest task to date, especially while facing an opponent that is a grinding, decision-style fighter.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoA staple at the top of the women's flyweight division, Katlyn Chookagian (17-4) is looking to build off of the momentum of her recent decision win over Jennifer Maia in January. Typically a grinding, decision-style fighter, 14 of her 17 career wins have come by decision. Chookagian is currently on a three-fight winning streak as well. DraftKings sees Chookagian as the favorite with a salary of $8,600. Throughout her UFC career, Chookagian averages 55.6 fantasy points per contest. Even if Chookagian prevails on Saturday, she hasn't proven that she's a fantasy star on fight night.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoWith an impressive first-round knockout in his Contender Series showing in October of last year, Manuel Torres (12-2) enters the Octagon for his debut against veteran Frank Camacho on Saturday. With 11 of his 12 career wins coming by finish (six by submission), Torres is set on earning a big win in his debut. DraftKings sees the debuting Torres as the favorite with a salary of $8,300. Look for Torres to come out shining in his debut against the struggling Camacho, who has lost four of his last five contests.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoHoping to avoid a three-fight losing streak, Frank Camacho (22-9) will enter the Octagon against the debuting Manuel Torres on Saturday. Losing four of his last five contests, Camacho is a dangerous finisher when he does get a victory, with 19 of his 22 career wins coming by the finish -- 16 by knockout/TKO. With one knockout in the UFC, DraftKings sees the Crank as the underdog with a salary of $7,900. Throughout his UFC career, Camacho averages 49.1 fantasy points per contest. Torres is a dangerous finisher as well and is looking for his fourth straight win, so look for this fight to end early.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoAllan Nascimento (18-6) is set to open up action on Saturday's main card when he faces undefeated flyweight Jake Hadley. A dangerous finisher on the mat, 14 of his 18 career wins have come by submission, with an additional victory via knockout/TKO. With a split-decision loss on the Contender Series in August of 2018, Nascimento earned a victory in the Octagon by first-round submission in July of last year. DraftKings sees Nascimento as the big underdog with a salary of $7,400. In his one UFC showing, Nascimento earned 20.3 fantasy points. Facing a former champion in Hadley, steer clear of Nascimento in this contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoFlyweight action is set to open up the main card of Saturday's action with Jack Hadley (8-0) looking to remain undefeated as he battles Allan Nascimento. Set to make his UFC debut after a second-round submission victory on the Contender Series in October of last year, the former Cage Warriors flyweight champion has finished six of his eight career victories, with four of them via submission. DraftKings sees White Kong as the big favorite with a salary of $8,800. With Nascimento coming off of a loss in his debut, Hadley will try to avoid the same fate in his debut on Saturday. Look for Hadley to come out strong and pull this one out.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

3 years agoWith his second attempt in three bouts to capture the UFC's lightweight championship, Justin Gaethje fell short after suffering a second-round submission loss to Charles Oliveira on Saturday. With Oliveira stripped of his title for missing weight, Gaethje still qualified to become champion if he would have emerged victorious. In 8:22 of action, Gaethje tallied only 21 significant strikes while getting caught in a rear-naked choke to end the contest. A true fan favorite, Gaethje still remains fantasy relevant, especially when matched up against another striker like himself.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoRegardless of being stripped of the lightweight title with no chance to regain his crown in the main event, Charles Oliveira continued his dominance in the division by scoring a submission victory over Justin Gaethje in the second round of action on Saturday. In 8:22 of action. Oliveira tallied 30 significant strikes (33 total strikes) while missing his lone takedown try. Securing himself as the No. 1 contender to the vacant title, it's likely we see Oliveira in a showdown with rising Russian star Islam Makhachev. We will cross that bridge when we get to it, but if Oliveira gets the win, he will have basically run through the whole division.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoFor the second time in her career, Rose Namajunas was defeated by Carla Esparza, this time for the strawweight championship in Saturday night's co-main event of UFC 274. The lackluster contest saw Namajunas land 37 significant strikes (38 total strikes) and her lone takedown in the 25 minutes of action. Aside from her head-kick knockout win against Weili Zhang, she has typically had drawn-out, decision wins/losses. With a rematch likely, we would not look for too much of a different outcome. The winner may change, but the contest will flow in a similar manner to this one.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN