2 years agoRoman Kopylov (8-2) has had a shaky UFC start thus far, losing both of his fights in the Octagon. Previously undefeated before entering the Octagon, seven of his eight wins have come by way of knockout/TKO. The former Fight Nights Global champion is coming off of a decision loss to a tough opponent in Albert Duraev in October of last year. DraftKings sees Kopylov as the slight underdog with a salary of $8,000 on Saturday. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 25.0 fantasy points per contest. Facing a struggling Alessio Di Chirico, this might be Kopylov's best chance to earn a victory in the UFC. This looks to be an extremely tight main-card matchup.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoItaly's Alessio Di Chirico (13-6) needs a big win Saturday on the main card of the Paris show to help turn around his recent steak of suffering losses in four of his last five bouts. It will be about 13 months since we have seen Di Chirico in action after suffering a 17-second head-kick knockout in his first round of action in August of last year. DraftKings sees Di Chirico as the slight favorite with a salary of $8,200. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 47.5 fantasy points per contest. Facing Roman Kopylov, who is winless in the UFC, might prove to be his best shot at rebounding.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoJohn Makdessi (18-7) will step into the Octagon in Paris on Saturday with a big matchup in front of him when he battles Nasrat Haqparast on the main card of action. A veteran of the UFC since 2010, Makdessi has won four of his last five bouts, albeit against less-talented competition than he will face Saturday. DraftKings sees Makdessi as the underdog with a salary of $7,500. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 56.9 fantasy points per contest. With a bit of a step up in competition, it might be best to steer clear of Makdessi in this tricky contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoHoping to avoid the first three-fight losing streak of his career, Nasrat Haqparast (13-5) will step into the Octagon on Saturday to battle John Makdessi on the main card of UFC's Paris show this weekend. Prior to recent back-to-back losses, Haqparast had won five of his previous six contests. With knockout ability in his hands, nine of his 13 career wins have come by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Haqparast as the favorite with a salary of $8,700. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 54.1 fantasy points per contest. Looking at the talent level of his competition, Makdessi will be a welcomed matchup for Haqparast.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoJarno Errens (13-3-1) will be given a huge opportunity on Saturday when he makes his UFC debut against a fellow newcomer on the organization's Paris main card. Stumbling a bit lately, Errens has gone 2-1-1 in his last four contests before receiving the call for his UFC debut. Overall in his career, eight of his 13 career wins have come via the finish, with five coming by submission. DraftKings sees Errens as the underdog with a salary of $7,600 as he faces fellow debuter William Gomis. Errens' stumble lately should have fantasy managers worried while he faces a freight train in Gomis.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoSet to make his UFC debut on his home soil, William Gomis (10-2) will face fellow countryman and newcomer Jarno Errens on the main card of UFC's weekend in Paris. Always putting on a dynamic show, Gomis is riding an eight-fight winning streak, with six of his wins coming by finishes. Overall in his career, seven of his 10 career wins have come via the finish, with six coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Jaguar as the favorite on Saturday with a salary of $8,600. Facing a fellow newcomer, this might be the coming-out party Gomis needs in his UFC debut.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLooking to begin another winning streak in the UFC, Nathaniel Wood (18-5) has not been able to string together wins in the Octagon since 2019. The former Cage Warriors champion has proven to be a dangerous finisher throughout his career, with 14 of his 18 career wins coming via the finish -- eight via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Prospect as the underdog with a salary of $7,800 on Saturday. Throughout his UFC career, Wood averages 80.5 fantasy points per contest. Coming off of a win, Wood looks to have a lot of momentum heading into his matchup against the recently defeated Charles Jourdain.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoSet to kick off Saturday's main card of action in Paris, Canada's Charles Jourdain (13-5-1) will look to rebound from a majority decision loss in July of 2022 when he battles Nathaniel Wood. Having a somewhat par performance overall in the UFC, Jourdain is currently 4-4-1. With tons of finishing potential shown through his career, eight of his 13 career wins have come by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Jourdain as the favorite with a salary of $8,400. Throughout his UFC career, Jourdain averages 67.9 fantasy points per contest. Wood is coming off of a big win, so this could be a tricky matchup for Jourdain to use as a rebound.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoFifty-six seconds is all Kamaru Usman needed to hold onto if he wanted to remain the welterweight champion. Up 3-1 on the scorecards heading into the fifth round on Saturday, it was all but locked in that Usman would walk out of the Octagon as the champion. However, a dynamic head kick out of nowhere by Leon Edwards ended Usman's night and his current reign over the welterweight division. Greatly out-striking Edwards in 24:06 of action, Usman landed 189 total strikes compared to that of Edwards' 64. It only takes one hit, though, and that's exactly how Edwards was able to defeat the champion. Look for an immediate rematch in the future for both of these competitors.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoRiding a 10-fight unbeaten streak going into the main event of UFC 278 on Saturday in hopes of capturing the welterweight title, Leon Edwards earned the championship with a sharp head-kick knockout of Kamaru Usman in the fifth round of their main event. The official scorecards showed Edwards was actually down 3-1 heading into the fifth round. We can no doubt expect a rematch, as these fighters have split their two fights already, and a rubber match would decide not only the winner of the series, but the welterweight champion.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoThree years out of the Octagon did not help Luke Rockhold, who suffered a decision loss (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in Saturday night's co-main event of UFC 278 against Paulo Costa. In 15 minutes of action, Rockhold only tallied 57 total strikes compared to that of Costa's 106 (73 significant strikes). After the contest, Rockhold announced he was hanging up his gloves and retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoIn need of a rebound victory, Paulo Costa earned it in the biggest way on Saturday by earning a unanimous decision over a former champion while picking up fight-of-the-night honors along the way in the co-main event of UFC 278. In 15 minutes of action, Costa tallied 73 significant strikes (106 total strikes), out-striking his opponent Luke Rockhold, who tallied only 57 total strikes. This keeps Costa in the title talks, and with another win, he could find himself facing off against Israel Adesanya if  Adesanya remains the champion.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoJose Aldo's three-fight winning streak came to an end on Saturday as the future Hall of Famer was unable to earn a decision victory at UFC 278 on Saturday over opponent Merab Dvalishvili. In 15 minutes of action, Aldo was only able to land 38 significant strikes (59 total strikes) compared to 135 total strikes from Dvalishvili. On a positive note, Aldo stuffed all 16 of Dvalishvili's takedown attempts on the night. Aldo looks to still have some gas in the tank, but the Salt Lake city altitude surely affected him in this fight.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoIt was another masterpiece of a performance for Merab Dvalishvili, who defeated future Hall of Famer and former featherweight champion Jose Aldo on the main card of UFC 278 this past Saturday. In 15 minutes of action, Dvalishvili tallied 57 significant strikes (135 total strikes) while absorbing only 38 significant strikes. The only downfall for Dvalishvili was his wrestling game, as he landed none of his 16 takedown tries on Aldo. The victory was still earned by Dvalishvili, though, and it would not be a surprise to see him in the Octagon next time out against an immediate title contender.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoAfter starting 1-1 in the Octagon, it has been a downhill ride for Yanan Wu, who has now lost four fights in a row after Saturday's TKO loss to Lucie Pudilova. In 9:04 of action, Wu only tallied 26 significant strikes while being taken down on two of Pudilova's three takedown tries on the night. If Wu is given another shot in the Octagon, it will probably be as a stepping stone for a rising star in the division.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN