2 years agoShowing up big in her UFC debut, Lucie Pudilova earned a second-round TKO victory in the lone women's bout on the main card of UFC 278 on Saturday. In 9:04 of action, Pudilova tallied 39 significant strikes (51 total strikes) and landed two of her three takedown tries on the night. With wins in six of her last seven contests now, this was her first finish in that time frame.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoThe downhill spiral continued for Harry Hunsucker in the UFC in his move down to the light-heavyweight division when he took on the returning Tyson Pedro on Saturday. Sixty-five seconds is all it took for Pedro to nail a front kick to the midsection, dropping Hunsucker and leading to the TKO. With the loss, Hunsucker has now lost all three of his Octagon appearances and his Contender Series matchup beforehand.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoStarting the main card with a bang on Saturday, it took Tyson Pedro only 65 seconds to score a big first-round knockout over Henry Hunsucker in the light-heavyweight division. Though it had been three years since Pedro fought in the Octagon, he didn't miss a beat, landing a big front kick that dropped Hunsucker, leading him to cover up. With only six significant strikes landed, we can't expect much more in 65 seconds of action. Pedro looked strong in his return.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoUndefeated in the UFC since appearing on TUF 21 in 2015, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-1) is set for another title defense when he takes to the main event of UFC 278 on Saturday to defend his title against Leon Edwards. Undefeated in the Octagon and with only one loss in his professional career, 10 of Usman's 20 career wins have come by the finish, with nine of them via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Nigerian Nightmare as the big favorite with a salary of $9,100. Throughout his UFC career, Usman averages 121.6 fantasy points per contest. There is no reason to believe why we won't see another dominant title defense.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoReturning to the Octagon for the first time in just over three years, Luke Rockhold (16-5) steps into the co-main-event slot this Saturday to face a very dangerous striker and finisher in Paulo Costa. Even before his departure from the sport in 2017, Rockhold had lost three of his last four bouts, with all three being knockouts/TKOs. DraftKings sees Rockhold as the big underdog with a salary of $7,500. Throughout his UFC career, Rockhold averages 81.6 fantasy points per contest. This is a matchup we would recommend avoiding Rockhold in.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLooking for his first win since 2019, middleweight Paulo Costa (13-2) will take to the co-main event of UFC 278 on Saturday when he battles a dangerous opponent in Luke Rockhold. He only has two losses in his professional career, and both have come in his last two outings, with one of those against the champion Israel Adesanya. Prior to his two losses recently, Costa was on fire in the UFC, winning all five of his previous fights in the Octagon -- four of those by knockout/TKO. A dangerous finisher, 12 of his 13 career wins have come by a finish, with 11 of them via KO/TKO. DraftKings sees the Eraser as the big favorite with a salary of $8,700. Throughout his UFC career, Costa averages 82.0 fantasy points per contest. It has been three years since Rockhold has been in the Octagon, and he is facing a very dangerous striker in Costa. Look for a big finish in this matchup.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWith a chance to earn a potential upset of the year on Saturday, Leon Edwards (19-3) will take to the main event of UFC 278 in hopes of dethroning long-reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the night's main event. Since a loss in 2015, Edwards has not been defeated in his last 10 contests. The man who gave Edwards that loss was Usman. DraftKings sees Edwards as the big underdog with a salary of $7,100. Throughout his UFC career, Edwards averages 69.9 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLooking to remain undefeated in the UFC, Merab Dvalishvili (14-4) is looking to earn his sixth straight win when he faces off against future Hall of Famer Jose Aldo on Saturday. Though this will be the biggest name to date that he's faced in the Octagon, he does hold UFC wins over the likes of Marlon Moraes and Cody Stamann. Throughout his professional career, 10 of Dvalishvili's 14 wins have come by decision, showing he has the ability to control the pace of the fight and earn victories late. DraftKings sees Dvalishvili the very slight favorite with a salary of $8,200. Throughout his UFC career, he  averages a very strong 117.3 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoFuture Hall of Fame featherweight legend Jose Aldo (31-7) returns to action on the main card of UFC 278 on Saturday when he takes on surging star Merab Dvalishvili. A professional of the sport since 2004, 18 of Aldo's 31 career wins have come by the finish, with 16 of those coming via knockout/TKO. The former champion has won three straight bouts (all by decision) after riding a three-fight losing streak. DraftKings sees Junior as the very slight underdog with a salary of $8,000. Throughout his UFC career, Aldo averages 74.3 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAlexander Romanov (16-0) hopes to remain perfect in his professional career when he faces off against Polish veteran Marcin Tybura on the main card of UFC 278 on Saturday. A dominant heavyweight since his professional debut in 2016, 15 of his 16 career wins have come by the finish, with 10 of those coming by submission. Impressively, 11 of his 15 stoppage wins have come in the first frame of action. DraftKings sees King Kong as the big favorite with a salary of $9,000. Throughout his UFC career, Romanov is averaging a very strong 110.2 fantasy points per contest. Until we see otherwise, keep riding the Romanov wave as long as you can.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAfter having his five-fight Octagon winning streak snapped in his last outing, Marcin Tybura (22-7) will take to the cage in hopes of rebounding when he faces fellow heavyweight Alexander Romanov on the main card of Saturday's UFC 278. Able to win in a multitude of ways, 15 of his career wins have come by the finish, with eight of them coming via knockout/TKO and seven by submission. He has an additional seven wins by decision, showing he can go the distance and dominate. DraftKings has Tybur listed as the underdog with a salary of $7,200. Throughout his UFC career, Tybura averages 67.8 fantasy points per contest. Undefeated in his career, Romanov has earned finishes in four of his five UFC victories.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAt UFC 278 on Saturday, Henry Hunsucker (7-5) will step onto the main-card stage to battle an extremely dangerous striker in Tyson Pedro. It has been a tough road of late for Hunsucker with first-round knockout losses in three of his last four bouts. Coming down to light heavyweight, we will have to see how well Hunsucker handles the move down. DraftKings sees Hunsucker as the night's biggest underdog with a salary of $6,700. Throughout his UFC career, Hunsucker only averages 1.4 fantasy points per contest. Steer clear of Hunsucker in fantasy.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoThe light heavyweights are set to open the stage of UFC 278's main card with Tyson Pedro (8-3) looking to earn back-to-back wins for the first time since 2016/2017. No doubt a very dangerous finisher, all four of his UFC wins have come by way of first-round knockouts. Overall in his career, all eight of his professional wins have come via the finish. DraftKings sees Pedro as Saturday night's biggest favorite with a salary of $9,500. Throughout his UFC career, Pedro averages 68.0 fantasy points per contest. Stepping into the Octagon against Harry Hunsucker, fantasy managers should go all in on Pedro. Three of Hunsucker's last four contests have ended with him losing via first-round knockout.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoThis was not the finish Dominick Cruz was hoping for on Saturday after he suffered a big head-kick knockout loss in the fourth round of his main event against Marlon Vera. In 17:17 of action, Cruz actually out-struck Vera by landing 92 significant strikes (100 total strikes) compared to that of Vera's 61 significant strikes. Cruz is unfortunately way past his prime in the fantasy world. He has only four losses in his 28 career bouts, but three of the four have come in his last four Octagon appearances.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoMarlon Vera continued to dominate in the UFC's bantamweight division after scoring a big head-kick knockout in Saturday's main event against the former champion, Dominick Cruz. In 17:17 of action, Vera tallied just 61 significant strikes compared to that of Cruz's 92. With four straight wins and victories in five of his last six bouts, the fifth-ranked Vera could find himself in a title matchup in his next couple of bouts. With the momentum he's currently riding, Vera will absolutely be a tough test for whoever the champion is at that time.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN