2 years agoFor Jamahal Hill (10-1), it has been Sweet Dreams for his last two opponents, with both of his wins coming by first-round knockout after a TKO loss due to an injury to Paul Craig in June of last year. If the injury didn't occur, we could very well be seeing an undefeated Hill in Saturday's main-event matchup with Thiago Santos. DraftKings sees Hill as the big favorite with a salary of $9,000. Throughout his UFC career, Hill averages 70.9 fantasy points per contest. Don't expect a third straight knockout win, but we should probably expect a controlling, dominant win for the rising star.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoThiago Santos (22-10) has had a very rough road in the light-heavyweight division since his major injury in his title matchup against Jon Jones in July of 2019. Since then, Santos has gone 1-3 with a decision win over Johnny Walker. DraftKings sees Santos as the big underdog against Jamahal Hill on Saturday with a salary of $7,200. Throughout Santos' career, he averages 68.3 fantasy points per contest. Hill has two straight knockout/TKO wins, and though he unlikely will knock Santos out, it's very likely we see Hill dominate.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoGeoff Neal (14-4) has had a rough time since 2020, going 1-2 in the Octagon after just recently earning a split decision over Santiago Ponzinibbio in December of last year. Four of Neal's six UFC wins have come by big finishes, showing he has big-stage finishing ability. In fact, 10 of his 14 career wins have come via the finish, with eight coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Handz of Steel as the underdog with a salary of $7,700. Throughout his UFC career, Neal averages 80.0 fantasy points per contest. His opponent, Vicente Luque, has only lost once since 2019, and the loss was to the fifth-ranked Belal Muhammad, who has not been defeated since January of 2019.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLooking to rebound after his four-fight winning streak was snapped, Vicente Luque (21-8-1) will enter Saturday's co-main event as the sixth-ranked welterweight and is looking to solidify his place against a rising star in 13th-ranked Geoff Neal. A very dangerous finisher, 19 of his 21 career wins have come by the finish, with 11 of those via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Silent Assassin as the favorite with a salary of $8,500. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 90.1 fantasy points per contest. Neal has struggled in the immediate past, though, losing two of his last three fights. The loss Luque suffered was to the fifth-ranked Belal Muhammad, who has not been defeated since January of 2019. The man that beat him was Neal, bringing this all full circle.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoMohammed Usman (7-2), the brother of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, has a chance to earn a distinction of his own -- the TUF 30 heavyweight champion -- when he takes to the Octagon on Saturday to face off against Zac Pauga. Both of Usman's TUF 30 exhibition tournament wins have come by decision, with five of his seven career wins coming by the finish. Usman typically finishes his foes in the first round, so he will need to be very cautious to avoid a mistake or tire himself out against an undefeated and dangerous fighter in Pauga. DraftKings sees Usman as the underdog with a salary of $7,300.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoHeaded to the finals of the men's heavyweight TUF tournament, Zac Pauga (5-0) will look to remain undefeated when he faces Mohammed Usman on Saturday. During TUF 30, Pauga earned one victory by decision and one via second-round TKO. With experience in LFA and Cage Warriors, Pauga is an absolute force to be reckoned with. DraftKings sees the Ripper as the favorite with a salary of $8,900. Most of Usman's finishes have come in the first round, so if Pauga can weather the early storm, it seems all but certain to be Pauga's fight to lose.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoBrogan Walker-Sanchez (7-2) will walk into the Octagon on Saturday with a chance to earn the TUF 125-pound women's championship against Juliana Miller. Walker-Sanchez has Invicta FC victories over Miranda Maverick and Emilee King prior to her TUF competition. Throughout her career, six of her seven official wins have come by decision, showing that she can control and dictate the pace of a fight. DraftKings sees the Ripper as the underdog with a salary of $7,900. This will be a dangerous matchup for Walker-Sanchez, as Miller is an extremely dangerous and skilled grappler.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWith the women's flyweight TUF crowning on the line on Saturday, ground specialist Juliana Miller (2-1) will face off against Brogan Walker-Sanchez. With minimal professional mixed martial arts experience, Miller had a terrific showing on TUF by earning a submission victory to earn her spot in the finals. DraftKings sees Killer as the slight favorite with a salary of $8,300. Being such an ace on the mat, Walker could be a huge fantasy asset with a big possibility of a submission finish.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoA winner in three of his last four bouts, Sergey Spivak (14-3) will look for another big win when he faces the struggling Augusto Sakai on Saturday. A winner in his last contest over Greg Hardy by knockout/TKO, Spivak will look to build from that momentum heading into Saturday's contest. DraftKings sees the Polar Bear as the favorite with a salary of $8,800. Throughout his UFC career, Spivak averages 69.5 fantasy points per contest. Struggling of late, Sakai might be a showcase victory for Spivak.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAugusto Sakai (15-4-1) is in dire need of a big win and is hoping to snap his current three-fight losing streak when he steps into Saturday's matchup against Sergey Spivak. After a hot start with a second-round knockout victory on the Contender Series in August of 2018, Sakai went on to win four straight fights before dropping his last three. A dangerous heavy-handed striker, 11 of his 15 career wins have come by KO/TKO. DraftKings sees Sakai as the underdog with a salary of $7,400. Throughout his UFC career, Sakai averages 58.8 fantasy points per contest. Spivak has been on a roll of late, winning four of his last five bouts.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoPriscila Cachoeira (11-4) has turned it around in the Octagon after losing her first three appearances, going 3-1 in her last four fights. Two of her three wins have actually come via knockout/TKO stoppages. A dangerous striker like her opponent, six of Cachoeira's 11 wins have come by KO/TKO. DraftKings sees Zombie Girl as the sizeable underdog with a salary of $7,800. Throughout her UFC career, Cachoeira averages 53.1 fantasy points per contest. Cachoeira also averages over one significant strike landed per minute over Ariane Lipski, so she will need to keep that pressure up in order to have a shot on Saturday.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoFormer KSW champion Ariane Lipski (14-7) is set to open up Saturday's main card of action against Priscila Cachoeira. The last time we saw Lipski in the Octagon, she earned a decision victory in September of last year after dropping back-to-back matchups. A dangerous striker, six of her 14 career wins have come by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Queen of Violence as the favorite with a salary of $8,400. Throughout her UFC career, Lipski averages 53.8 fantasy points per contest. Cachoeira is 3-1 in her last four contests and could prove to be a tricky task for Lipski.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoJulianna Pena stepped into the main event of UFC 277 on Saturday with an extremely difficult task in front of her in her attempt to defeat the women's mixed-martial arts GOAT in Amanda Nunes for a second time. This time, she was unable to fulfill that dream, losing a unanimous decision (45-50, 43-50, 44-50). In 25 minutes of action, Pena tallied 60 significant strikes (130 total strikes) while absorbing 85 significant strikes and being taken down six times on Nunes' eight attempts. She spent too much time on the mat in Nunes' control (11:49).--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoAmanda Nunes showed the world why she is considered the women's GOAT of mixed martial arts by earning a unanimous-decision win (45-50, 43-50, 44-50) over Julianna Pena on Saturday to reclaim her UFC women's bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 277. In 25 minutes of action, Nunes tallied 85 significant strikes compared to that of Pena's 60. Nunes was also able to land six of her eight takedown tries to tally a solid 11:49 of control time. With another matchup against Valentina Shevchenko potentially on the horizon, it's possible Nunes goes back on another lengthy winning streak.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoKai Kara-France was unable to take advantage of an interim title fight at UFC 277 on Saturday, dropping the night's co-main event to Brandon Moreno via third-round TKO stoppage. In 14:34 of action, Kara-France tallied 53 significant strikes (just five less than Moreno) while stuffing all three of Moreno's takedown tries on the night. The second-ranked Kara-France can probably be marked down as a victor for anyone he faces in the division, outside of the top couple of fighters.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN