2 years agoBrandon Moreno showed that he was a former flyweight champion by defeating Kai Kara-France in the co-main event of UFC 277 on Saturday for the interim flyweight title via third-round TKO stoppage. In 14:34 of action, Moreno tallied 58 significant strikes (59 total strikes) and whiffed on all three of his takedown tries. The victory sets up Moreno for a historic fourth meeting with the current champion, Deiveson Figueiredo. Currently, Moreno's record against Figueiredo is 1-1-1, losing the last battle at UFC 270 to ultimately lose his title.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoThough Derrick Lewis was in a rough situation less than one minute into his UFC 277 matchup on Saturday against Sergei Pavlovich, many people, including Dana White, believed the stoppage victory awarded to Pavlovich was a bit premature with Lewis still in the fight. Regardless, the loss still goes to Lewis, who has now lost two of his last three contests. Should he be matched up with someone on the lower end of the top 15 next time out, he might see a big return to his winning ways, but let's just keep an eye on his future matchups for now.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoLess than one minute was all it took for Sergei Pavlovich to stun the crowd in attendance at UFC 277 on Saturday by defeating Derrick Lewis via first-round TKO stoppage. Many, including UFC president Dana White, questioned the stoppage, stating it seemed to come way too early. Regardless, Pavlovich's 15 significant strikes in 55 seconds of action was enough to rock and drop the heavyweight standout Lewis. Now with four wins in a row and a victory over the fifth-ranked heavyweight, Pavlovich should see a jump from his No. 11 rank, as well as another big foe in his next outing.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoMaybe the 20-month Octagon absence for Alex Perez did not do him any favors at UFC 277 on Saturday, when he dropped his main-card showing to Alexandre Pantoja while suffering a first-round submission loss. In 1:31 of action, Perez was able to land 10 significant strikes but spent 1:06 in the control of Pantoja before falling victim to a neck crank. Hopefully for Perez, the showing was just a matter of ring rust. If he can return to action soon, we should be able to better gauge if he will hold any fantasy relevance moving forward.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoIn the main card's only submission on Saturday, Alexandre Pantoja put an exclamation point on the claim that he should be in the title talks for the UFC's flyweight title by submitting Alex Perez in their first-round matchup at UFC 277. In 1:31 of action, Pantoja landed eight significant strikes but had 1:06 of control time leading up to a neck-crank victory. Depending on when Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueredo can meet to unify the title, we might just have to wait a while to see Pantoja back in action should he decide to wait and face the winner.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoAnthony Smith's three-fight winning streak came to an end on Saturday at the hands of fourth-ranked Magomed Ankalaev in the main-card opener of UFC 277. In 8:09 of total action, Smith only landed 18 significant strikes compared to that of Ankalaev's 46. The fifth-ranked Smith really had no answers to the takedown defense and striking of Ankalaev. If we see Smith back in action against someone in the 10-15-ranking range, then it is possible we see Smith bounce back and earn a victory. Another top matchup might cause some major problems for Smith, though, in his quest to avoid back-to-back losses.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoMoving his winning streak to nine, Magomed Ankalaev earned a huge second-round TKO victory over top-tier light heavyweight Anthony Smith to open up the main card of UFC 277 on Saturday. In 8:09 of total action, Ankalaev tallied 46 significant strikes (64 total strikes) while absorbing only 18 significant strikes. Ranked fourth before his matchup with the the fifth-ranked Smith, Ankalaev could find himself in a title-eliminator matchup next time out or even earn a crack at the championship, depending on how the fighters in front of him perform in their next matchups.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoConsidered by many to be the women's GOAT in the world of mixed martial arts, Amanda Nunes will return to action in the main event of UFC 277 on Saturday in an attempt to recapture her bantamweight title after a shocking loss to Julianna Pena at UFC 269 in December of last year. Prior to that loss, Nunes was on a 12-fight winning streak, including wins over many of the top women to ever enter an MMA cage. DraftKings sees the Lioness as the big favorite with a salary of $9,200. Throughout her UFC career, Nunes averages 99.0 fantasy points per contest. Nunes looks to be a safe start in this matchup and should easily recapture her championship.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoJulianna Pena (11-4) will defend her UFC women's bantamweight title on Saturday in the main event at UFC 277 against the woman she defeated for the crown, Amanda Nunes, in what many may consider one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. In their first matchup, Pena scored a second-round submission victory (rear-naked choke) to stun the world. Overall, eight of her 11 career wins have come by the finish. DraftKings sees the champion as the huge underdog with a salary of $7,000. Throughout her UFC career, Pena averages 86.0 fantasy points per contest. Though she won the first meeting, we don't see the women's GOAT suffering a second straight loss.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAfter dropping the UFC flyweight title in his last contest, Brandon Moreno (19-6-2) will have the opportunity to become the interim champion if he can defeat Kai Kara-France in Saturday's co-main event at UFC 277. Prior to the loss, Moreno had not suffered defeat in his previous seven bouts. Dangerous on the mat, 11 of his 19 career wins have come by submission. A former champion very recently, Moreno has a big advantage mentally heading into this matchup. DraftKings sees Moreno as the sizeable favorite with a salary of $8,900. Throughout his UFC career, Moreno averages 75.9 fantasy points per contest.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoOn a three-fight winning streak (two coming via first-round knockout), Kai Kara-France (24-9) finds himself in the co-main event of UFC 277 on Saturday in hopes of capturing the interim flyweight title over Brandon Moreno. In their first meeting, Moreno earned a unanimous-decision victory back in December of 2019. The City Kickboxing product has scored 14 finishes in 24 of his career victories. DraftKings sees Don't Blink as the underdog with a salary of $7,300. Throughout his UFC career, Kara-France averages 72.5 fantasy points per contest. Moreno is just recently coming off of a loss when he dropped the flyweight title.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoSince losing his UFC debut, Sergei Pavlovich (15-1) has won three fights since, all by first-round knockout. His loss to Alistair Overeem is the only loss of his professional career. A dangerous striker like his opponent Derrick Lewis, 12 of Pavlovich's 15 wins have come by knockout/TKO, with all 12 coming in the first round of action. DraftKings sees the former Fight Nights Global champion as the very slight favorite on Saturday with a salary of $8,200. Throughout his UFC career, Pavlovich averages 82.7 fantasy points per contest. Pavlovich has yet to face anyone as dangerous as Lewis, so proceed with caution if you feel very confident about a Pavlovich first-round finish.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWith losses in two of his last three contests, it is more important than ever for Derrick Lewis (26-9) to secure a victory at UFC 277 on Saturday. With a knockout always within reach for the Black Beast, 21 of his 26 career wins have come by KO/TKO. Lewis' opponent, Sergei Pavlovich, has won his last three fights by first-round knockout, but he has yet to face someone as dangerous as Lewis. DraftKings sees Lewis as the very slight underdog with a salary of $8,000. Throughout his UFC career, Lewis averages 60.5 fantasy points per contest. This is a dangerous contest to roster Lewis in, but he is always one strike away from earning a victory.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoIt has been nearly 20 months since we have seen Alex Perez (24-6) in action, but he returns to the main card of UFC 277  on Saturday with a huge opportunity to find himself in title contention when he faces Alexandre Pantoja. Perez has not secured a victory since June of 2020 when he defeated Jussier Formiga via first-round TKO. Able to finish a bout in a multitude of ways, 12 of his 24 career wins have come by decision, with the other 12 being finishes. DraftKings sees Perez as the sizeable underdog with a salary of $7,500. Throughout his UFC career, Perez averages 83.4 fantasy points per contest. This is a matchup to avoid Perez in against a streaking Alexandre Pantoja.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWith the men's interim flyweight title on the line in Saturday night's co-main event, the UFC 277 main-card matchup for Alexandre Pantoja (24-5) could put him in line for a title shot in the very near future. With wins in three of his last four outings, Pantoja is a solid finisher, even in smaller weight classes, with 17 of his 24 career wins coming by the finish -- nine via submission. DraftKings sees the Cannibal as the big favorite with a salary of $8,700. Throughout his UFC career, Pantoja averages 76.5 fantasy points per contest. His opponent, Alex Perez, has not been in the Octagon since a loss in November of 2020. This might be a perfect opportunity for Panjota.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC