2 years agoAfter a couple of big knockout wins against future Hall of Famers, Cory Sandhagen (14-4) has struggled of late and is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses when he enters the Octagon for Saturday's main event against Song Yadong. With several impressive finishes under his belt against big names, nine of Sandhagen's 14 career wins have come by the finish, with six of them coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Sandman as the big favorite to rebound with a salary of $9,200. Throughout his UFC career, Sandhagen averages 81.8 fantasy points per contest. With his recent struggles, Sandhagen is in dire need of a win to rebound, but he's facing a fighter who has been nothing short of dominant for years in the UFC.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoRiding a three-fight winning streak heading into Saturday's main event, Team Alpha Male's Song Yadong (19-6-1) will look to take a victory from the struggling Cory Sandhagen. Since joining the UFC in 2017, Yadong has amassed an impressive 8-1-1 record in the organization's bantamweight division. Able to earn a victory by any means necessary, 11 of his 14 career wins have come via the finish, with eight of them via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Yadong as a big underdog with a salary of $7,00. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 81.8 fantasy points per contest. At this price point, Yadong is a steal and should be rostered, especially with his current run of victories.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoGregory Rodrigues (12-4) will step into the Octagon on Saturday against a very tough opponent in Chidi Njokuani in the night's co-main event of action. Rodrigues has a 3-1 record since joining the UFC, with his lone loss coming in a close split decision. He is entering Saturday's contest coming off of a rebound win by way of first-round knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Rodrigues as the very slight favorite with a salary of $8,200. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 93.6 fantasy points per contest. Similar to his opponent, he is able to win bouts via KO/TKO, but he's also able to lose them by the same method.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLooking impressive since his Contender Series knockout victory, Chidi Njokuani (22-7) has won both of his UFC appearances since, both by first-round knockout/TKO. Proven to be a devastating striker both in and before his time in the UFC, 14 of his 22 career wins have come by KO/TKO, with several of them coming in the first frame of action. DraftKings sees Njokuani as the very slight underdog on Saturday with a salary of $8,000. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 119.0 fantasy points per contest. Our main area of concern is his susceptibility for the KO/TKO loss. His opponent, Gregory Rodrigues, has a finish rate of 83%, with several of his wins coming by knockout.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAfter starting 1-2 in the UFC, Bill Algeo (16-6) has won his last two contests and is hoping to secure a three-fight winning streak when he takes on the veteran Andre Fili on Saturday. He's a grinding-style fighter who will take his opponent to the limit, and six of Algeo's 16 career wins have come by decision, with another six by submission and four via knockout/TKO. DraftKings actually has Algeo as the underdog with a salary of $7,900. Throughout his UFC career, Algeo averages 74.7 fantasy points per contest. If you are looking for an underdog bet on this main card, look toward Algeo.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoWinless in his last three bouts, Andre Fili (21-9) will look to return to winning ways in his 31st professional bout when he takes to the Octagon to face Bill Algeo on Saturday's main card of action. Fili has the capability of getting his hand raised in numerous ways, with nine of his career wins coming by decision and another nine wins by knockout/TKO. The Team Alpha Male featherweight is the slight favorite with a salary of 8,300. Throughout his UFC career, Fili averages 57.4 fantasy points per contest. With back-to-back wins and looking impressive of late, the underdog Algeo might be the better choice if you feel the need to roster one of these two fighters.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoSet for his UFC debut after an impressive run on the Contender Series, Joe Pyfer (9-2) will appear on Saturday's main card of action as he takes on Alen Amedovski, who is currently on a three-fight losing streak in the UFC. An efficient finisher in his career, eight of his nine wins have come via the finish, with six of them coming via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the debuting Pyfer as the night's biggest favorite with a salary of $9,700. Pyfer comes into his debut with a couple of impressive wins, but this is quite the price tag for a debuting fighter.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoHoping to avoid a four-fight skid, Alen Amedovski (8-3) will step into the Octagon on Saturday, with possibly his job on the line, in a middleweight matchup with Joe Pyfer. After back-to-back first-round knockout victories in Bellator, the transition was not a smooth one for Amedovski into the UFC. The potential is there, with all eight of his career wins coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Amedovski as the night's biggest underdog with a salary of $6,500. Throughout his UFC career, he averages only 3.0 fantasy points per contest. He will be facing the debuting Pyfer, who is coming off of a second-round TKO Contender Series win.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAfter struggling with a loss and no-contest to begin his career, Rodrigo Nascimento Ferreira (8-1) will look to earn his first victory since 2020 on Saturday. He has shown glimpses of dominance in the UFC, earning a first-round submission in his Contender Series bout and a second-round submission in his Octagon debut. It has been over a year since we have seen Ferreira in action, though, so it may be why DraftKings has him as an underdog at $7,400. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 65.0 fantasy points per contest. He's facing a very dangerous and experienced opponent in Tanner Boser, who seems to be the safer bet in this one.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoHeavyweight Tanner Boser (20-8-1) steps back into the Octagon for Saturday's only heavyweight main-card bout and is set to battle Rodrigo Nascimento Ferreira. Rebounding after back-to-back losses, Boser scored a second-round TKO against Ovince Saint Preux back in June of last year. With knockout ability in his hands, 11 of his 20 career wins have come by KO/TKO. Boser is facing a struggling Ferreira, who is coming off of the first loss and no-contest of his career.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAfter a rough start with three straight losses followed by a no-contest, Marc-Andre Barriault (14-5) will look for his fourth victory in five contests when he steps into the Octagon on Saturday against Anthony Hernandez in the main-card opener. Coming off of an impressive first-round submission victory in his last outing, Barriault typically finishes his opponents with his striking, with nine of his 14 career wins coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Barriault as the underdog, though, with a salary of $7,500. Throughout his UFC career, Barriault averages 55.3 fantasy points per contest. In two of his last three wins, Barriault as scored 80.1 and 101.1 points, respectively. He's facing a very dangerous submission finisher, so it's going to come down to who can control the Octagon.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoLooking for his third straight win, Anthony Hernandez (9-2) will open up Saturday's main card of action in a middleweight showdown against Marc-Andre Barriault. Hernandez is 3-2 since joining the UFC after a no-contest on the Contender Series, and he has proven to be a dangerous finisher on the mat, with six of his nine career wins coming by submission and an additional win by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Hernandez as the sizable favorite with a salary of $8,700. Throughout his UFC career, Hernandez averages 70.9 fantasy points per contest. With the majority of Barriault's victories coming by KO/TKO, it's going to be a true matchup of a striker versus a grappler.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoAfter a huge weigh-in miss by main-eventer Khamzat Chimaev, Tony Ferguson was bumped to the main-event slot at UFC 279 to face Nate Diaz in his farewell bout on Saturday. Entering the contest on a four-fight losing streak, Ferguson was in dire need of a big win while moving up in weight, especially after being placed against an opponent like Li Jingliang. After a late shuffle at the top of the card, Ferguson was set to face the dangerous jiu-jitsu ace in Diaz. In 17:52 of action before being caught in a fight-ending guillotine choke, Ferguson tallied 80 significant strikes, 21 less than Diaz. The move up in weight is still probably the best avenue for Ferguson, but a step down in competition is what he really needs for a victory.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoSeeing an elevation in his status on the UFC 279 main card after his new opponent, Khamzat Chimaev, missed his welterweight weight goal at weigh-ins, Kevin Holland was shuffled to meet Chimaev in Saturday night's co-main event. Given a perfect opportunity to derail a hype train, Holland was run over on the tracks, landing zero significant strikes, and was on the receiving end of a D'Arce Choke, which led to the bout's end. The loss denied Holland his chance for a third straight win and his chance for a huge victory.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoSetting off the whole UFC 279 main-card-bout shuffle on Saturday, Khamzat Chimaev missed weight, which resulted in the top-three fights on the card being shuffled around. Chimaev would drop to the co-main-event slot to face Kevin Holland in a 180-pound matchup. As expected, Chimaev dominated with his wrestling, absorbing zero significant strikes and earning the D'Arce Choke victory 2:13 into the first round. It looks like regardless of who or where he fights on the card, Chimaev is a must-roster fighter until we see see otherwise.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: ESPN