RADIO
What's up RotoBallers. In this column, I will be taking a look at the main card for UFC on Fox 26. Our analysis will help you with your DraftKings MMA lineups. I will be keeping track based on picking winners and losers. I will also predict how the fight will be finished, but that will not reflect in the records (Justin's Record: 177-88).
MMA has one of the best sweats in DFS. Two fighters compete at a time with only one coming out as the winner. It's the best feeling in the world when you are watching the main event of a show and know you need a first round knockout to win the entire tournament. And nothing feels worse than when you need a first round knockout by Stipe Miocic to win thousands of dollars in a tournament, but when he lands that knockout punch, you realize that you placed 14th because Jacare Souza was too dominant in a previous fight. This was a serious scenario that I had to live through when Miocic won the Heavyweight Championship. Without anymore waiting, here are our DFS lineup picks and DraftKings analysis for the main card at UFC on Fox 26.
Editor's Note: Interested in RotoBaller's MMA DFS Cheat Sheet with advanced fighter statistics, deep analysis and detailed insights from MMA DFS Expert Justin Bales? Let us know here.
Glover Teixeira vs Misha Cirkunov
Teixeira is an aging fighter that has been fighting the elite of the elite throughout his career. Since 2014, he is 4-2, losing only to Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson, who are two of the best light-heavyweights in the world. He gets a tough test this week in the form of Misha Cirkunov, who is 4-1 in the UFC, but has fought much lesser competition. In his last fight, Cirkunov was knocked out by a strange punch from Volkan Oezdemir, who seemingly has power from outside of this world. I won’t hold that against Cirkunov, as Oezdemir went on to do the same while forcing his way into a title shot. Truth be told, I think this is Cirkunov’s fight to lose. I feel he will have the advantage on the feet and on the ground. Keep in mind, Teixeira is a dangerous fighter at all times, but Cirkunov should be able to control this fight on his way to getting back into the win column.
Misha Cirkunov, TKO, 2nd Round
Sanitago Ponzinibbio vs Mike Perry
It is possible that I underestimate Mike Perry every time he fights, but I will do so once again this week. I absolutely love watching him fight, but I am simply not too impressive with his wins. Running through them – Hyun Gyu Lim was a good win, but he came in way too confident. Danny Roberts is still a prospect, while Perry seems to be more UFC ready. Jake Ellenberger is an aging fighter, who has lost his chin. Alex Reyes was an undersized fighter that took the fight on short notice. Don’t get me wrong, Perry is exciting with the way he walks through punches, but that can only get him so far. We saw him struggle against Alan Jouban, who is a much more technical fighter that possesses an impressive chin. Ponzinibbio may not have the best chin in the UFC, but he is extremely technical and will not turn this fight into the brawl that Perry is looking for. Perry eats too many strikes for someone with Ponzinibbio’s striking and power to not be able to capitalize. I’m looking forward to this fight, but I believe the higher ranked fight will walk out on top.
Santiago Ponzinibbio, TKO, 3rd Round
Ricardo Lamas vs Josh Emmett
Lamas is a fighter that tends to go overlooked, but he has been doing this at a high level for a long time. He made his UFC debut in 2011, compiling a 9-3 record. His only losses have come to Jose Aldo (in his prime), Chad Mendes, and Max Holloway (current champion). He has only lost to elite level fighters, and Josh Emmett is not an elite level fighter. Truth be told, it is shocking that Emmett was chosen for this fight, as Lamas was expected to fight Aldo, and they had more than enough time to find a more suitable opponent. With that being said, Emmett has been impressive in the UFC, recording a 3-1 record since making his debut. He has not fought near the level of competition as Lamas, though. Emmett throws a lot more output than Lamas, but I expect the latter to be able to control where this fight takes place. Between the control and experience, it will be too much for Emmett to overcome this weekend.
Ricardo Lamas via Unanimous Decision
Robbie Lawler vs Rafael Dos Anjos
I don’t particularly want to review this season. I would much rather sit back and enjoy it. These are two of the best welterweights in the world. Lawler has looked unstoppable recently, aside from a quick KO loss to Tyron Woodley to lose the belt. I wish that fight would have played out much longer so we would have known who the real better fighter is. Don Anjos, on the other hand, recently moved to welterweight, scoring two impressive wins over Tarec Saffiedine and Neil Magny. I feel Dos Anjos will have the advantage if he can get this to the ground, but Lawler should be able to keep it standing or work his way back to his feet quickly if he is taken down. On the feet, I feel the fighters are fairly similar, although I would side with Lawler in terms of power. He should be the bigger fighter, but I don’t necessarily think he has a massive advantage because of Dos Anjos’ ability to work in the clinch. This fight is almost impossible to predict, but I’ll side with Lawler because of the power advantage.
Robbie Lawler, TKO, 3rd Round
