DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - UFC Louisville: Cannonier vs. Imavov

Whether a UFC event is considered boring or exciting is subjective and depends on various factors. Some events may be more action-packed with memorable moments and finishes, while others may have more decisions or less competitive fights. UFC 302 was one of those events, as the fans thought it was uneventful, except for the epic Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier fight. This week UFC returns to Louisville and the event will mark the promotion's second visit to Louisville and first since UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann in March 2011.

Are we in for a treat? We can only hope as we move from Newark, New Jersey to Louisville, Kentucky this weekend. In my opinion, there are a lot of intriguing fights on the card, like the main event bout with former title challenger, Jared Cannonier, and rising UFC prospect, Nassourdine Imamov, as Cannonier looks to make a case for a title shot. In contrast, Imamov looks to jump in rankings. Enjoy the fireworks!

In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Louisville: Cannonier vs. Imavov 06/08/24. Give me a follow on Twitter @sumpor5. Good luck!

DraftKings MMA Middleweight- UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Jared Cannonier, $7600 - vs. Nassourdine Imavov

The 40-year-old Cannonier is coming off an impressive decision win over Marvin Vettori, where he dominated Vettori, and will look to make one more run at the title. Cannonier’s ability to thrive since dropping down to middleweight a few years ago is one of the most surprising and underrated UFC storylines in recent memory, considering that he started his UFC career as a heavyweight, and considering that he fought as a light-heavyweight as well.

Cannonier is primarily known for his strength and explosive striking prowess. Cannonier has gotten close to the title before, losing a unanimous decision to former middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya. Since that loss, he has won two consecutive bouts, defeating former title challenger Vettori and former champion Sean Strickland. Imavov has also fought Strickland, coming up short and losing via unanimous decision. If Imavov manages to emerge victorious, Cannonier would be the most noteworthy victory in Imavov’s career to date.

This main event is one you don't want to miss 💥

Jared Cannonier vs @Imavov1#UFCLouisville | Tomorrow | Live on @ESPNPlus 📺 pic.twitter.com/2nsifKyjbX

— UFC (@ufc) June 7, 2024

After losing to Strickland, Imavov had two fights, against Chris Curtis and Roman Dolidze. His fight with Curtis ended via no-contest, because of the accidental clash of heads, after which Curtis couldn't continue. Imavov is a well-rounded fighter with skills in both striking and grappling. He is primarily a striker having solid boxing and kickboxing skills who fights well from the outside. I'm a bit surprised that Imamov is a favorite although he has a style that could frustrate Cannonier over five rounds and keep the former title challenger from landing anything big.

Cannonier has secured victories over notable fighters such as Anderson Silva, David Branch, and Jack Hermansson, solidifying his status as a top contender in the division, while Imavov, who's looked impressive in his last bout, hasn't had that big name on his resume. When it comes to UFC bonuses, Canonier has earned multiple of those as well, highlighting his ability to deliver exciting performances inside the Octagon. One of the abilities that Cannonier has demonstrated is that he's highly adaptable as he's capable of adjusting his approach mid-fight to capitalize on his opponent's vulnerabilities.

On the other side, Imavov has youth on his side and has already shown promise as a future contender, while Cannonier is 40 years old and, therefore close to the end of his career (even though he hasn't missed a step and has looked better than ever). Imavov's footwork, defense and grappling ability should pay off against Jared Cannonier, who likes to push forward with a box-heavy attack. I just think that it's a matter of time before Cannonier adapts and starts catching Imavov with his thunderous power. I don't think that Imavov will win this fight. If he does, then it will most likely be by a decision, as Cannonier has demonstrated his toughness when he was able to survive Robert Whittaker hurting him a couple of times in their fight. The question in my mind is, will Cannonier be able to adapt in time?

If we see the version of Cannonier we saw in his most recent fight, the rest of the division should be terrified. This is easily the best version of Cannonier that we've ever seen. As I stated before, to the surprise of many fans, Cannonier is the underdog which is likely due to their age gap. My prediction is that Cannonier will emerge victorious. I think that he'll fight with enough urgency to get the win and make his case for another title shot in the near future.

DraftKings MMA Light Heavyweight- UFC DFS Lineup Picks

Dustin Jacoby, $9000 - vs. Dominick Reyes

The co-main event features a light heavyweight scrap between Dustin Jacoby and former contender, Dominick Reyes. Both Jacoby and Reyes have not looked the best in their last few fights, with Jacoby being 1-3 in his last four bouts while Reyes is on a four-fight losing streak. Jacoby's most recent bout was a unanimous decision loss to Alonzo Menifield following his impressive first-round knockout victory over Kennedy Nzechukwu.

Nicknamed "The Hanyak", Jacoby has fought 13 times in the UFC and is 7-5-1 over two stints in the promotion.
Primary known for his striking ability, Jacoby has competed in various promotions including the UFC, Bellator, and GLORY Kickboxing. Jacoby made his UFC debut in 2020 and has since competed in the light heavyweight division. To start his second UFC stint, Jacoby went on a run, going 6-0-1 in his first seven fights before losing to Khalil Rountree via controversial split decision. As the fight approaches, all eyes are on the matchup between Jacoby and Reyes, with expectations for a compelling showdown. Both Jacoby and Reyes are in dire need of victory and are arguably fighting to not get released by the UFC.

"Nobody can question my heart."

Dustin Jacoby (@thehanyakdj) knows he has a great opportunity in front of him as he takes on a former title challenger. #UFCLouisville

— UFC News (@UFCNews) June 5, 2024

"The Hanyak" lost momentum after losing the decision to Khalil Rountree. In two losses against Alonzo Menifield and Azamat Murzakanov, he was competitive, but the difference in power was evident, and most likely a deciding factor in those two losses. Even considering Jacoby's last few losses, Reyes has suffered more damage in his last four fights and just hasn't looked like the guy who went toe-to-toe with Jon Jones. After his scrap with Jones, Reyes went on a downward slide, getting knocked out cold in his last three fights.

Jacoby has secured victories over fighters such as Maxim Grishin, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Michal Oleksiejczuk and Darren Stewart. He's durable and tough enough to take a countershot early if it means he can extend his combinations and start finding the mark. I could see Jacoby finding the chin however, if the Reyes of old turns up, he has the speed to light Jacoby up. While Jacoby has shown improvements in his overall MMA game, his ground game is considered a relative weakness compared to his striking. He may struggle against opponents with strong grappling and submission skills. Reyes is better in the wrestling aspect, he just rarely uses it and prefers a striking battle.

It is hard to trust Reyes at this point in his career given how brutally he has been getting finished as of late. He’s been out for nearly two years and his chin has completely disappeared over his last few fights. At one point, he was one of the best light heavyweights in the world, but that seems so long ago at this point. Unfortunately for Reyes, I see his losing streak continuing. Expect these two to duke it out on the feet.

A few years ago, Reyes would have a favorite but at this point, Jacoby is a sizable favorite. Given Reyes' lack of durability at this point, I like Dustin Jacoby in this matchup where I think the fight is mainly going to take place on the feet.

DraftKings MMA Middleweight- UFC DFS Lineup Picks

Brunno Ferreira, $9400 - vs. Dustin Stoltzfus

One of the fights on the main card is a middleweight clash between a rising prospect, Brunno Ferreira and Dustin Stoltzfus. Ferreira has been an absolute tear since he began MMA and his aggressive style is perfect for an exciting fight each time he steps in there. All 12 of his fights have ended in a finish, with him winning 11 of them. In those 12 fights, Ferreira has seen the second round just twice. On paper, it looks like his opponent Stoltzfus is outmatched in this one.

Ferreira made his UFC debut in 2023 against Gregory Rodrigues four months after his Contender Series bout against Leon Aliu back in September 2022. He has devastating knockout power and is a very good striker, landing five strikes per minute. I'm convinced that he'll come at Stoltzfus with his signature aggression, looking to finish him early, either in the first or the second round. He's not afraid of receiving damage, and he's willing to throw himself into the fire to land.

Bruno Ferreira wins UFC debut by first round KO at #UFC283 👀🇧🇷 #UFCBrazil pic.twitter.com/QfULKPSPxN

— Parry Punch (@ParryPunchNews) January 22, 2023

You can also expect Stoltzfus to try and get this fight to the ground. He's a better grappler, on paper, and it would be in his best interest to avoid striking exchanges with Ferreira. Stoltzfus had a rough start in the UFC, losing his first three fights against Kyle Daukaus, Rodolfo Vieira, and Gerald Meerschaert. At times, he has shown incredible toughness, durability and heart. The problem is that he's incredibly inconsistent. His UFC record is 2-4 with his only wins being against Dwight Grant and, most recently, Punahele Soriano.

It would be interesting to see if Stoltzfus has what it takes to take Ferreira in the deep waters and drain him for three rounds. That is something that we haven't seen anybody do, the Brazilian fighter. His inexperience in the later rounds could serve as an advantage for Stoltzfus.

As was expected, Ferreira is a big favorite against Stoltzfus. I don't think that Stoltzfus has the type of power to make Ferreira feel threatened, considering that he only has two knockouts in 20 fights. Stoltzfus is going to try and avoid Ferreira's relentless pressure, but I just don't see him being able to hold Ferreira down for three rounds. Ferreira will be one of the most popular picks on the slate and I expect him to finish this fight within two rounds. He just has too many paths to victory.