X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Daily Fantasy MMA: DraftKings DFS Lineup Picks & Advice for UFC 194 - McGregor vs. Aldo

Welcome back RotoBallers, it's been a long couple weeks with no UFC content, but I'm back with a vengeance for UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor.

It's going to be a tough card to navigate but it will be the championship fights that determine your profit Saturday night and I suggest getting exposure to all four contenders.

As usual, I’ve broken down my DraftKings MMA picks into thee sections: Cash game targets, GPP targets and fighters to avoid. I’ll explain what each category signifies below:

  • Cash Game: These fighters are great targets in 50/50 or H2H contests, where 50 percent of the field wins money.
  • GPP: These fighters are great targets in GPPs (Guaranteed Prize Pools) or tournaments, which require riskier selection in order to win first place.
  • Avoid: These are fighters who I will be staying away from.

 

MMA DFS for DraftKings – Cash Game Targets

1. Conor McGregor AND Jose Aldo (9.9k, 9.6k)

I've said this before, but I think it's mistake if you don't play both Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo in cash games this week. The winner of this fight will be one of the highest scorers on the card and you're unlikely to win if you pick incorrectly.

There are going to be tons of players who come into DraftKings with a strong opinion on this fight, and they'll only take McGregor or Aldo, and that's super exciting because it gives me a huge edge. I'm going to win my money this week because others pick incorrectly, and I'm fine with that.

 

2. Chris Weidman (10k)

Similarly to the champs listed above, I don't think there's much of a reason not to play Chris Weidman this weekend. He's in a close fight with Luke Rockhold, but I still give Weidman the edge to win.

Per usual, he's fighting in a five-round fight which is a massive advantage for DFS purposes compared to others fighting in a three-round fight, and I expect this fight to take place on the feet for its majority.

Both Weidman and Rockhold are excellent grapplers and I think that will neutralize the ground game and force them to stand and bang, and if Weidman comes out with a win, he's likely to exceed 100 points. For only 10k, he's very difficult to pass up.

 

MMA DFS for DraftKings – GPP Targets

1. John Makdessi (10.3k)

John Makdessi is coming off a TKO loss to Donald Cerrone in which he broke his jaw and had to call time out during the fight...literally.

That makes me nervous to target him against a decent boxer like Yancy Medeiros, but I think he has upside to finish and that's what I'm looking for in GPPs. Makdessi is definitely the more technical and powerful striker here, but he'll be at a significant reach disadvantage.

Similar to his fight against Shane Campbell, I think Medeiros can land shots at range, but once Makdessi gets on the inside, I think he can put a beating on Medeiros and potentially finish the fight.

 

2. Max Holloway (10.9k)

My favorite fighter to pay up for this weekend is Max Holloway, who's taking on Jeremy Stephens in what should be a stand-up battle.

Holloway has some finishing potential, but I love his significant strike rate, which is a whopping 5.67 landed per minute. He's capable of scoring 70+ points even with a decision victory, and if he can finish, that score will top 100. There aren't many fighters on this card that I love to pay up for, but Holloway is definitely my top option.

 

MMA DFS for DrafKings – Fighters to Avoid

1. Urijah Faber (11k)

Urijah Faber is one of my favorite fighters to watch and he has been for some time, but he is just too expensive to target this weekend. At 11k, he's the most expensive fighter on the card, and he's facing a tough guy in Frankie Saenz who should at least put up a fight.

I don't expect Faber to earn an easy finish and I don't expect him to land a ton of significant strikes, so there's really no reason for me to target him.

I do think he's very safe for a win because he should outclass Saenz in nearly every aspect of this fight, but it's simply not a great stylistic fight to target from a DFS perspective and I'm going to pass on him this weekend.

 

Hope you enjoy RotoBallers! Make sure to follow me on Twitter @BrettAppley and @DailyFanMMA.

 

MMA & UFC Live Chat DFS Advice

[iflychat_embed id="c-63" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jakob Poeltl

Still Out as Raptors Face Wizards
Grayson Allen

Ruled Out Friday Against Pelicans
Ja Morant

Could Miss Another Game With Ankle Sprain
Jalen Suggs

Not Expected to Face Charlotte
Jordan Walsh

Likely Returning on Friday
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Remains Out on Friday
Rui Hachimura

Back in Action on Christmas
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Cleared to Play on Christmas Night
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
Seth Curry

to Remain Sidelined on Christmas Day
Jae'Sean Tate

Questionable Thursday
Dwight Powell

Likely to Return on Christmas
Jaylin Williams

Misses Fifth Straight Game
Ousmane Dieng

Unavailable on Christmas Day
Guerschon Yabusele

Questionable for Christmas Action
Miles McBride

Remains Out on Christmas
Cameron Johnson

to Miss Time With Bone Bruise in Right Knee
Jaxson Hayes

Considered Questionable for Christmas Matchup
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Return Thursday
Dorian Finney-Smith

Could Make Season Debut on Christmas Day
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Uncertain for Christmas Day
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Listed as Questionable for Christmas Game
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP