DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - UFC Vegas 93: Perez vs. Taira

While we all eagerly await UFC 303, fight fans around the world will have two more UFC events in Vegas. This will be the 100th event the promotion will host at the UFC Apex. As the epicenter of MMA's elite competitions, the UFC Apex boasts a storied history, having witnessed some of the sport's most iconic moments. From unforgettable title clashes to back-and-forth showdowns, UFC Apex has played host to a plethora of memorable encounters, carving its name into the annals of combat sports lore.

We'll get to watch a couple of contenders and prospects try to rise in their rankings. On Saturday night, two formidable flyweight contenders are set to collide in a showdown of heart, skill, and determination. In the main event, we have a former title challenger, Alex Perez, facing off against an undefeated UFC prospect, Tatsuro Taira.

In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Vegas 93: Perez vs. Taira on 06/15/24. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!

DraftKings MMA Flyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Tatsuro Taira, $8600 - vs. Alex Perez

Fresh off a string of impressive victories, Taira is eager to prove that he belongs among the elite of the flyweight division. He's coming off an impressive TKO victory over Carlos Hernandez. Taira finished Hernandez within 55 seconds into the second round to earn himself his fifth victory in the promotion. Besides defeating Hernandez, Taira has beaten Carlos Candelario, CJ Vergara, Jesus Santos Aguilar, and Edgar Chairez. This is going to be Taira's first main event as he's looking for a big win over a top-five fighter to propel him closer to a title shot.

Locked in on Saturday night 🔒

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— UFC (@ufc) June 13, 2024

A favorite in this fight, Taira is known for his versatile style, mixing his punches and kicks with takedowns. Considering his background in Shooto, it's evident that he's good in both the wrestling and striking aspects. Even though he has some slick striking, he usually uses his striking just as a means to an end in setting up his takedown attempts.

When talking about his wrestling, he averages 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes. His opponent, Perez, has 82% takedown defense, but we've seen him taken down and planted on his back in a couple of key spots in the past. Perez has recently returned to winning form by defeating Matheus Nicolau with a second-round knockout in late April. He was previously scheduled to face Tagir Ulanbekov but has stepped up to face the undefeated Taira.

Before defeating Nicolau, Perez was on a three-fight skid, losing to Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexandre Pantoja, and Muhammad Mokaev. Perez's biggest edge in this fight is his experience against high-level opposition. In my opinion, that is the only area that he'll have an advantage in. Even though Perez recently lost three fights in a row, he has consistently performed well in the UFC's flyweight division, positioning himself as a championship contender. His goal in this fight is to defeat Taira, who is one of the biggest prospects in the UFC, to get himself back into title contention.

The 24-year-old Taira is considered to be a finisher, with 11 wins by stoppage. Seven of those wins came via submission and four via KO/TKO. One of the unknown things about Taira is his cardio, as we've never seen him go a full five rounds on the biggest stage. Perez will undoubtedly represent Taira's stiffest test to date. In my humble opinion, Taira should pressure and possibly fluster Perez early, as we've seen that Perez doesn't always thrive under pressure.

Taira's key to victory in this bout lies in Taira chaining his strikes with his wrestling and trying to finish Perez on the ground, or at least hold him there. It would be interesting to see how this fight would go if it went to the later rounds. Taira has a five-inch reach advantage and is an inch taller. He has taken down four of his last five opponents, and in the one fight he didn't, he dominated in the striking department with a 44-2 edge in total strikes landed.

This is a big step up for Taira. That being said, Taira is a special prospect and I believe in his potential. This fight is not going to be easy for Taira at all. It should also be noted that Perez didn't have a full camp. Thus far, Taira has looked almost perfect. I just have to go with Taira on this one.

DraftKings MMA Middleweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Ikram Aliskerov, $8700 - vs. Antonio Trocoli

Ikram Aliskerov will be trying to win his eighth bout in a row this weekend in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 93. Aliskerov was introduced to UFC fans by competing in the Contender Series where he needed less than two minutes to defeat Mario Sousa via kimura. He is coming off a first-round TKO victory at UFC 294 in October and is 2-0 in the UFC with both wins coming by first-round finish. Aliskerov hasn't fought since October 2023. He was scheduled to fight Anthony Hernandez, but the fight unfortunately got canceled. The 31-year-old Russian is taking on the short-notice replacement in Antonio Trocoli.

Originally, Aliskerov was scheduled to fight Andre Muniz, but Muniz was forced to pull out of the fight due to suffering a foot fracture in training. Since losing to Khamzat Chimaev back in 2019, Aliskerov has looked nothing short of spectacular. On his path of destruction, Aliskerov has won seven fights, with six of those fights ending via stoppage. Poised to face and welcome Trocoli to the UFC, this is another chance for Aliskerov to showcase his skills and aim for a top-10 opponent in his future bouts.

His opponent, Trocoli, is making his UFC debut this Saturday. Trocoli won his Contender Series fight in 2019 by a submission but the result was overturned when he failed a drug test. After competing on the regional scene and winning his next fight via first-round rear-naked choke, Trocoli got a call to join the UFC. He was scheduled to face former title contender Ovince Saint Preux, but the fight fell through. Trocoli was then scheduled to face Oumar Sy but this fight got canceled as well, leaving Trocoli without an opponent. Having said all of that, Trocoli has been out of the Octagon since November 2021.

Trocoli is no slouch, but he does have some problems with his striking defense. On the other side, Aliskerov's biggest strength is his wrestling, but he is well-versed in the striking department, too. Known as a dangerous finisher, Aliskerov has won 11 out of 15 fights via stoppage, six via KO/TKO and five via submission.

There is no doubt in my mind that Aliskerov is going to win this fight. He's just better than Trocoli everywhere. Trocoli, however, has gone 3-3 with one no-contest in his last seven fights. Aliskerov might not finish the fight in the first round, as I expect Trocoli to come at Aliskerov guns blazing. I think Aliskerov's patience and experience will be the deciding factor. My prediction is that Aliskerov is going to knock out Trocoli; if not in the first, then in the second round.

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Josefine Knutsson, $9100 - vs. Julia Polastri

We have a straweight bout between two relative newcomers on the UFC Vegas 93 preliminaries. Josefine Knutsson made her first UFC appearance last year, winning her UFC debut. Before that, she earned a UFC deal after scoring an impressive win on Dana White’s Contender Series. She is now scheduled for a fight against Julia Polastri, who will be making her UFC debut. Knutsson is coming off a decision victory over Marnic Mann in her UFC debut last September. Before that, she was victorious on Dana White’s Contender Series, defeating Isis Erbeek.

Knutsson's background is in kickboxing. She is undefeated with her MMA record being 7-0. Despite having only seven fights, Knutsson has shown promise thus far. The thing about Knutsson is she's not a volume striker. She is very patient and methodical with picking her shots. On paper, she'll have an advantage in the striking department. She's got some slick grappling skills as well.

Her opponent, Julia Polastri, had her last fight on Dana White's Contender Series, where she managed to defeat Patricia Alujas via a second-round rear-naked choke. Known as a striker, Polastri packs some power in her punches, as four out of her 12 fights have ended via KO/TKO. Although she's made improvements in her grappling, it could be said that her wrestling and grappling are her weaknesses.

Knutsson is the more well-rounded, and in my opinion, she should win this fight. This bout will serve as a true test for both fighters. I expect the fight to be competitive but I'll give an edge to Knutsson because of her striking background. She's much better in the clinch than Polastri and her wrestling should be good enough to stop potential takedown attempts. I believe her wrestling is good enough to dictate where the fight should go. My prediction is that Knutsson wins by a unanimous decision.

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