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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - Usman vs. Masvidal (UFC 251)

DraftKings UFC DFS lineup picks for UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal on 7/11/20. MMA DFS analysis to help build winning daily fantasy MMA lineups.

If you know something about UFC's head honcho Dana White, it is that he's a stubborn man. Back when COVID hit for the first time, he was determined to keep the promotion going, even getting to claim that he had secured an island to hold some fights. It didn't come to happen, but at least White and the UFC were able to schedule some events in the company's APEX Center in Las Vegas. Not bad, considering the times we're navigating.

Now we're in July, and after having gone through nine empty-arena events from Brazil to Jacksonville to Las Vegas, it is time to fly to Fight Island. Yes, it's happening. It's a little bit different than what we had dreamed of (it's Yas Island, just in case), but what it brings is monstrous fighters slated to face each other for multiple golden belts. Usman faces Masvidal in arguably the most-hyped bout ever. Aldo will try to get back to his reigning days against Yan. And Volkanovski will defend his chip against a hungry Holloway. Truth be told, we can't ask for more.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy MMA lineup picks for DrafKings for UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal on 7/11/20. You can check out our FanDuel MMA DFS picks as well. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced fighters and value picks on DraftKings. Give me a follow on Twitter @chapulana. Good luck!

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 30% off using code NEW! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

DraftKings MMA Welterweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Jorge Masvidal, $7,300 - vs. Kamaru Usman

I have written an extended preview of this title fight over here.

While it is clear that Usman is the favorite (I mean, he's the reigning welterweight champion), it makes no sense to have Masvidal on such a sweet discount as he's for this weekend's event. So yes, make Masvidal a must-have and lock him into your lineup no matter what.

Now, to the meat of this thing. Usman is a beast. We all know that. Kamaru can both strike hard and bring the fight to the mat and excel on the ground. He's just a complete fighter, no discussion about it, as his impeccable 9-0 record shows. It wouldn't be hard to see him land over 100 strikes and attempt north of 200. The same goes for his takedowns, where you can easily expect him to succeed at least once while going for multiple. Masvidal, on the other hand, relies mostly on his hitting prowess while leaving the grappling aside. He doubles Usman in landed strikes per minute and attempts virtually 1.5x times as many. Oh, and if you haven't heard about it, he's a killer with three KOs in his three fights, all in 2019.

This has everything to turn into a full-time bout going the distance if Usman plays it as he should. Masvidal needs to go for the kill and avoid the ground and being taken down at all costs. This is not a heavyweight fight, but any of these two can finish the other one in the blink of an eye. Let's bet on another cheap Masvidal for this one if only because of the discount compared to Usman's salary. The upside is just too high.

 

DraftKings MMA Featherweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Max Holloway, $7,100 - vs. Alexander Volkanovski

I have written an extended preview of this title fight over here.

Second of the title fights scheduled to take place on Fight Island. This is any fan's dream come true, and there is still another one to analyze! Starting at the beginning, though, this one will pit current champion and undefeated Volkanovski versus once-great (not long ago) Holloway. Ah, our beloved recency bias.

Look, while no one can take anything from Volkanovski's staggering run in the UFC (8-0 and counting), Holloway won the title back in 2016 versus Anthony Pettis, defended it four consecutive times, and only dropped it to Volkanovski this past December. His only other loss since 2013 (vs. Conor McGregor) came against Dustin Poirier when he bulked up and tried his luck at the interim lightweight title. Again, Holloway is 14-2 since 2014 and 14-1 in the featherweight division. Ruling him out would be foolish.

Volkanovski is the favorite enter this fight, and it makes sense. At the end of the day, the Australian is defending his belt and already defeated Holloway just over half a year ago. That fight, though, was super close with no takedowns for any of the two, and a slight edge (157 to 134) on SS landed going Volkanovski's way. Same as with Masvidal, I'm going with the underdog here in Holloway if he can be considered as such at all. Again, the price tag looks entirely ridiculous with Holloway's 115.5 DKFP per fight in his last six, even losing two of those.

 

DraftKings MMA Bantamweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Petr Yan, $9,300 - vs. Jose Aldo

I have written an extended preview of this title fight over here.

If people are "forgetting" about Holloway, then you tell me what is going on between them and Jose Aldo. The Brazilian's track record in the UFC has suffered of late, but he was able to win the chip in his first official fight inside the Octagon and went on to defend it successfully six times in a row. Aldo's dominance not long ago was deemed one of the greatest ever in the promotion.

Petr Yan has never fought for the title, but his record is ridiculous up to this point. He's 6-0 since debuting in mid-2018, has wins against staples of the UFC like John Dodson and Urijah Faber, and is finally facing the chance of getting the gold around his waist.

Considering how both fighters have fared as of late, I find myself having to bank on Yan. His price is sky-high, that's for sure, but even factoring it in, it'd be too hard to go with Aldo here. Yan has doubled Aldo's fantasy points per fight since 2017, has never lost a fight, and also has finished three of his six via early KO. High price, but high reward.

 

DraftKings MMA Women Strawweight- UFC DFS Lineup Picks 

Jessica Andrade, $7,200 - vs. Rose Namajunas

What to make of these two and this whole affair? Look, in any other card, a Namajunas vs. Andrade fight would headline the main card, plain and simple, even without a belt on the line. Such is the talent that both fighters bring to the table this weekend. Andrade was a champ as late as last August when she lost the belt to Zhang Weili. Namajunas herself relinquished the title to the very own Andrade back in May 2019 after snatching it from Joanna's Jedrzejczyk's waist. I'm not sure you can pack more superstar names in two sentences.

Same as with the three headlining fights, this one has everything in the air and feels super hard to predict on paper. Sure, the last time both gals fought, they both lost their bouts, and the last time they faced each other Andrade came out winner KO'ing Namajunas in under eight minutes. Even then, though, things were close in the sheet: Rose landed 55/125 SS to Jessica's 47/105, and the only significant difference came in Andrade's 2 of 4 successful takedowns to Rose's 0/2.

Since 2017, Namajunas seems to have abandoned his ground game a bit. She's only attempted five takedowns landing two of them (40%), which pales in comparison to Andrade's 20/36 (55%) in both volume and success rate. Andrade is also a higher-volume striker with much better rates (58.1% to Rose's 35.6%). The salaries don't make sense to me. The fight should be close, and Rose might come away with the W, but there is no way I pass on Andrade at that price compared to Namajunas' $9K salary!

 

DraftKings MMA Women Flyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks

Paige VanZant, $6,700 - vs. Amanda Ribas

While the level drops a bit for the last fight on the main card, both VanZant and Ribas are still very capable fighters. VanZant's UFC tenure hasn't been as good as we expected back in 2014 when she made his debut in the promotion. Since then, she's just 5-3 having won her last bout after dropping two prior to that. Her contract ends after this weekend fight, and it is expected that she goes to another promotion, so she would try to get a win to get the most possible money she can elsewhere.

Ribas enters this contest with three fights inside the UFC Octagon and knows no defeat. Her 3-0 record has been built from June 2019 on, and although she's only won early once, she's been way dominant with an average of 91.2 DKFP per fight and never scoring fewer than 79.5 fantasy points. She has a complete game, both on the ground and striking, but I have to go with the "veteran" VanZant here. Both are 26, sure, but Paige has an extended run with the UFC, and with her future up in the air, she'll be doing it all to get away with that W. Also, check those prices. PVZ comes at a sweet $6.7K compared to Ribas' $9.5K. Staggering difference not worth paying for.

More MMA Analysis

More DFS Analysis & Lineup Picks




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Griffin Conine

To Have Shoulder Surgery On Tuesday
Luke Keaschall

Twins Prospect Luke Keaschall Suffers Broken Forearm
Logan Gilbert

Leaves Friday's Start With Forearm Tightness

Vikings Select Tai Felton To Finish Day 2

Seahawks Select Quarterback Jalen Milroe With The 92nd Pick Overall

Browns Select Dillon Gabriel 94th Overall

Packers Pick Savion Williams At No. 87 overall

Steelers Snag Kaleb Johnson In Round 3

Broncos Select Wide Receiver Pat Bryant With The 74th Overall Pick

Texans Select Jaylin Noel With 79th Pick

Lions Select Wide Receiver Isaac TeSlaa With The 70th Overall Pick
Jack Leiter

To Start On Sunday

Patriots Add Wide Receiver Kyle Williams In Round 3

Browns Draft Harold Fannin Jr. With 67th Pick
Garrett Mitchell

Makes Early Exit
Luke Keaschall

Removed Early On Friday
Blake Snell

Likely Avoids Major Injury
Cole Ragans

Dealing With Mild Groin Strain

Broncos Add RJ Harvey To Backfield With 60th Pick

Raiders Select Jack Bech With 58th Pick

Chargers Add Wide Receiver Tre Harris In Round 2
Detroit Lions

Lions Acquire 57th Pick From Broncos

Seahawks Draft Elijah Arroyo 50th Overall
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Acquire 51st Pick From Broncos
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Snag Will Johnson At No. 47

Jets Add A Pass-Catcher With Mason Taylor At No. 42

Rams Select Terrance Ferguson With 46th Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Acquire 48th Pick From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery

Saints Snag Tyler Shough At No. 40
Brenton Doyle

Out For Personal Reasons On Friday
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Will Smith

Back From Injury On Friday
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Darius Garland

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Ja Morant

To Miss Game 4 On Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Available For Game 3 In Minnesota
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Erik Swanson

Ryan Burr Progressing
Daulton Varsho

To Return On Tuesday At The Latest
Max Scherzer

Takes Positive Step On Friday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Randy Arozarena

Resting For First Time This Year
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
MLB

Red Sox-Guardians Game Postponed On Friday
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
MLB

Tigers-Orioles Postponed On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
Yainer Diaz

Out On Friday Against Royals
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Hopes To Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Salvador Perez

Sitting Out For First Time This Season
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 3 On Friday
Brendan Donovan

Back In Action On Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Could Miss Game 3 On Saturday
Coby Mayo

Getting On A Roll At Triple-A
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Cade Cunningham

Collects Double-Double In Loss
Jalen Brunson

Drops 30 Points In Game 3
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads All Scorers In Game 3 Victory
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Rasmus Ristolainen

To Miss Training Camp
Jonas Siegenthaler

Returns To Practice
Aliaksei Protas

Traveling With Capitals
Gabriel Vilardi

Still Out On Thursday
Max Pacioretty

Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF