RADIO
UFC 258 will be headlined by the dominant Kamaru Usman, who will be defending the welterweight championship, taking on the surging Gilbert Burns. With the 170-pound weight class featuring some of the best fighters in all of mixed martial arts, this fight should be sure to deliver. Also on the card, the returning Maycee Barber will take on the equally impressive Alexa Grasso, a Mexican competitor who is looking to make it two wins in a row.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy MMA lineup picks for FanDuel for UFC 258 on 2/13/2021. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced fighters and value picks on FanDuel. You can check out our DraftKings MMA DFS picks as well.
Give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Also, be sure to check out join me and my tag team partner, Brady Grove, for “Tap That,” a weekly podcast dedicated to MMA news and fantasy analysis.
FanDuel MMA Welterweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Kamaru Usman, $21 - vs. Gilbert Burns
Not since Georges St-Pierre was terrorizing his opponents have we witnessed a welterweight as dominant as Usman. He became the 170-pound champion by defeating the ultra-talented Tyron Woodley back in March of 2019 before following that up with wins over Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.
The Nigerian is a well-rounded competitor capable of racking up fantasy points in a variety of ways. He averages nearly five significant strikes landed per minute in addition to taking down his opponents over three times on average through 15 minutes inside the octagon. Although his submission skills could improve, his superior takedown defense will make it challenging for Burns to take him to the mat.
While Usman has won fights quickly throughout his tenure as a professional, the probable scenario will likely see the current champ scoring a handful of takedowns and controlling things on top, likely beating the 24-year-old by decision after five rounds to retain the championship.
FanDuel MMA Flyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Maycee Barber, $15 - vs. Alexa Grasso
Barber will be making her return to the octagon after injuring her knee in a bout with Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246. A strong, capable striker, the 22-year-old will have her hands full against Alexa Grasso.
Barber had plenty of momentum before her career got derailed last January, winning five professional fights in a row by TKO. On the other hand, Grasso is looking to remain in the win column after losing two of her previous three bouts leading up to her latest win, which was a decision victory over Ji Yeon Kim in August.
Both ladies can put their opponents away, although Barber’s track record of ending fights fast is much stronger than her opponent. Although the Mexican-born competitor is the favorite to take home the victory at UFC 258, the edge may belong to “The Future.”
Barber’s striking acumen is some of the best on the planet. She lands just over eight significant strikes per minute, and her ability to defend punches thrown her way is second to none. The likelihood that both competitors will come out throwing bombs is high, and the chances that this thing won’t last long may even be higher. Barber has had the chance to learn during her time away from the octagon, so the story may play out with her finishing Grasso quickly on Saturday night. The ceiling is high for those looking for a cheaper rostering option with upside.
FanDuel MMA Middleweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Maki Pitolo, $11 - vs. Julian Marquez
Looking for a dart throw? Pitolo may be your guy. “Coconut Bombz” was one of the most active fighters during a COVID-ridden 2020, albeit he wasn’t the most impressive fighter on the planet. While he started off 2020 with a TKO victory over Charles Boyd at UFC 250, a major flaw in his game was exposed after he was choked out via guillotine by Darren “The Dentist” Stewart. He had a chance to turn things around just a few weeks later against Impa Kasanganay; however, he lost by decision.
Julian Marquez hasn’t fought in over two years, with his most recent bout ending with “The Cuban Missile Crisis” losing to Alessio Di Chirico by split decision. Since that loss, circumstances beyond his control have prevented him from making his way back into the octagon.
Even though Marquez is the favorite in this encounter, years of inactivity may be a factor here. Pitolo may very well get his ass handed to him; however, the Hawaiian may land enough strikes before losing to get DFS managers some value. In the best-case scenario, he will knock out Marquez.
Also Consider: Rodolfo Vieira ($23), Belal Muhammad ($22), Ricky Simons ($20), Kelvin Gastelum ($22), Gabriel Green ($16), Gillian Robertson ($13)
