Saturday is almost upon us, which means time for some more UFC action! This week the UFC brings us a mediocre card topped with a very not mediocre main event – UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs Hooker. The main event features top lightweight contenders – and heavy hitters – Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker. Should be fire.
Now to the matter at hand – drafting ourselves a winning team on Draft Kings for this event. You can see my gambling advice for every fight on the card right here – now for my fantasy picks.
Khama Worthy – $7,300
‘The Death Star’ is the top average fantasy point earner on this card, pulling in 110.5 points in his UFC debut knockout of Devonte Smith. I like Worthy in his matchup this Saturday against ‘Violent Bob Ross’ Luis Pena, also. While Pena will have a size and reach advantage, and is a better wrestler, he vows to stand in the middle and trade shots with Worthy, which probably isn’t his best strategy. Worthy is worthy (ha) of the value play here.
Brendan Allen – $9,200
We’re going all in on ‘All In” Brendan Allen (I’m full of the puns today – look out). Allen averages the second-most fantasy points per outing at 108. He’s got a submission and a TKO in his two UFC fights, and has finished 13 of his 14 vanquished opponents (five KOs plus eight submissions). This well-roundedness will serve him well against last minute replacement (and UFC newcomer) Kyle Daukaus, who is strictly a submission specialist (9-0 record with eight submissions).
Sean Woodson – $8,800
Somehow the 6’2″ Woodson cuts down to 145 pounds for his fights, so the main reason he is worth picking up is his immense size advantage in every fight. He’ll have four inches of reach on Saturday’s opponent, Julian Erosa. Additionally, Erosa just took this fight earlier this week, and is a journeyman who has been cut from the UFC twice previously. Look for ‘The Sniper’ to earn you good fantasy points with a stoppage via strikes.
Youssef Zalal – $8,000
‘The Moroccan Devil’ had a very impressive UFC debut, beating top prospect Austin Lingo on only a week’s notice. In that fight he took down Lingo six times. His opponent on Saturday, Jordan Griffin, has poor takedown defense, so Zalal shouldn’t have any problem getting the fight to the mat if he chooses. And if instead he chooses to keep it standing, his striking numbers are far superior to Saturday’s opponent.
Philipe Lins – $8,300
Lins had a rough UFC debut, losing to Andrei Arlovski. But his resume shows he’s capable of much more, which I think he’ll show this weekend against Tanner Boser. 12 of his 14 wins have come via stoppage (eight KOs, four submissions), so he has the skills to get us some big points against Boser.
Takashi Sato – $8,400
Sato will be facing a UFC newcomer – Ramiz Brahimaj – who hasn’t fought in over a year, so he’ll have the edge there. While Brahimaj looks for submissions to earn his wins, Sato has solid wrestling defense and dynamite in his hands. Potential for a big KO win here – and big points for us.
