Draftkings MMA DFS UFC 286
As UFC 286 approaches, fans and bettors alike are eagerly anticipating the highly anticipated event. With the stacked lineup and impressive fighters taking the stage, there is no shortage of excitement leading up to the big night. For DraftKings MMA DFS players, UFC 286 presents an opportunity to cash in on the action and earn some serious winnings.
In this article, we’ll break down each fight on the card and provide our expert analysis to help you make informed decisions for your DFS lineup. So buckle up, get ready, and let’s dive into UFC 286.
Hardy vs Miller
Miller, standing at a height of 5’7″ with a reach of 66″, possesses moderate volume and excellent wrestling and grappling skills. She has three finishes in her three wins, indicating her ability to finish fights. On the other hand, Hardy, at 5’4″ with a reach of 64″ and a southpaw stance, also has moderate volume, with her plus point being her wrestling skills, which she has utilized in her three wins.
However, when it comes to predicting the winner of this fight, I have to give the edge to Juliana Miller. Although she is still relatively new to the MMA scene, she has shown tremendous potential with her fast-starting style and well-rounded game. With her strong wrestling and grappling skills, Miller is likely to come out hot, looking for takedowns and attempting to finish the fight early. On the other hand, Hardy’s previous record in the UFC indicates that she may struggle in this fight, and I expect her to suffer another loss.
Klein vs Herbert
Herbert, with a height of 6’1″ and a reach of 77″, possesses a low volume but is known for his devastating striking. He has ten finishes in his twelve wins, indicating his ability to end fights early. On the other hand, Klein, at 5’7″ with a reach of 72″ and a southpaw stance, has moderate volume, with his plus point being his wrestling and grappling skills, which he has utilized in sixteen of his nineteen wins.
When it comes to predicting the winner of this fight, I believe that Jai Herbert will come out on top. Despite Klein’s dangerous striking and kickboxing skills, he may find it challenging to get inside Herbert’s significant size advantage. Furthermore, with neither fighter throwing high volumes, we may be looking at a slower-paced, low-scoring decision.
Carolina vs Wood
Wood, standing at a height of 5’6″ with a reach of 65″, possesses a high volume and plus point being her wrestling skills, which she has utilized in six of her fifteen wins. On the other hand, Carolina, at the same height with a reach of 69″ and an orthodox stance, has moderate volume, with her plus point also being her wrestling skills, which she has utilized in three of her eight wins.
When it comes to predicting the winner of this fight, I have to give the edge to Joanne Wood. While Carolina has gone 2-2 over her last four fights, her low-volume striking offers very little else in the octagon. On the other hand, Wood may have lost her last three fights, but those losses have been to the current champion and two title contenders, indicating her high level of competition.
Gordon vs Hadley
Hadley, standing at a height of 5’7″ with a reach of 70″ and a southpaw stance, possesses moderate volume and plus point being his wrestling and grappling skills, which he has utilized in seven of his nine wins. On the other hand, Gordon, at the same height with a reach of 71″ and a switch stance, has low volume, with his plus point also being his wrestling and grappling skills, which he has utilized in eleven of his fifteen wins.
While Gordon has fought and beaten better competition than Hadley, I find it surprising that he is such a massive underdog in this fight. Gordon is plenty quick, with a black belt in grappling, and has shown his ability to scramble with other fighters in his previous bouts. On the other hand, Hadley is known for his aggressive guard and pressure, which is not exactly a revelation for a fighter in the flyweight category.
In terms of predicting the winner of this fight, I expect Jake Hadley to come out on top. Hadley showed flashes of his potential in his latest fight, demonstrating his striking ability before securing a second-round submission via triangle choke. Gordon has not shown much in his recent fights, having been submitted in two of his five UFC fights.
Todorovic vs Duncan
Duncan, standing at 6’2″ with an unknown reach and a switch stance, has a moderate volume and minimal wrestling and grappling skills. He has finished six of his seven wins. On the other hand, Todorovic, at 6’1″ with a reach of 74″ and an orthodox stance, boasts high volume and strong wrestling skills, finishing eleven of his twelve wins.
While this fight may turn into a striking battle where both fighters swing until one falls, we have seen Todorovic utilizing his grappling skills recently, securing three takedowns in his last three fights. Despite Duncan demonstrating impressive craft in his standup game, utilizing agility and feints, he has been taken down and held in every fight I have reviewed.
I am happy to take my chance on the underdog in this low-level matchup, likely to see a finish. Duncan is a flashy fighter with a solid overall game, making his debut in the UFC. Todorovic is a powerful striker who has a 3-3 record in the UFC, known for his “kill or be killed” mentality.
Santos vs Murphy
Murphy possesses a moderate volume and minimal wrestling/grappling skills, with seven finishes in his eleven wins. Santos, on the other hand, boasts moderate volume and strong wrestling/grappling skills, with seven finishes in his ten wins.
In his previous fight with Ricardo Ramos, Murphy demonstrated his wrestling and scrambling ability, proving that he can hold his own on the mat against any opponent. I anticipate that Murphy will attempt takedowns in this fight, utilizing his grappling skills to wear down Santos, who likes to take away space from his opponents.
While this fight promises to be entertaining, I believe that Murphy has the edge over Santos. Murphy is a powerful striker and should be able to hold his own on the feet. On the other hand, Santos is making his debut on short notice and may not be fully prepared for the fight. While Santos possesses solid striking skills, he mainly relies on power shots, which could leave him vulnerable to counterattacks.
Filho vs Mokaev
Mokaev has been dominant in his three UFC fights thus far, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t continue that trend. His wrestling and grappling skills are elite, and he’s shown the ability to maintain a high pace throughout the fight. Filho is a tough opponent, but he lacks the wrestling and grappling skills to keep up with Mokaev.
That being said, Filho is a dangerous striker and has a good ground game. If he can keep the fight standing and land some significant strikes, he may have a chance to pull off the upset. However, Mokaev’s relentless wrestling and grappling should be too much for Filho to handle.
In the end, I expect Mokaev to control the fight with his grappling and secure a dominant victory. While Filho is a game opponent, he simply doesn’t have the skills to hang with Mokaev on the mat.
Ashmouz vs Patterson
Sam Patterson and Yanal Ashmoz is a battle of two newcomers with a lot to prove. Patterson, towering over most in the division, possesses impressive wrestling and grappling skills, and has finished his opponents in nine of his ten wins. Ashmoz, on the other hand, is undefeated and has showcased solid wrestling and grappling techniques, ending five of his six fights via stoppage.
Although both fighters have similar skillsets, Patterson’s size and reach could play a significant factor in this matchup. However, it’s worth noting that Ashmoz is not one to be counted out, with his versatility and ability to adapt to his opponent’s game plan.
With so much uncertainty surrounding this fight, it’s difficult to predict the outcome with much confidence. However, the size advantage of Patterson may give him a slight edge in what could be a closely contested battle.
Morales vs Duncan
Duncan, a highly touted prospect with a record of 9-2, boasts an impressive resume with eight finishes in his nine wins. Standing at 5’10” with a reach of 71″, he is a high-volume striker with excellent wrestling and grappling skills.
His opponent, Omar Morales, on the other hand, has a record of 11-3 and possesses a height advantage standing at 5’11” with a reach of 73″. While he is a moderate-volume striker, Morales is also a skilled wrestler and grappler with seven finishes in his eleven wins. However, it’s worth noting that Morales is taking this fight on short notice and has struggled in his recent UFC fights, losing three out of his last four.
Despite the odds being in Morales’ favor, I predict that Chris Duncan will come out on top in this matchup. Fresh off of a successful Contender Series appearance, Duncan is poised to make a statement in his UFC debut. With his dangerous, well-rounded striking and significant power, I expect Duncan to pressure Morales early and eventually secure a knockout victory. While Morales is undoubtedly a skilled opponent, I believe Duncan’s full camp preparation and superior striking abilities will prove too much for him to handle.
Amirkhani vs Shore
At UFC 286, Jack Shore will take on Makwan Amirkhani in a highly anticipated bantamweight matchup. With both fighters possessing excellent wrestling and grappling skills, this bout has all the makings of a ground-based showdown.
Standing at 5’8″ with a reach of 71″, Jack Shore is a moderate-volume striker with a knack for grappling, boasting an impressive record of 16-1-0 with 12 finishes. His opponent, Makwan Amirkhani, is a southpaw fighter standing at 5’10” with a reach of 72″. While he has low striking volume, Amirkhani is a skilled wrestler and grappler with 13 finishes in his 17 wins.
Despite the comparable grappling skills, I predict that Jack Shore will come out on top in this fight. While Amirkhani typically looks for takedowns and submissions, Shore is a more complete fighter with dangerous skills everywhere. I expect Shore to dictate the pace of the fight and navigate towards an eventual finish. Although Amirkhani may put up a good fight initially, I believe he will eventually tire out, allowing Shore to take control and potentially secure a stoppage victory.
Dolidze vs Vettori
Standing at 6’0″ with a reach of 74″, Vettori is a southpaw fighter with a moderate striking volume and a knack for wrestling. He boasts an impressive record of 18-5-1 with 11 finishes, and is a BJJ blackbelt who has never been finished in his 24 professional fights. His opponent, Dolidze, is an orthodox fighter standing at 6’2″ with a reach of 76″. While he has a low striking volume, Dolidze is a skilled wrestler and grappler with 10 finishes in his 12 wins.
Despite Dolidze’s impressive grappling skills, I predict that Vettori will come out on top in this fight. While Dolidze displayed some slick grappling, he struggled at range in his last fight against Jack Hermansson. On the other hand, Vettori’s power, size, and scrambling ability should allow him to win this fight no matter where it takes place.
However, this fight is not without its uncertainties. If Vettori can successfully execute takedowns and control the pace of the fight, he should be able to win by decision. Nevertheless, Dolidze has the power advantage and has been on a hot streak, making it difficult to stop his momentum. While Vettori has fought some of the best in the division, Dolidze has shown he can land flush more than once on the feet.
In conclusion, this is a tough fight to predict, but my slight lean is towards Dolidze.
O’Neill vs Maia
Standing at 5’4″ with a reach of 64″, Maia is an orthodox fighter with a moderate striking volume and a knack for wrestling. She has an impressive record of 20-9-1 with nine finishes, and has been a gatekeeper in the division. On the other hand, O’Neill is a highly touted prospect standing at 5’6″ with a reach of 69″. She boasts a high striking volume and has demonstrated impressive wrestling and grappling skills in her nine wins, with five finishes.
Despite Maia’s physical strength and grappling expertise, I predict that O’Neill will come out on top in this fight. While O’Neill struggled to take down Roxanne Modafferi in her last fight, she demonstrated incredible volume with a whopping 229 significant strikes landed. I expect her to maintain a high-pressure approach and not allow Maia to set up her shots. Moreover, O’Neill has fully recovered from her knee injury and is expected to come back just as strong as before.
Maia, while impressive in her most recent win, is a slow-footed counterpuncher who may struggle to keep up with O’Neill’s relentless pressure. I predict that O’Neill’s constant swarming and pressure will eventually wear Maia down, potentially leading to an early finish.
Barberena vs Nelson
Standing at 5’11” with a reach of 72″, Nelson is a switch fighter with a low striking volume and a knack for wrestling and grappling. He boasts an impressive record of 18-5-1 with 16 finishes. On the other hand, Barberena is a southpaw fighter standing at 6’0″ with a reach of 72″. He has a high striking volume and has demonstrated his power in his 13 finishes, but has minimal wrestling skills.
Despite Barberena’s impressive striking skills, I predict that Nelson will come out on top in this fight. Barberena has struggled to defend takedowns, with just a 54% takedown defense rate. This, combined with Nelson’s smothering grappling game, means that Barberena could be in trouble on the ground. Moreover, Nelson’s commitment to takedowns and ground control was on full display in his last fight against Takashi Sato, making him a formidable opponent in this matchup.
Fiziev vs Gaethje
Get ready for a showdown at UFC 286 as Justin Gaethje takes on Rafael Fiziev in what promises to be a thrilling bout. With Gaethje’s high-volume striking and Fiziev’s technical prowess, this fight has all the makings of a Fight of the Night contender. While Fiziev may be the more technical striker, Gaethje’s relentless pressure and experience give him the edge in a potential decision.
Gaethje has proven himself as a top-tier lightweight despite his recent losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. He’s known for his high-volume striking and has finished 20 of his 23 wins. Meanwhile, Fiziev is coming off six consecutive wins, with three of those via knockout. He’s certainly deserving of this big opportunity, but Gaethje is on another level of competition.
One potential weakness of Gaethje is his unwillingness to focus on defense, but he has shown improvement in his last couple of fights. On the other hand, Fiziev’s technical kickboxing background may give him an edge on the feet. Both fighters absorb more strikes than they land, making this fight likely to be high-scoring.
While I usually side with the more technical fighter in fights like this, Gaethje’s ability to absorb punishment makes him a live underdog. He could hang around and find a way to win, but it’s well within the range of outcomes that Fiziev dominates this fight. Ultimately, this fight is a must-watch for any MMA fan, and we can expect fireworks from start to finish.
Usman vs Edwards
The highly anticipated third encounter between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman is poised to deliver a thrilling showdown. As the two welterweight stars prepare to face off once again, there is much to consider.
Usman’s takedown expertise and Edwards’ susceptibility to being placed on the back foot makes it difficult to imagine a scenario where Usman doesn’t attempt to bring the fight to the ground. While Edwards is a capable anti-wrestler, he’ll have to work hard to remain upright and prevent Usman from controlling the pace and pressure, especially as the fight progresses.
Their previous matchup saw Edwards score a last-second knockout victory over Usman, but it’s unlikely that lightning will strike twice. The Nigerian Nightmare dominated the majority of the bout, landing numerous takedowns and taking control of the striking exchanges.
It’s difficult to envision a clear path to victory for Edwards, who will need to find a way to thwart Usman’s takedown attempts to stand a chance. However, Usman’s history of durability and his prior dominance over Edwards make him the clear favorite in this matchup.
While Edwards will undoubtedly have the crowd behind him as he fights in his adopted home of England, it’s unlikely to be enough against a fighter of Usman’s caliber. The pick here is for Usman to come out hungry and reclaim his belt with a repeat of his previous performance.
That’s all I’ve got for today 
Thank you for checking out the article, I hope I was able to provide you with some value as you begin to build your DFS lineups for today’s contests.
Be sure to hit me up in Discord if you have questions. If you would prefer to reach out to me on Twitter @CeeGeeDFS that works too
You must be logged in to post a comment.