After a new Light Heavyweight Champion was crowned at UFC 313 last week, the promotion returns to their home base, the UFC Apex. A five-round rematch in the middleweight division between No. 8 Marvin Vettori vs. No. 12 Roman Dolidze headlines the upcoming UFC Fight Night on March 15. Vettori beat Dolidze in their first fight at UFC 286 in March 2023. Dolidze is 2-1 since that fight while Vettori has only fought once.

The Prelims start at 4:00 p.m. ET with the Main Card airing at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Check out my favorite fighters to add to your daily fantasy lineup for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2.

Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $400K Throwdown [$100K to 1st]

Studs

Waldo Cortes-Acosta ($8,300)

The featured preliminary bout is a fun heavyweight fight between No. 12 Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Ryan Spann. Spann is making his debut at heavyweight after a six-year run in the UFC’s 205-pound division. Cortes-Acosta is 5-1 in the UFC and has won his last three fights.

Cortes-Acosta has a significant advantage in the striking department in this contest, as he lands 2.34 more significant strikes per minute (5.64 vs. 3.30) than Spann. Although Spann is moving up a division, he is the taller fighter (6’5″ vs. 6’4″) with a slightly larger standing reach (79″ vs. 78″).

Spann averages 1.32 takedowns per 15 minutes but Cortes-Acosta defends them at a 60 percent rate. Cortes-Acosta has totaled 90 or more fantasy points in two of his previous three fights and three of five. If Cortes-Acosta defends Spann’s early takedown and submission attempts, he likely will find much success on the feet.

Marvin Vettori ($8,200)

Vettori is fighting Dolidze for the second time in his last three fights. Their first fight was two years ago and Vettori has only had one fight since. Vettori lost his previous bout to Jared Cannonier in June 2023. In that contest, Vettori finished with 73 points while Dolidze only totaled 29.

Surprisingly, Vettori didn’t attempt a takedown in that fight but out struck Dolidze 106-71 in significant strikes en route to a unanimous decision victory. Vettori is the favorite in the rematch at -155 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Although Dolidze has a two-inch edge in reach and height, “The Italian Dream” is the more efficient fighter on the feet and the ground. Vettori lands 1.4 more significant strikes per minute while being the more accurate striker. Dolidze does have five knockouts in the UFC and is the more powerful puncher between the two. But if Vettori can control the pace of the fight while keeping his volume up, a second win against Dolidze should be doable.

Value Play

Cody Gibson ($7,000)

Gibson is currently in his second stint in the UFC and has won his previous two fights. He finished 2024 with a 3-0 record but now he faces a highly talented fighter, Da’Mon Blackshear. At $7,000, Gibson is a steal considering he has scored 92 and 111 fantasy points in his last two fights.

Blackshear lands a little more than one more significant strike per minute, but Gibson edges him out in takedowns per 15 minutes. Gibson also has experience on his side, as he has had nine more fights in his career while being seven years older. Gibson had five takedowns in his last fight and will need to implement them in this bout to pull off the upset. Blackshear is 1-2 in his previous three fights but is coming off a win.

This will likely be a competitive bout between two fighters whose skills are close on paper. Gibson is the fourth lowest-priced fighter on the card, making him a great value play when evaluating his upside.

Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $400K Throwdown [$100K to 1st]