The UFC is back at the Apex for a Fight Night headlined by a top-five women’s flyweight bout between No. 4 Erin Blanchfield vs. No. 5 Maycee Barber. The co-main event is an exciting three-round lightweight fight between No. 7 Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein.
The Prelims start at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the Main Card beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+. Check out my favorite fighters to add to your daily fantasy lineup for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Barber.
Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $333K Throwdown [$100K to 1st]
Studs
Erin Blanchfield ($9,100)
Blanchfield, 26, is 13-2 while 7-1 in the UFC. In November 2024, Blanchfield had the most significant win of her career when she beat former champion Rose Namajunas. Blanchfield is facing Maycee Barber in the main event of this week’s UFC Fight Night. Barber is coming off a 14-month layoff but is on an impressive six-fight win streak.
Although Barber has more experience in the UFC Octagon, Blanchfield lands more significant strikes and takedowns. Barber is one inch taller (5’5″ vs. 5’4″), but Blanchfield has a one-inch reach advantage (66″ vs. 65″). Blanchfield averages 5.24 significant strikes per minute while landing at a 44 percent rate. On the ground, Blanchfield takes down opponents 1.86 times per 15 minutes, which is 0.42 more than Barber. Blanchfield also averages 0.8 submissions per 15 minutes, as she has three submissions in the UFC.
Blanchfield recorded 117 points in her last bout against Namajunas and 95-plus points in six of her eight UFC contests. Blanchfield has a lot on her side in this fight as she is the more active fighter, while being younger. Although Barber is currently healthy, it is still unknown how her body will respond after a long layoff because of an illness. Blanchfield has shown championship potential in the past, and if she is at her best, she has all the skills to put on another impressive performance.
Mateusz Gamrot ($8,500)
Mateusz Gamrot has been somewhat of a forgotten guy in the lightweight division with many veterans and stars. Gamrot is 7-2 in the last four years in the UFC. Although he is coming off a loss to Dan Hooker at UFC 305, he is still among the most talented fighters in the 155-pound division.
Gamrot is facing Ludovit Klein on Saturday. Klein has quickly risen in the lightweight rankings. He is unbeaten in his previous seven bouts and is coming off a victory against Roosevelt Roberts.
Klein is a slightly better striker on the feet, landing 0.58 more significant strikes per minute while landing at a 54 percent rate. But on the ground, Gamrot has a significant advantage. He lands 5.25 takedowns per 15 minutes, compared to Klein’s 1.70. Gamrot is averaging 87.3 fantasy points per contest and has had 84-plus in three of his previous four bouts. If Gamrot can get this fight to the ground, he should be able to put together an elite fantasy outing with his relentless takedown ability.
Value Play
Jafel Filho ($7,600)
After being submitted in his UFC debut, Jafel Filho has responded very well in his last two bouts, picking up two submissions of his own. Filho totaled 105 and 114 fantasy points in each of his UFC victories. He will face Allan Nascimento on Saturday, who is also on a two-fight win streak.
Filho has the advantage in this contest on the ground, where he averages 1.77 takedowns at a 33 percent efficiency rate per 15 minutes. A successful outing should be doable if Filho can display an elite defensive ability on the feet and get the fight to the mat. In this fight, Nascimento has a one-inch edge in height (5’8″ vs. 5’7″) and reach (69″ vs. 68″). Even though this is a tough bout for Filho, it is a great value play getting someone with 100-plus point potential for just $7,600.
Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $333K Throwdown [$100K to 1st]
