For the fifth time, the UFC will host an event in Atlanta, Georgia. This Saturday night, a UFC Fight Night headlined by No. 5 Kamaru Usman vs. No. 7 Joaquin Buckley will occur in the Main Event at the State Farm Arena. This is the first UFC event in Atlanta since UFC 236 in 2019.
The Prelims begin at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with the Main Card airing live on ESPN at 10:00 p.m. ET. Check out my favorite fighters to add to your daily fantasy lineup for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley.
Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $300K Throwdown [$100K to 1st]
Studs
Mansur Abdul-Malik ($9,600)
Abdul-Malik, 27, is 8-0 with eight finishes in his young MMA career. He is coming off a knockout over Nick Klein in February. He has scored 115 and 88 fantasy points in his two UFC bouts. He is facing Cody Brundage on Saturday in Atlanta.
Abdul-Malik has the physical advantage in this bout. He is two inches taller (6’2″ vs. 6’0″) and has an eight-inch larger standing reach (80″ vs. 72″). To continue his win streak, Abdul-Malik needs to control the distance and pace of this fight.
He averages over five significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent rate. Abdul-Malik has shown good takedown defense in the past, and if he stops Brundage’s attempts, his path to victory becomes likely. Even though Abdul-Malik has only fought twice in the UFC, he has proved that he is still getting better and is a great fighter to back on this card.
Edmen Shahbazyan ($8,800)
Shahbazyan is 27 years old, just like Abdul-Malik, but has been in the UFC since 2019. He is 6-5 in the promotion but has faced many tough opponents, including Derek Brunson, Jack Hermansson, Nassourdine Imavov, and Anthony Hernandez. Since facing those fighters, he has taken a step down in competition and knocked out Dylan Budka in the first round in February.
He is facing Andre Petroski on Saturday, and although he hasn’t been in the UFC for long, he is still a dangerous opponent. Petroski enters the bout on a three-fight win streak. In this matchup, Shahbazyan is the taller fighter (6’2″ vs. 6’0″) with the longer reach (75″ vs. 73″).
Shahbazyan has totaled 103-plus fantasy points in two of his last three fights and at least 90 points in seven of his 12 UFC bouts. He has the advantage on the feet in this contest and needs it to take place there to have a successful outing. Good news for Shahbazyan is that he has a 65 percent takedown defense, which will be necessary against Petroski. If he follows that game plan, he should be able to total 100-plus points for the second straight fight.
Value Play
Kamaru Usman ($7,200)
“The Nigerian Nightmare” makes his long-awaited return to the UFC Octagon and welterweight division. His last appearance was a loss against Khamzat Chimaev at 185 pounds in October 2023. He last fought at welterweight against Leon Edwards in August 2022.
Interestingly, the guy, who was once one of the most active fighters in the UFC, is now the opposite. But that is what happens to fighters at the end of their careers. Just because the end seems near, doesn’t mean Usman isn’t talented. He has scored 19 and 69 points in his last two bouts but had 98-plus in the previous eight fights.
On paper, Usman has the experience factor (obviously) while being the more efficient fighter on the feet and ground. Usman averages 0.14 more significant strikes per minute (4.36 vs. 4.22) at a 15 percent better rate (52% vs. 37%). Both fighters have a 45 percent takedown accuracy on the mat, but Usman averages 2.82 per 15 minutes, 1.4 more than Buckley.
The one advantage that plays into Buckley’s favor is his age, and being seven years younger than the former champion. Buckley does possess elite power, but he isn’t as complete a fighter as Usman is. The question in this contest is which version of The Nigerian Nightmare will appear. Will it be the one in his previous three fights or the version that dominated the 170-pound division? Getting Usman at $7,200 is a no-brainer as he possesses so much upside at such a low cost.
Set your DraftKings fantasy MMA lineups here: UFC $300K Throwdown [$100K to 1st]
